Classic Trip - Sacramento, California 2004
NOTE: I apologize for the blurriness of the Capitol photos, flash photography is prohibited within the building.
After a trip to San Francisco, nosotros decided to receive got a dissimilar tack too caput over to Arnoldland…Sacramento.
Our hotel for this trip would live on the Hallmark Suites (now the Hotel Sierra - Ed) inwards Rancho Cordova, a suburb 7 miles eastward of Sacramento.
Day One - Wed (July 7th)
We acquire far at our hotel approximately 4 o'clock. It's a decent if generic looking identify but my married adult woman instantly takes a dislike to the room offered too has the front end desk modify us to a 2nd flooring room. I don't really view a divergence inwards the room except mayhap the parking lot noises would bother her…but I'm non going to argue, we're hither to receive got a expert time.
We've spent the twenty-four hours inwards Napa Valley so, afterward grabbing dinner at a nearby In 'n Out, nosotros simply relax inwards the room.
Thursday
Wow! What a fabulous breakfast they serve hither at the Hallmark.
We walk over to the nearby lite track station to grab a trolley into downtown Sacramento. Great arrangement they've got here. Quick, efficient too manned past times friendly, professional person drivers. $3.00 ($1.50 for disabled or seniors) (now $6 too $3 respectively - Ed) buys yous an all twenty-four hours overstep expert for the double-decker arrangement too. Traffic on the nearby thruway is at a close standstill but the prepare gets us downtown quickly. Our alone (very minor) electrical load would live on that the bench seats on the trolley aren't real comfortable for a long haul.
The driver drops us off at a halt almost ii brusk blocks to the Capitol Building. We walk over too follow the signs to the accessible entrance…actually, they receive got two. One on either halt of the building.
You must acquire through the e'er acquaint airdrome trend safety that is a mandatory characteristic of today's authorities buildings but 1 time inside, you're pretty much costless to roam wherever yous want. There is a tour desk inwards the basement that provides a grouping tour of the building…which nosotros would non halt upwardly taking equally you'll presently see.
Instead, nosotros encounter the hallway that leads to the governor's usage amongst golden relief lettering over the top reading "Arnold Schwarzenegger" simply inwards a higher identify the slightly duller lettering reading "Governor". We enquire the highway patrolman standing guard exterior if it is alright to acquire inwards too he says it is.
In the anteroom at that topographic point are no seats for visitors hence a position out of serious looking people inwards suits are milling approximately the desk of the receptionist. She informs us that, yes, the governor does entertain visitors when he's non also busy…a grouping of students got to acquire inwards too run into him non also long earlier nosotros showed up…but that he's real busy correct at nowadays (this was the fourth dimension of intense budget negotiations equally the state budget was viii days belatedly too counting).
Hanging on the wall was a Detroit Pistons jersey too several jars of nutrient products made inwards Michigan. The governor lost the traditional bet when the Lakers lost to the Pistons inwards the NBA finals too he had to vesture that jersey to operate 1 day.
We do. First upwardly is our state senator, Bob Margett. I tell the receptionist that I simply wanted to present my boy where our state senator worked. No problem, she welcomes us too has us sign the visitor register. Sen. Margett is non there, but she shows us his usage too asks, "have yous toured the edifice yet?"
Upon learning that nosotros haven't, she rapidly gets on the outcry upwardly too asks if nosotros tin render at 2:00. We tell her nosotros tin too simply similar that, she sets upwardly a individual tour of the edifice for us. She hence takes us over to the Senate Chamber too shows us Sen. Margett's desk on the flooring of the sleeping room too hence takes us dorsum to the office. We chat for a few minutes too hence receive got our leave of absence to caput over to our assemblyman's office.
At that office, of Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, nosotros 1 time to a greater extent than tell them we're constituents too wanted to view where our representatives worked. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 duet of legislative aides are working at that topographic point today too they receive got us sign their register too present us Mr. Mountjoy's usage (he also is out today). There are many enormous models of airplanes hanging from his usage ceiling too the aide tells us that the assemblyman likes to ready radio controlled model aircraft…but that he doesn't really wing them because he's afraid they'll crash expensively on landing (Mr. Mountjoy is also a pilot). The aide chats us upwardly quite awhile telling us almost dissimilar
politicians she's worked for, what Tim's college plans are, etc., too seems really pleased to receive got a conversation amongst some constituents.
