Old Sacramento State Historic Park — Attraction in Sacramento

Old Sacramento State Historic Park is a fun and charming place to visit if you’re into history or just looking for a nice way to spend an afternoon. Walking through the old-timey wooden boardwalks and restored 1800s buildings really makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. There’s a cool mix of museums, little shops, and restaurants—some are more touristy than others, but it adds to the quirky charm of the place.

The highlight for me was definitely the California State Railroad Museum—it’s surprisingly impressive and really well done. Even if you’re not a big train person, it’s worth checking out. We also did the underground tour, which gives you a glimpse of how the original streets of Sacramento were raised after major flooding. Super interesting and a little eerie in the best way.

There are also a bunch of souvenir shops, old candy stores, and novelty spots that are clearly geared toward tourists, but still fun to browse. Some places felt a bit overpriced or gimmicky, but that’s kind of expected in a historic district like this.

The only downsides were the crowds and parking—it can get a bit busy, especially on weekends, and finding a good parking spot nearby takes a bit of luck or patience. Also, while the area is very family-friendly during the day, it felt a little less lively and safe at night.

All in all, it’s a great place to bring visitors or just explore on your own if you’re into local history. I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do every time you’re in Sacramento, but it’s definitely worth visiting at least once. If you pair it with the Railroad Museum or grab lunch at Joe’s Crab Shack by the river, it makes for a really...

DISCLAIMER: This review is for the Old Sacramento Town section of the park and not the museums or historic significance.

If the state parks department wants this park to be important and significant into the future, then it needs to invest in its clean up and eliminate the scruffy shops and restaurants. The wooden buildings look very tired and it's not because there're old, it's because they are neglected, with maintenance and repairs not being keeped up. If you want a BAR then you're in luck because it seems that that group of people have taken over the area, with many bars to choose from. I'm not promoting the bars, because these bars detract from Old Town Sacramento... but it's easy money, isn't it ? The car culture of "loud riders" [blasting music and extreme engine noise, that terrorizes the streets, until after midnight], have made walking the old streets miserable. What's that going to do for tourism ? Where is law inforcement because this can't be legal ?! Also, if you want cheap souvenirs there is plenty of choice, with only a few shops offering quailty articles. I recommend that you spend your money at the Historic museum shop and the Train...

I rarely leave reviews this harsh, but I feel obligated to warn others. From the moment I stepped into this place, I was overwhelmed by a strong, unmistakable stench of rat urine — a foul, acrid odor that clung to the air and made it nearly impossible to breathe comfortably. It was like walking into a forgotten storage unit that hadn’t seen a cleaning product in years.

As if the smell weren’t bad enough, I actually saw rats — not just one or two, but several darting across the floor and even disappearing into the floorboards and trash cans.

I didn’t dare eat or drink anything around the area. I’m honestly not sure how businesses are still allowed to operate in its current condition.

Do yourself a favor: skip this place for now. It’s not just uncomfortable — it’s a health hazard. The city should do something about this. It’s disappointing. I wished I had snapped a couple of pictures and...