What to do in Sacto

[fe2_o3]

    We should be in Sacramento in a few weeks to attend the Jazz Festival over the Memorial Day weekend. Aside from a side trip to Reno and the Railroad Museum, what to do, what to do?
    I lived in Rancho Cordova about 50 years ago, but don't remember much except for the Mills Winery and teaching curse words to their Mina Birds.
    We'll be staying in the Lake Mindon area about 20 mi. east of town.
    After Sacto we'll head up the coast then go inland to see the Spruce Goose at McMinville and the rally at Rickreall, OR.
     I could learn to enjoy this retirement thing....Cable

[Sean]

Cable,

The railroad museum is in Old Town, which has lots of other interesting shops and restaurants.  Budget a full day for the museum.  Oversize vehicle parking is in a lot near the Amtrak station.

On the river in Old Town is the river boat Delta King.  Now a hotel, it is worth a visit; they have a tavern where you can get lunch or dinner, but a bit pricey.  There are also faux river boats that will take you on a river cruise.

Of course, the capitol is interesting, and who knows, you might even run into the governator.  But we've always found Old Town the only worthwhile part of town.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[bcaddel]

Hi Cable
We live in Reno and enjoy going over the hill to Sacramento and having dinner in Old Town. Several nice places to dine there. We will be going through Sac on Memorial Day (Monday) in our bus to spend a couple weeks on the delta. We have found a great spot called Snug Harbor it's about 30 miles south of Sacramento. They are located right on the river with RV Sites 10 feet from the dock where we can tie up our boat. It's really relaxing but kind of pricey ($45). I think they have some vacancies on the weekdays though if your interested.

http://www.snugharbor.net/index.htm

If you have a day or two to stop by Snug Harbor we will be happy to take you on a cruise up and down the river. We will have a 27 ft pontoon boat and a couple of jet ski's we bring with us, the grandkids come down on the weekends and the pontoon boat is too slow for them.

If you are into a relaxing afternoon sipping something cool while cruising Sac River stop by.  We are in our early 60's and we are real anxious to start that Retirement thing also. I don't know when your coming through Reno, but if it is before Memorial day stop by the Alamo Travel Center in Reno (Petro Truck Stop) and say HI, we both work there and we are always happy to see another Bus Nut.

Bob and Pearl

[Hobie]

While in downtown drop by for a bite at Sandra Dees BBQ.  Its great!  Just north of the Capital by a few blocks in a residential area.


601 15th Street    ( corner of F and 15th streets)
Sacramento, CA 95814-1612
(916) 448-6375



http://www.sandradeesbbq.com/home.html

[JohnEd]

Cable,

We live in Eugene.  On your way to RR.  PM me if you are stopping here and we can meet for coffee.  Phone is listed in pers.

Have a great trip.  You are traveling the coast at the most beautiful time of the year.

John

[fe2_o3]

  Thanks Guys;
  Sean; We will visit the RR museum and the river boat.
  Bob; Exactly how long does it take to get to Reno from Sacto? Does the Alamo take over nighters? Brought a toad for side trips, but had to take the dog too (enter curse word here). Can't leave him alone too long. Hope to take the car to Reno, but don't know yet.
   Hobie; We will stop by Sandra Dees BBQ. That's cool I didn't even know she could cook.
   John; We want to hit the Redwoods, Whalers Rest, Bandon, Winston, and we have to stop in Roseburg for a family visit. I hope we can stop in Eugene too. If not before RR then maybe after.
   Thank you all...Cable

[bcaddel]

Cable
We don't encourage overnighter RV's at the Alamo (we have a Super 8 motel and try to not siphon off business from that) but we do allow it on occasion. Let me know when you will be in Reno and I will get it cleared for you if you want to bring your bus and spend the night. It is about 130 miles and about 2 hours to get to Reno but a bus takes a little longer with the mountain grades.

[Lin]

Folsom Prison is nearby too.

[grantgoold]

Sutter's Fort, Sutter's Mill, Fish Hatchery, Delta King, Crocker Art Museum, B Street Theater, Capital Park, Foothill Winery,...... Old Town Folsom......

