| Sacramento
has many claims to fame: the Gold Rush, the Sacramento Kings and celebrity
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. But to the people that live and work
in the River City, politics is what makes the world go round. After
all, government was, is, and will most likely always be, the area's
biggest employer. But in recent years, more and more private industry
is relocating to Sacramento to take advantage of the relatively low
cost of living. The population is close behind—the Sacramento
area is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan regions in the state.
With the influx of residents, many from the more sophisticated Bay
Area, comes the need for more services. Fine restaurants are opening
in record numbers, luxury apartments are being constructed at unprecedented
rates and designer shops and boutiques are springing up all over town.
Sacramento is well on its way to becoming a sophisticated metropolis,
and as such, is now a key competitor with its larger, urban neighbors. |
Facts
to Know Before You Go |
Transportation:
Most business travelers arrive in Sacramento via air. Located about fifteen
miles north of downtown, Sacramento
International Airport has a number of rental car agencies on-site,
and taxis are readily available outside both Terminal A and Terminal
B. A one-way fare to the downtown area is approximately $27. ExecuCar offers
on-call business-class sedan service. Shuttle service via SuperShuttle is
also available for approximately $13 one-way downtown.
Although
Sacramento does have a limited public transportation system, the
most popular way to get around is by car. Parking is relatively
inexpensive and easy to find, and traffic in both the city and
on freeways is not as congested as in other urban areas. If your
visit is limited to the downtown area, getting around by taxi or
on foot is the way to go. Taxis can be hailed throughout the downtown
area, or they can be found in front of any major hotel.
Information:
The city's only major daily newspaper is The
Sacramento Bee, which publishes a daily business section and
a Friday "Ticket" section
with information on restaurants, nightlife, art exhibitions, theater,
music and other entertainment for the coming weekend.
Business
travelers can also get briefed on the latest business-related news
through the weekly Sacramento
Business Journal, whose online edition also provides links
to other business resources as well as a calendar of business events.
For insight
into the Sacramento lifestyle, including entertainment and the arts,
fine dining, community news and profiles of prominent Sacramentans,
pick up a copy of Sacramento
Magazine. For after-hours entertainment and events, check
out the Sacramento
News and Review, published on Thursdays. |
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Click here for exclusive savings. |
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This all-suites hotel is located on the Sacramento River, minutes from the state Capitol, Convention Center and central business district. All two-room suites feature high-speed Internet access, data ports, ergonomic desk chairs, and a refrigerator and microwave for a quick meal. Everything the business traveler needs is available: audio/visual equipment rental, fax machine, meeting rooms and copying services. Take advantage of the complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast and evening reception. And for those off-the-clock adventures, the hotel is ideally located—Old Sacramento, with its restaurants, shops and museums, is right across the street, and the Crocker Art Museum is a short walk away. For a scenic view of the Sacramento skyline, request the Riverview suite located on the top floor. |
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Although located about five miles northeast of downtown Sacramento, this resort-style hotel is a popular choice for those attending conventions and meetings. Renovated in 1999, guestrooms are equipped with high-speed Internet, executive desks, two telephones with data ports and private voicemail. In addition, the hotel offers Wi-Fi in the lobby area, a business center, photocopying services, fax machines, teleconferencing capabilities—even typewriters. Suite guests can enjoy complimentary continental breakfasts and evening hors d'oeuvres midweek. The on-site restaurant, the Harvard Street Grill, features casual California cuisine. After a long day, unwind at the heated outdoor pool, fitness room, sauna, steam room, hot tub or sand volleyball court. Arden Fair Mall is nearby for some shopping or movies. |
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Equal
in quality to the neighboring Sheraton Grand, the Hyatt
Regency Sacramento is located across from the state Capitol
and the Sacramento Convention Center in the central business
district. The Hyatt has more than 30,000 square feet of
meeting space, and wireless high-speed Internet is available
in all public areas. Business guests will benefit from
the full-service business center as well as dual-line phones,
oversized desks and high-speed Internet access in guest
rooms—many of which boast unobstructed views of Capitol
Park. Two on-site restaurants—Vines Café for
All Seasons and Dawson's American Bistro—provide
top-notch meals. After-hours, visitors can enjoy the heated
outdoor swimming pool, whirlpool, and the complimentary
fitness center. |
Residence Inn Sacramento
Downtown at Capitol Park
1501 L St. (15th Street)
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-443-0500
www.mariott.com |
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If
you're looking for an all-suites hotel close to
the Capitol, the Residence Inn can't be beat. Completed in
2007, this luxury fifteen-story hotel is cater-corner to Capitol
Park and across the street from two of the most popular fine-dining
restaurants in town—Mason's and Spataro. Each of
the 235 suites include high-speed Internet access, two-line
phones with voice mail, fully-equipped kitchens and flat screen
TVs. Room service and complimentary grocery shopping makes
those longer stays more pleasant, as does the on-site pool and spa.
