For a taste of the Old West, complete with dirt and cobblestone streets flanked with wide wooden sidewalks and "Bonanza"-style buildings, visit Old Sac. Tour the historical four blocks in a horse-drawn carriage or take a ride on a riverboat. Bustling with activity, this place offers tourist shops, museums and antique trains. On weekends you can usually hear Cajun, blues, or folk music in one of several saloons and restaurants.

The California Auto Museum displays antique automobiles of all makes and models. Antique mannequins and artifacts enhance this museum's history of the automobile. Showcasing more than 150 classics, the museum also features dream exhibits which explore society's passion for speed, independence and the "cool" image associated with cars. Guided tours, video programs, group discounts, a gift shop, private party room (with cars displayed) and a research library are available.

Founded in the 1870s, Crocker Art Museum is known as the first art museum in the West. The historical building with hand-carved doors, ornate walls and parquet floors, creates a gorgeous backdrop as impressive as the art. The art includes the Gold Rush, Victorian and European masters and contemporary works. The museum hosts art talks, classical concerts, jazz concerts, and tours (afternoons and weekends). A gift shop is also available.

The Sacramento Zoo is home to more than 400 animals, including the snow leopard, red panda, eagles and reptiles. In addition to the animals, the zoo has lakes, gardens, an educational amphitheater, and a train that runs through the premises. Service and amenities also include picnic areas, concessions, gift store, stroller rentals and complimentary wheelchairs.

Conveniently located across from the Sacramento Zoo, Funderland is an amusement park designed for kids 12 and under. Popular rides include the Tea Cups, the Dragon Coaster, the Airplanes, and the Funderland train. There is also a carousel and old-fashioned bumper cars. Admission is free, but there are tickets for the rides. Private party rentals are also available, and the place features an on-site snack bar too.

More than 20,000 pioneers from the Gold Rush era (1840s) "rest in peace" here, including John A. Sutter, Jr. (founder of Sacramento), Edwin Bryant Crocker and Mark Hopkins (two of the "Big Four" of railroading). This well-maintained Historic City Cemetery was established in 1849. You will find fresh air, beautiful flowers, art sculptures and historical facts. You can easily spend several hours exploring the history entombed on this 28-acre site. Self-guided tour maps are available at the entrance.

Originally built in 1839, Sutter's Fort is symbolic of the Gold Rush era in California. It is equipped with 12 cannons and a jail. Costumed docents re-enact living history as mountain men, traders, trappers and blacksmiths. View replicas of covered wagons or watch while docents make handicrafts. A self-guided audio tour is a good way to experience all this fort has to offer.

Located next to Sutter's Fort, California State Indian Museum displays history from the Native American perspective. View intricately woven baskets, ceremonial dance regalia, sacred objects, headdresses, native instruments and other cultural items used by California's native people. Themes surrounding the natural world and its connection to the spiritual world add a rich contrast to the exhibits. Enjoy self-guided audio tours, which are activated by pushing indicated buttons.

The Governor's mansion, built in 1877, has 14-feet ceilings, crystal chandeliers, ornate moldings, Persian carpets, Italian marble fireplaces and French mirrors. Many Governors' wives, including Nancy Reagan, have remodeled the home. Among the famous guests who stayed in the mansion were Teddy Roosevelt and Jack Kennedy. Each room is furnished from a different era, so the tour is also a history of furniture. Tours are on the hour and guides must accompany visitors.

California Military Museum has a large display weapons, uniforms, battle flags and medals. In chronological order, you can see artifacts from before California was a state through the Spanish/American War, Civil War, World War I and II, and Bosnia. There is also information about Teddy Roosevelt's life, the San Francisco earthquake and a research center for anything you may have missed. The gift shop has memorabilia for sale.