Good luck and enjoy your time here in Sacratomato!

Grant

[BG6]

    We should be in Sacramento in a few weeks to attend the Jazz Festival over the Memorial Day weekend. Aside from a side trip to Reno and the Railroad Museum, what to do, what to do?

GET OUT WHILE YOU STILL CAN!!!!   

If you need any work done, this would be a good time to get up to Williams and let Ted get that done.

There's a air museum at McClellan (and AFEES, if you need one).  Some Filipino stores and restaurants near McClellan and on the south side of town.

The best railroad scenery in the country can be seen by hopping Amtrak in Sacto (where there is another railroad museum, and the Old Town stuff), going up to Reno, RON then catch the train back the next morning.  Midweek rooms at Cal-Neva are $29 with two free breakfasts (mention the Internet when you call to reserve), and it's two blocks from the train station.  Ask for a room on the 16th or 17th floor for a decent view and fridge in the room.  The convenience store just next door has fresh milk and fair prices (for being downtown).  Eldorado has the best buffet, Harrah's is also good, and Circus Circus has shows but locals don't eat there.   All are within walking distance.  Sierra Grand, Peppermill and Atlantis are several miles away and there's not much else around them, so you want to be downtown.

Dunno where you are coming from, but if you're running I-80 through Utah, don't miss the free tours in Salt Lake City -- Temple Square (and surrounding museums), the Humanitarian Center, "This is the Place" -- and if you are there on either Thursday night or Sunday morning, there are free concerts by the Tabernacle Choir. 

There is a railroad museum in Odgen, about 30 miles north of SLC, and a few miles from there is the Golden Spike National Monument.  If you run up to GSNM, watch for the "Big Fill" on your right (look this up online), and there is also an outdoor rocket and missile museum at Thiokol, about a mile north of where you make the turn to the road that goes past the Big Fill.  You can also see original roadbeds, including a few portions where the UP (going west) and CP (going east) were passing each other, trying to make as many miles (which they were paid for) before being told to stop and join!

Going west, stop at the Salt Flats rest area and tour Wendover Field when you go through (Wendover is where they trained to drop the nukes on Japan).  Both buffets in Wendover are good, and both are across the street from where you will park your rig, so you can check them both out before picking one.

Fuel from Utah through Sacto, you will usually find your best prices at Lake Point (just west of SLC), Winnemucca and Fernley (east of Reno), but check the "gas prices" sites before you go, because there can be as much as 30 - 40 cents per gallon difference along the way.

CURRENTLY, fuel is running about 3.09 in the Reno-Sparks area, which usually is about the same as California prices.

There is NO NEXTEL SERVICE for about 350 - 375 miles, from just past Wendover until you get a few miles east of Fernley.  Walmarts in Elko, Winnemucca and Reno.

If you need fuel in Sacto, the only place that I ever found it cheap was just south -- go south on Hwy 99 at Consummes Road (something like that -- about 5 miles from I-80 loop), make a right off the ramp, left at the light (Bruceville Rd) then the next left. When I was out there last winter they ran about 10 - 20 cents cheaper than anywhere else in town.  Diesel is on the ENDS of the station, and there is room go either turn or back out after fueling.  The Golden Corral that is a little further down that same road has no RV or trailer parking, but was the only one I've ever been to that I looked forward to going back.

If you are thinking about going to the Bay Area, DO NOT take your coach into San Francisco except if you stay on Hwy 101 or stop at the Presidio area.  If you have a 40-foot 102 especially, even the tour guys scuff them up there. 

I STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST TAKING A COACH SOUTH ON HWY 1 PAST PACIFICA.  There's a reason that's called "Devil's Slide."

Good luck and enjoy your trip.

[BG6]

  Bob; Exactly how long does it take to get to Reno from Sacto?

I'm not Bob, but I've made that trip a number of times.  Plan on 3 or even 4 hours, with a lot of downhill, if you are trying to get there at a particular time.  If you aren't worried about time, just relax and enjoy some of the best scenery and worst roadway in the country. 

You will spend a lot of time in low gears and on the brakes.  You may want to stop at one or two of the rest areas and let the brakes (and nerves) cool down a bit -- if you do, park level and don't set your parking brakes.