Best of all, the entire property is non-smoking. |
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This downtown hotel stands out as the top choice for business travelers and government workers, and is centrally located across from the state Capitol and the Sacramento Convention Center. Situated in the restored Public Market Building, nestled between office buildings, restaurants and shops, the Sheraton Grand Sacramento features an upscale bar overlooking busy J Street, as well as Morgan's Central Valley Bistro, a good choice for a semi-casual business lunch. High-speed Internet access in all guest and meeting rooms, and in the business center. Available amenities include cordless and dual-line speaker phones, data ports, voice mail, fax machines and oversized desks. For recreation, you'll find a heated outdoor pool, a 24-hour fitness center and the Esquire IMAX Theater next door. |
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Located at the opposite end of the central city, the trek uptown is well worth it. Biba attracts diners from across the globe, and it's a must for anyone seeking an impressive meal—business or otherwise. Cookbook author and television host Biba Caggiano brings an urban flair to Italian cooking in a room adorned with minimalist modern art. House-made gnocchi, spinach lasagna and filet mignon are always solid choices. The menu tends toward traditional favorites, while with the list of 200-plus wines; you will find good Italian labels as well as local selections. |
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Between
the Sheraton Grand and Hyatt Regency hotels, the Esquire Grill is a
popular destination for the business diner. It is said to be a favorite
among politicians—including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger—as well
as area office workers, for both lunch and dinner. Like most of Randy
Paragary's establishments, the Esquire guarantees a refined meal in a
designer atmosphere. Patrons can enjoy a pre-meal cocktail at the long
bar or relax on the outdoor patio before sharing an intimate meal inside.
The American-themed menu includes fresh fish and steaks, as well as several
entrée salads and sandwiches. For dessert, try the sundae or butterscotch
crème brûlée. |
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Opened more than six decades ago, the original of the ever-growing Fat’s restaurant empire is still a favorite among downtown office workers, politicians and the Sacramento elite. Although it neighbors a parking garage, bus station and nightclub, the inside is refined. The dining room is luxurious and polished, retaining a vivid Far Eastern allure. The menu features a selection of dishes from each of the four main Chinese cuisines: Cantonese, Szechwan, Peking and Shanghai. Appetizers include the signature fried dumpling and salt-and-pepper calamari, and entrées of mango-ginger chicken and walnut prawns. Frank’s famous New York steak, doused in oyster sauce and onions, is still on the menu, as is the brandy-fried chicken, both local favorites. |
A popular spot for business lunches, Lucca welcomes diners with a warm and intimate atmosphere. Located within walking distance of several major downtown hotels, as well as the State Capitol and Convention Center, Lucca is popular among locals, too. The atmosphere is classy and refined but in no way intimidating or pretentious, with a menu to match. Dishes are simple and prices reasonable, considering the environment. Favorites include the crispy zucchini chip appetizer, golden chicken risotto and pan-seared salmon, or try one of the daily specials. Choose an inside table for a more private meal, or enjoy the outdoor patio with a relaxing fountain and heaters in the winter.
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This
is one of downtown Sacramento's most elite dining venues. The menu
is sophisticated and the service is quick and attentive—the perfect place for an
important event. The menu focuses on fresh, seasonal produce, so much
so that it changes daily to take advantage of what's ripe. In summer,
melon may appear several times: in a chilled soup starter, as a base
for an ahi and mint appetizer, and as a refreshing raspberry sorbet.