After our visits, nosotros receive got a duet of hours to kill, hence nosotros caput over to nearby Old Sacramento to receive got tiffin too H2O ice cream.
Afterward, nosotros render to Old Sacramento to hang out for awhile. This is, similar the elevate implies, a real onetime component subdivision of the town that has been preserved inwards a state park. It consists of almost 4 blocks of onetime Gold Rush era buildings along the riverfront amongst a few mysterious looking dorsum alleys inwards between. Most of the buildings are used past times shops, restaurants, too bars hence it's form of similar a mall inwards onetime buildings. On a hot twenty-four hours (as almost every summertime twenty-four hours inwards Sacramento is), the walk along the large river is real pleasant too pretty. The state railroad museum is also hither too looks real interesting but our tour of the capitol leaves us amongst alone almost xv minutes to spare earlier the museum's closing time, hence we'll leave of absence that for some other trip.
We option upwardly some fresh fruit at a attain store here, endeavor several samples of taffy at a candy store, option upwardly some souvenirs at a few of the shops, too hence grab the double-decker dorsum to the pedestrian mall where nosotros tin grab the trolley dorsum to the hotel.
Back at the hotel, nosotros swim inwards the crowded puddle too hence relish the hotel's costless happy hour. Afterward, I walk over to a nearby Wendy's too procure dinner for the 3 of us which nosotros relish inwards the room.
Friday
Today, the breakfast room is total of difficult bodies! Seriously, at that topographic point are men too women hither who receive got muscles upon muscles too non an ounce of fat. Many are wearing Olympic band jewelry, Olympic t-shirts, too Olympic hats. I enquire someone what's going on?
I discovery out that today is the commencement twenty-four hours of the Olympic Track too Field Finals, taking identify simply downwardly the route at Cal State Sacramento, too that many of our swain hotel guests are Olympic hopefuls. So, for the residual of our stay, we'll at nowadays live on surrounded past times some of the best athletes inwards the world. I don't know how many really made the team, but at to the lowest degree 1 that was at that topographic point - Hazel Clark - made the women's 800 meter team. We'll live on cheering on our swain guests this summertime equally they acquire to Athens. Go Hallmark Suite athletes!
Well, equally interesting equally this is, we're non hither for that…we're simply on vacation.
After breakfast, nosotros caput to the northwest to acquire to the Gold Rush town of Nevada City. We receive got ii reasons for beingness here. First, my married adult woman wants to acquire to the V*Tae fellowship store (they brand many lotions, oils, too other beauty products that she really likes) and, second, to acquire hiking.
Six miles northward of Nevada City, on Highway 49, is the Independence Trail. This is a wheelchair accessible trail…two of them actually…that current of air approximately v miles through the mountains too along side the Yuba River.
You see, dorsum inwards the Gold Rush days, miners idea it would live on groovy if they could simply boom away at the gold-bearing hillsides amongst high-pressure hoses. The dirt that washed away could hence live on sifted for gold. This was a much faster agency to acquire at large amounts of ore than past times using pans, sifting boxes, or digging. Only bad affair was that this was causing a huge environmental problem. Not alone were permanent scars beingness placed on the mountains, the dirt was polluting too silting upwardly the fish filled rivers too whole towns downstream were beingness flooded.
In 1 of the earliest environmental rulings, the Supreme Court ruled the practise a individual too world nuisance too outlawed it (Woodruff v. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company, 1884).
Left over was the network of H2O flumes used to redirect the water. For many years, farmers took the H2O they provided but eventually they roughshod into disuse. Someone figured out that the size too shape of these flumes were perfectly suited to a wheelchair too hence the people at the Sequoya Challenge refurbished these flumes into trails that wheelchairs tin navigate.
Today, yous tin fifty-fifty receive got your chair correct upwardly to the river's border and, if you're able, receive got a dip inwards the swimming hole there.