It actually takes less time going TO Reno, because you can run at highway speeds (engine permitting).

[Sean]

The best railroad scenery in the country can be seen by hopping Amtrak in Sacto ...  to Reno

I and many other rail fans would dispute this statement.  I would instead say "among the best..."

where there is another railroad museum,

Uhh, that's the museum we're talking about.

RON then catch the train back the next morning.

Careful with this one.  It's a great ride there and back, especially if you get a compartment.  But only do this if you can afford two to three days.  While the eastbound Zephyr is seldom more than an hour or so late leaving Sacramento, and perhaps four hours or so late in Reno, the westbound train is another story.  It comes all the way from Chicago, and has been known to be 24, 36, and even 40+ hours late.  When they get later than 24 hours, you get all sorts of people west of the delay who try to board what amounts to the train before theirs, and coach seats are often full before the train gets to Reno.  It is an all-reserved train, so don't go without a round-trip ticket.

(FWIW, I was caught on one of the few eastbound trips where the train was later than 12 hours into Reno.  In fact, Amtrak bussed us to Portola and put us on the train on the old WP at oh-dark-early in the morning.)

Also note that the train tracks and I-80 cross Donner Pass in sight of each other, so the scenery is about the same.

...
If you are thinking about going to the Bay Area, DO NOT take your coach into San Francisco ...

I would have no concerns taking a 4104 on any major street in San Francisco.  It is, in fact, impossible to cross the Golden Gate without driving on SF city streets -- there is no freeway.  That said, it is nearly impossible to find coach parking in SF (although we did spend a night on the street there once: http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/05/shaky-town.html).

I STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST TAKING A COACH SOUTH ON HWY 1 PAST PACIFICA.  There's a reason that's called "Devil's Slide."

Yes, but that reason has nothing to do with how hard it is to navigate or drive.  It has to do with the fact that the roadway regularly falls into the ocean.  FWIW, CalTrans is bypassing it, and construction is ongoing even as I type this.  Again, I would have no issues taking a 4104 through here.  I remember my first time on this road; it was in an MC-7 and we drove all the way to SF from LA on 1.  We regularly drive this route in our coach.  Just be aware that most of 1 is restricted to coaches 40' or less.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[JohnEd]

BG5 and Sean,

Thank you both very much.  Won't leave home without copies of your posts.

John

[BG6]

The best railroad scenery in the country can be seen by hopping Amtrak in Sacto ...  to Reno

I and many other rail fans would dispute this statement.  I would instead say "among the best..."

I've been on just about every mile that still goes anywhere in the US (I don't count "hobby" trains, dinner trains, etc -- those are a separate class).  The only thing that comes close is in Colorado.  

where there is another railroad museum,

Uhh, that's the museum we're talking about.

Okay.  When you say take a trip to Reno and see the railroad museum, I'm figuring that you mean the railroad museum just south of Reno.  Go figure.  

RON then catch the train back the next morning.

Careful with this one.  It's a great ride there and back, especially if you get a compartment.  But only do this if you can afford two to three days.  While the eastbound Zephyr is seldom more than an hour or so late leaving Sacramento, and perhaps four hours or so late in Reno, the westbound train is another story.  It comes all the way from Chicago, and has been known to be 24, 36, and even 40+ hours late.  When they get later than 24 hours, you get all sorts of people west of the delay who try to board what amounts to the train before theirs, and coach seats are often full before the train gets to Reno.  It is an all-reserved train, so don't go without a round-trip ticket.

Concur.

Even though I used to commute on it and never had a problem, I know others who did.

(FWIW, I was caught on one of the few eastbound trips where the train was later than 12 hours into Reno.  In fact, Amtrak bussed us to Portola and put us on the train on the old WP at oh-dark-early in the morning.)

Also note that the train tracks and I-80 cross Donner Pass in sight of each other, so the scenery is about the same.

Uh . . .I disagree that the scenery is the same, even where the track crosses the highway.  You generally see a lot more from the train, because you are higher off the ground and the rails tend to be higher up the hill.  And you don't get the history lesson if you go I-80.