Summer fruit also stars in stewed compote beneath rich, tender duck breast.
Asparagus tips accent another dish of seared sea scallops atop sweet
corn, while an artichoke flan is the base for sliced octopus with crunchy
string beans and a zippy orange drizzle. The desserts are equally decadent,
especially the wickedly rich dome of chocolate ganache. Knowledgeable
waitstaff are happy to pair a wine with your meal—by the glass
or the bottle—from a healthy selection of wines from around the
globe. |
Spataro
1415 L St. (14th Street)
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-440-8888
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Italian
13/20
$$$$$ |
| Located
across from the state Capitol, this high-end Italian restaurant boasts
views of Capitol Park, with the see-and-be-seen patio a popular choice
for businesses lunchers. The seasonal menu is expansive, with selections
not commonly found at most Italian restaurants. Our favorites include
the beef carpaccio starter, richly flavorful tenderloin sliced paper-thin
with Parmesan slivers and pungent anchovies, and the polpettini—tiny,
delicate meatballs served with polenta. Any of the house-made pastas
are a good bet, including the delectable chicken and fontina cannelloni
or ricotta and spinach raviolini, while the moist, rich chicken saltimbocca
is a good option for an entrée. In true Italian style, be sure
to enjoy your meal with one of the many California or Italian wines, including a selection of unique wines. |
ARCO Arena
One Sports Parkway
Sacramento, CA 95834
www.arcoarena.com
This is the Sacramento region's top venue for sports, concerts and special events. With nearly 200 events each year, the 17,000-plus seat complex is one of the busiest in the nation. It is versatile enough to host a variety of events, from rock concerts to ice skating to monster trucks. Sports lovers won't want to pass up an opportunity to see one of Sacramento's basketball teams in action, including the NBA's Sacramento Kings or WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs. In addition to its on-the-go concession stands, it is also home to the Skyline Restaurant for more upscale cuisine and a full bar.
Crocker Art Museum
216 O St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.crockerartmuseum.org
Art lovers will relish the collections of the Crocker Art Museum, which features one of the largest collections of California art in the nation, including many works depicting life during the Gold Rush. Opened to the public in 1885, the museum is the oldest west of the Mississippi. In addition to changing exhibitions, the museum continues to expand its permanent collection, which now includes many pieces of European and Asian art. The building in which it is housed is a work of art itself, an Italianate mansion built in 1872.
Old Sacramento
Between I & L Streets
and Front & Second Streets
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.oldsacramento.com
Visitors interested in the history of the city should start with a visit to Old Sacramento. Seeped in Gold Rush history, this 28-acre riverfront state park was the first permanent settlement in the area, becoming a booming trading center when gold was discovered in the nearby foothills. The cobblestone streets, wooden sidewalks and 19th-century buildings have since been restored, although the saloons and bathhouses have been replaced by shops and restaurants. No visit would be complete without strolling through the California State Railroad Museum, or stepping inside a replica of the city's first one-room schoolhouse.
State Capitol
10th St. between L and N Streets
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.parks.ca.gov
For a first-hand look at California state government—past and present—visit the State Capitol. With construction completed in 1874, the building features turn-of-the-century architecture, including a 120-foot rotunda and period office displays. Now home to the governor and legislature, visitors can watch politics in action in the Senate and Assembly chamber galleries. In addition, tours are conducted daily on the hour. The building itself is located in Capitol Park, 40 acres of tree-shaded lawns and gardens, also home to several notable memorials, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Teal Bend Golf Club
7200 Garden Hwy.
Sacramento, CA 95837
www.tealbendgolf.com
Golf lovers with a few hours to kill can hit the greens at nearby Teal Bend Golf Club. Just minutes from downtown Sacramento, the eighteen-hole championship course boasts 250 acres of lush fairways, natural wetlands and local wildlife, including the regional duck from which it gets its name. The course was designed by a local architect who is also a PGA Tour professional, and has some of the finest turf conditions in the valley. Best of all, it is located near the airport, making it a perfect way to unwind before the journey home. |
Ready to book a trip now?
Click here for exclusive savings. |
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* All images from the properties' respective websites; image of State Capitol by
Sascha Brück
P091906 |
(Updated:
09/08/08 SG) |
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