Afterward, nosotros caput dorsum downwardly to the valley too pass the afternoon cooling off inwards the hotel pool, enjoying the happy hour, too having dinner at a local Fuddrucker's.
That evening, nosotros sentinel the Olympic Trials on TV trying to spot our hotel neighbors.
Saturday
At breakfast today (have I told yous plenty how expert breakfast is at this hotel? Mmmmm…) I chat amongst the duet at the neighboring tabular array who are parents watching their little compete. I tell them nosotros watched on TV the nighttime earlier too they tell me a litany of complaints they receive got amongst TV coverage of their sport.
I receive got to agree. I am sick too tired of the "up unopen too personal" features of the Olympics too the dearth of actual contest coverage. Last nighttime it was all Marion Jones. All her struggles, trials, too accusations of steroid abuse. When the actual race came, it was along the lines of "MARION JONES came inwards SECOND PLACE…and someone else won…but 1 time to a greater extent than JONES CAME IN SECOND!"
There are hundreds of athletes inwards town this week, but unless you're 1 of the top few superstars of this sport, expert luck inwards trying to acquire someone to notice you.
We drive into Sacramento today (being the weekend there's trivial traffic hence driving 7 minutes beats a one-half hr on the train) too caput over to Sutter's Fort.
Over 30 years ago, I came hither on a seventh degree acre trip. Back hence it seemed on the border of town. Today, the fort sits on a foursquare block green surrounded past times houses, even buildings, churches, too a hospital.
It's form of similar visiting 1 of our state's missions amongst the rooms built into the adobe walls surrounding a cardinal yard. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 docent demonstrates the fine art of fur trapping (no animals were harmed for his demo), some other demonstrates arms amongst a musket firing, too a blacksmith is hammering away inwards a room inwards a corner.
It's interesting too ii to 3 hours is almost all you'll demand to explore here. Afterward, nosotros receive got tiffin at a crepe eating topographic point simply upwardly the street close a bead store that my married adult woman wants to store in.
We pass some other afternoon inwards the puddle earlier heading upwardly the route a ways to receive got dinner at the Cattlemen's eating topographic point inwards Folsom. Whenever I'm upwardly this way, I similar to receive got dinner at 1 of this chain's restaurants (most of their locations are inwards the Central Valley) where I tin receive got a delicious steak amongst all the trimmings.
If I'm non mistaken, they used to receive got their ain herd but at nowadays usage beef from Harris Ranch, the giant feed lot side past times side to Interstate v inwards Coalinga. It's nevertheless real expert meat but prices receive got gone up. Since nosotros all desire to swallow steak, nosotros gild the giant 42 ounce porterhouse dinner too divide it 3 ways. It's plenty of nutrient for us too to a greater extent than affordable than buying 3 separate dinners.
We brand it dorsum inwards fourth dimension to partake inwards 1 to a greater extent than happy hour. Tomorrow we'll live on checking out afterward 1 to a greater extent than sumptuous breakfast amongst the Olympians earlier heading downwardly Highway 99 to acquire home.
One to a greater extent than note…on the agency abode inwards Livingston (home of Foster Farms chicken), nosotros receive got tiffin inwards the Foster Farms eating topographic point here. Highly recommended. Of course, you'll desire to gild the chicken.
-Darryl
Copyright 2004 - Darryl Musick
After a trip to San Francisco, nosotros decided to receive got a dissimilar tack too caput over to Arnoldland…Sacramento.
Our hotel for this trip would live on the Hallmark Suites (now the Hotel Sierra - Ed) inwards Rancho Cordova, a suburb 7 miles eastward of Sacramento.
Day One - Wed (July 7th)
We acquire far at our hotel approximately 4 o'clock. It's a decent if generic looking identify but my married adult woman instantly takes a dislike to the room offered too has the front end desk modify us to a 2nd flooring room. I don't really view a divergence inwards the room except mayhap the parking lot noises would bother her…but I'm non going to argue, we're hither to receive got a expert time.
We've spent the twenty-four hours inwards Napa Valley so, afterward grabbing dinner at a nearby In 'n Out, nosotros simply relax inwards the room.
