25 Places to Go in 2025 Spotlight: Sacramento, California

Sacramento is the perfect base to try and strike it rich on a gold panning tour (or at least learn about the Gold Rush era at Old Sacramento State Historic Park). Museums like the California State Capitol Museum (focused on the state’s political history) and the Crocker Art Museum (the oldest art museum in the Western United States, founded in 1885) offer different glimpses into the past. Past and present come together when it comes to food. Sacramento is called “America’s Farm-to-Fork Capital” thanks to the many surrounding farms that grow a wide diversity of food in the fertile earth. The restaurants, bars, breweries, and Midtown Farmers Market take full advantage of the fresh produce, making Sacramento the culinary destination you didn’t know needed to be on your travel list.

In 2025, Sacramento will host its first MLB team while the Oakland Athletics play in the city through 2027 ahead of the team’s move to Las Vegas. And while the Sacramento Kings don’t have the same following as bigger NBA teams in California like the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers, the gameday environment is worth choosing travel dates around. A host of Sacramento Airbnbs make finding a memorable place to stay easy, or opt for a hotel like the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel adjacent to the Golden 1 Center, where concerts and events are held when the Kings aren’t playing.