I have been to Sacramento a few times and I love the area around Sacramento. However, the city itself really is quite a bore. This last time I was there I was really surprised at how much of a bore it really was. I understand it is a city based on government and when 5 o’clock comes it is time for all the bureaucrats to head home. However, it is California and a large city, so you would think it would have somewhat of a nightlife. But, this has not been my experience.
Last time I was in town, we thought we would have a quick dinner on a Sunday evening then head over to the Pyramid Brewery down by the Capitol for a few beers. Well, that was a big mistake. Turns out that the Pyramid Brewery closes about 6 pm on Sunday in the middle of the summer. Who would have thought? We weren’t the only ones surprised we probably saw 10-20 people also walk up and try the doors.
Luckily, we had a map that mentioned another brewery about 10-15 blocks away. It was quite a walk but well worth it. The Rubicon Brewing Company was a gem in a dead city. The beer was good, staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was a little bit dive bar. Great place to go and everyone seemed to be a local. Put this one on your list if you visit the area– and its better beer than Pyramid anyway.
Now a little mention about the areas around Sacramento, because where Sacramento fails, they shine. The Apple Hill region is east of Sacramento. It is filled with wineries, a few breweries, and apple/fruit orchards. This is a great place to spend the day, especially in the Fall when the fruit trees are in season. Every time I make it to Sacramento, I try to make a trip out this way to visit some wineries and my favorite brewery, the Jack Russell Farm Brewery (which now also has a winery). The beers here are all English style and quite good. I think I have tried most of their regular brews and haven’t found a bad one. The atmosphere is great, especially on the weekends when the outside tables are packed with people. The staff is friendly. The place can be a bit hard to find your first time. Make sure if you visit this area to stop at a visitors center to get a map– this list breweries, wineries, and orchards in the area.
Finally, I have to mention Lodi– land of the Zinfindel. It was a few times that I visited Sacramento before I realized that Lodi was only about 45 minutes to the south. Lodi is a great little town with wineries scattered throughout. They also grow a lot of almonds in the area and I got a huge bag of some great raw almonds at a local winery just for saying that they were so tasty. Stop at the Lodi Visitor Center for a wine map of the area. Michael David Winery is probably the most visited as it sits right off the interstate. They are of course known for their 7 Deadly Zins– great name and good wine for the money. This winery also sells local produce and a deli style restaurant so it makes a great place for lunch. The Van Ruiten Family Winery sits right next door and makes one of my favorite zins.
So what do I have to say about Sacramento– skip the city and head for the hills (literally if you head toward Apple Hill)!
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