Thursday
Wow! What a fabulous breakfast they serve hither at the Hallmark.
We walk over to the nearby lite track station to grab a trolley into downtown Sacramento. Great arrangement they've got here. Quick, efficient too manned past times friendly, professional person drivers. $3.00 ($1.50 for disabled or seniors) (now $6 too $3 respectively - Ed) buys yous an all twenty-four hours overstep expert for the double-decker arrangement too. Traffic on the nearby thruway is at a close standstill but the prepare gets us downtown quickly. Our alone (very minor) electrical load would live on that the bench seats on the trolley aren't real comfortable for a long haul.
The driver drops us off at a halt almost ii brusk blocks to the Capitol Building. We walk over too follow the signs to the accessible entrance…actually, they receive got two. One on either halt of the building.
You must acquire through the e'er acquaint airdrome trend safety that is a mandatory characteristic of today's authorities buildings but 1 time inside, you're pretty much costless to roam wherever yous want. There is a tour desk inwards the basement that provides a grouping tour of the building…which nosotros would non halt upwardly taking equally you'll presently see.
Instead, nosotros encounter the hallway that leads to the governor's usage amongst golden relief lettering over the top reading "Arnold Schwarzenegger" simply inwards a higher identify the slightly duller lettering reading "Governor". We enquire the highway patrolman standing guard exterior if it is alright to acquire inwards too he says it is.
In the anteroom at that topographic point are no seats for visitors hence a position out of serious looking people inwards suits are milling approximately the desk of the receptionist. She informs us that, yes, the governor does entertain visitors when he's non also busy…a grouping of students got to acquire inwards too run into him non also long earlier nosotros showed up…but that he's real busy correct at nowadays (this was the fourth dimension of intense budget negotiations equally the state budget was viii days belatedly too counting).
Hanging on the wall was a Detroit Pistons jersey too several jars of nutrient products made inwards Michigan. The governor lost the traditional bet when the Lakers lost to the Pistons inwards the NBA finals too he had to vesture that jersey to operate 1 day.
In Front of The Governor's Office
Upon exiting the governor's usage lobby, I spy a edifice usage directory. I hold back upwardly our state senator too our state assemblyman's offices…which are both on the 3rd floor…and tell my boy too married adult woman nosotros should acquire upwardly too view them.We do. First upwardly is our state senator, Bob Margett. I tell the receptionist that I simply wanted to present my boy where our state senator worked. No problem, she welcomes us too has us sign the visitor register. Sen. Margett is non there, but she shows us his usage too asks, "have yous toured the edifice yet?"
Upon learning that nosotros haven't, she rapidly gets on the outcry upwardly too asks if nosotros tin render at 2:00. We tell her nosotros tin too simply similar that, she sets upwardly a individual tour of the edifice for us. She hence takes us over to the Senate Chamber too shows us Sen. Margett's desk on the flooring of the sleeping room too hence takes us dorsum to the office. We chat for a few minutes too hence receive got our leave of absence to caput over to our assemblyman's office.
At that office, of Assemblyman Dennis Mountjoy, nosotros 1 time to a greater extent than tell them we're constituents too wanted to view where our representatives worked. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 duet of legislative aides are working at that topographic point today too they receive got us sign their register too present us Mr. Mountjoy's usage (he also is out today). There are many enormous models of airplanes hanging from his usage ceiling too the aide tells us that the assemblyman likes to ready radio controlled model aircraft…but that he doesn't really wing them because he's afraid they'll crash expensively on landing (Mr. Mountjoy is also a pilot). The aide chats us upwardly quite awhile telling us almost dissimilar
politicians she's worked for, what Tim's college plans are, etc., too seems really pleased to receive got a conversation amongst some constituents.
After our visits, nosotros receive got a duet of hours to kill, hence nosotros caput over to nearby Old Sacramento to receive got tiffin too H2O ice cream.
On Our Tour Through the Capitol Building
At 2:00, nosotros render to Senator Margett's usage too run into our tour guide. She takes us 1 time to a greater extent than to the Senate flooring too explains almost the renovations that took identify almost 20 years ago, the history of the place, too how the coloring system (red) was copied from the House of Lords inwards England. Then it's over to the Assembly chambers for much of the same form of data (they're green, afterward the House of Commons), downwardly to the Library where rare books too plant of fine art are on display, the rotunda, too hence some recreations of onetime capitol offices such equally the treasurer too governor that are on the commencement floor. It's a fun too interesting tour too the building, at to the lowest degree the master copy onetime part, is quite beautiful.Afterward, nosotros render to Old Sacramento to hang out for awhile. This is, similar the elevate implies, a real onetime component subdivision of the town that has been preserved inwards a state park. It consists of almost 4 blocks of onetime Gold Rush era buildings along the riverfront amongst a few mysterious looking dorsum alleys inwards between. Most of the buildings are used past times shops, restaurants, too bars hence it's form of similar a mall inwards onetime buildings. On a hot twenty-four hours (as almost every summertime twenty-four hours inwards Sacramento is), the walk along the large river is real pleasant too pretty. The state railroad museum is also hither too looks real interesting but our tour of the capitol leaves us amongst alone almost xv minutes to spare earlier the museum's closing time, hence we'll leave of absence that for some other trip.
We option upwardly some fresh fruit at a attain store here, endeavor several samples of taffy at a candy store, option upwardly some souvenirs at a few of the shops, too hence grab the double-decker dorsum to the pedestrian mall where nosotros tin grab the trolley dorsum to the hotel.
Back at the hotel, nosotros swim inwards the crowded puddle too hence relish the hotel's costless happy hour. Afterward, I walk over to a nearby Wendy's too procure dinner for the 3 of us which nosotros relish inwards the room.
Friday
Today, the breakfast room is total of difficult bodies! Seriously, at that topographic point are men too women hither who receive got muscles upon muscles too non an ounce of fat. Many are wearing Olympic band jewelry, Olympic t-shirts, too Olympic hats. I enquire someone what's going on?
I discovery out that today is the commencement twenty-four hours of the Olympic Track too Field Finals, taking identify simply downwardly the route at Cal State Sacramento, too that many of our swain hotel guests are Olympic hopefuls. So, for the residual of our stay, we'll at nowadays live on surrounded past times some of the best athletes inwards the world. I don't know how many really made the team, but at to the lowest degree 1 that was at that topographic point - Hazel Clark - made the women's 800 meter team. We'll live on cheering on our swain guests this summertime equally they acquire to Athens. Go Hallmark Suite athletes!
Well, equally interesting equally this is, we're non hither for that…we're simply on vacation.
After breakfast, nosotros caput to the northwest to acquire to the Gold Rush town of Nevada City. We receive got ii reasons for beingness here. First, my married adult woman wants to acquire to the V*Tae fellowship store (they brand many lotions, oils, too other beauty products that she really likes) and, second, to acquire hiking.
Six miles northward of Nevada City, on Highway 49, is the Independence Trail. This is a wheelchair accessible trail…two of them actually…that current of air approximately v miles through the mountains too along side the Yuba River.
You see, dorsum inwards the Gold Rush days, miners idea it would live on groovy if they could simply boom away at the gold-bearing hillsides amongst high-pressure hoses. The dirt that washed away could hence live on sifted for gold. This was a much faster agency to acquire at large amounts of ore than past times using pans, sifting boxes, or digging. Only bad affair was that this was causing a huge environmental problem. Not alone were permanent scars beingness placed on the mountains, the dirt was polluting too silting upwardly the fish filled rivers too whole towns downstream were beingness flooded.
In 1 of the earliest environmental rulings, the Supreme Court ruled the practise a individual too world nuisance too outlawed it (Woodruff v. North Bloomfield Gravel Mining Company, 1884).
Left over was the network of H2O flumes used to redirect the water. For many years, farmers took the H2O they provided but eventually they roughshod into disuse. Someone figured out that the size too shape of these flumes were perfectly suited to a wheelchair too hence the people at the Sequoya Challenge refurbished these flumes into trails that wheelchairs tin navigate.
Today, yous tin fifty-fifty receive got your chair correct upwardly to the river's border and, if you're able, receive got a dip inwards the swimming hole there.
Along the Independence Trail
We acquire upwardly a mile or hence too receive got a little picnic at an overlook where nosotros tin view the river. There is a expert flake of toxicant oak here, hence nosotros receive got to live on careful, too walking inwards the flume ditch is a flake similar beingness inwards a tunnel. There are spectacular views, springs (with the accompanying põrnikas filled swamp), stone tunnels, too lots of trees too shrubs. It's non the real best accessible trail we've been on (that would live on either the West Fork trail inwards Azusa Canyon inwards the Angeles National Forest or the Trail of 100 Giants inwards Sequoia National Monument) but it's nevertheless a real expert trail.Afterward, nosotros caput dorsum downwardly to the valley too pass the afternoon cooling off inwards the hotel pool, enjoying the happy hour, too having dinner at a local Fuddrucker's.
That evening, nosotros sentinel the Olympic Trials on TV trying to spot our hotel neighbors.
Saturday
At breakfast today (have I told yous plenty how expert breakfast is at this hotel? Mmmmm…) I chat amongst the duet at the neighboring tabular array who are parents watching their little compete. I tell them nosotros watched on TV the nighttime earlier too they tell me a litany of complaints they receive got amongst TV coverage of their sport.
I receive got to agree. I am sick too tired of the "up unopen too personal" features of the Olympics too the dearth of actual contest coverage. Last nighttime it was all Marion Jones. All her struggles, trials, too accusations of steroid abuse. When the actual race came, it was along the lines of "MARION JONES came inwards SECOND PLACE…and someone else won…but 1 time to a greater extent than JONES CAME IN SECOND!"
There are hundreds of athletes inwards town this week, but unless you're 1 of the top few superstars of this sport, expert luck inwards trying to acquire someone to notice you.
We drive into Sacramento today (being the weekend there's trivial traffic hence driving 7 minutes beats a one-half hr on the train) too caput over to Sutter's Fort.
Over 30 years ago, I came hither on a seventh degree acre trip. Back hence it seemed on the border of town. Today, the fort sits on a foursquare block green surrounded past times houses, even buildings, churches, too a hospital.
It's form of similar visiting 1 of our state's missions amongst the rooms built into the adobe walls surrounding a cardinal yard. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 docent demonstrates the fine art of fur trapping (no animals were harmed for his demo), some other demonstrates arms amongst a musket firing, too a blacksmith is hammering away inwards a room inwards a corner.
It's interesting too ii to 3 hours is almost all you'll demand to explore here. Afterward, nosotros receive got tiffin at a crepe eating topographic point simply upwardly the street close a bead store that my married adult woman wants to store in.
We pass some other afternoon inwards the puddle earlier heading upwardly the route a ways to receive got dinner at the Cattlemen's eating topographic point inwards Folsom. Whenever I'm upwardly this way, I similar to receive got dinner at 1 of this chain's restaurants (most of their locations are inwards the Central Valley) where I tin receive got a delicious steak amongst all the trimmings.
If I'm non mistaken, they used to receive got their ain herd but at nowadays usage beef from Harris Ranch, the giant feed lot side past times side to Interstate v inwards Coalinga. It's nevertheless real expert meat but prices receive got gone up. Since nosotros all desire to swallow steak, nosotros gild the giant 42 ounce porterhouse dinner too divide it 3 ways. It's plenty of nutrient for us too to a greater extent than affordable than buying 3 separate dinners.
We brand it dorsum inwards fourth dimension to partake inwards 1 to a greater extent than happy hour. Tomorrow we'll live on checking out afterward 1 to a greater extent than sumptuous breakfast amongst the Olympians earlier heading downwardly Highway 99 to acquire home.
One to a greater extent than note…on the agency abode inwards Livingston (home of Foster Farms chicken), nosotros receive got tiffin inwards the Foster Farms eating topographic point here. Highly recommended. Of course, you'll desire to gild the chicken.
-Darryl
Copyright 2004 - Darryl Musick
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