...
If you are thinking about going to the Bay Area, DO NOT take your coach into San Francisco ...

I would have no concerns taking a 4104 on any major street in San Francisco.  It is, in fact, impossible to cross the Golden Gate without driving on SF city streets -- there is no freeway.  That said, it is nearly impossible to find coach parking in SF (although we did spend a night on the street there once: http://ourodyssey.blogspot.com/2009/05/shaky-town.html).

Gonna disagree again.  The four miles of 101 between the Park and the freeway are wide, nearly straight and built to highway standards.  There are no 90-degree turns (unless you want to take the coastline, where you get two of them), and the lights are timed to allow big vehicle to safely stop.

Military heavy-load convoys can make that run without escorts, and are prohibited from any other route unless they have permits and escorts.

There are three or four RV parks to the south and southeast.  All are expensive.  If you HAVE to stay in that area, the one in Pacifica has a nice view and the people are pleasant, but grease the sides of your rig when you pull in, the spaces are like parking at Walmart.

I STRONGLY ADVISE AGAINST TAKING A COACH SOUTH ON HWY 1 PAST PACIFICA.  There's a reason that's called "Devil's Slide."

Yes, but that reason has nothing to do with how hard it is to navigate or drive.  It has to do with the fact that the roadway regularly falls into the ocean.  FWIW, CalTrans is bypassing it, and construction is ongoing even as I type this.  Again, I would have no issues taking a 4104 through here.  I remember my first time on this road; it was in an MC-7 and we drove all the way to SF from LA on 1.  We regularly drive this route in our coach.  Just be aware that most of 1 is restricted to coaches 40' or less.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

Caltrans has been working on the bypass for years, and has years to go.  The current road has several pulls, it is narrow and windy with no pulloffs except for the construction equipment, it is subject to frequent blockage due to accidents or slides, the road is deteriorating and being given only absolutely necessary repair.  More than once I saw an ambulance, lights going and carrying patients from one accident, stuck in traffic behind another accident which had taken out both lanes with no way around it.

The road is so bad that when I was staying in Pacifica and working in Half Moon Bay, I would run the inland route and generally get there before my coworkers who came through the Slide.

[Sean]

I've been on just about every mile that still goes anywhere in the US (I don't count "hobby" trains, dinner trains, etc -- those are a separate class).  The only thing that comes close is in Colorado.  

Again, matter of personal opinion.  I happen to think the Starlight on its coastal stretch is a more beautiful ride, and of course the Zephyr along the old D&RGW trackage.  Also, The Canadienne is arguably more scenic along a good part of its western reach (although that would not count as "in the country").  I was simply pointing out that it is among the best -- "the best" is subjective.

Okay.  When you say take a trip to Reno and see the railroad museum, I'm figuring that you mean the railroad museum just south of Reno.  Go figure.  

I see the OP could have been read either way.  But all the previous responses related to the Cal State Railroad Museum in Sac'to.

Uh . . .I disagree that the scenery is the same,

Note I said "about the same." Your observations about vantage point are correct, and, of course, it's unsafe to be watching the scenery while piloting a 15-ton bus.

Gonna disagree again.  The four miles of 101 between the Park and the freeway are wide, nearly straight and built to highway standards.

Well, OK, but there are also plenty of other routes in SF that are perfectly safe and adequate for 45' buses, and 40's would be a piece of cake.  So the admonition to stay out of the city altogether is a bit overly cautious.

There are no 90-degree turns ...

No, but there is a narrow chicane through the park, which, frankly, I find much more challenging than many SF streets, especially given how fast some folks try to take it.

Caltrans has been working on the bypass for years, and has years to go.  The current road has several pulls, it is narrow and windy with no pulloffs except for the construction equipment, it is subject to frequent blockage due to accidents or slides, the road is deteriorating and being given only absolutely necessary repair.  More than once I saw an ambulance, lights going and carrying patients from one accident, stuck in traffic behind another accident which had taken out both lanes with no way around it.

The road is so bad that when I was staying in Pacifica and working in Half Moon Bay, I would run the inland route and generally get there before my coworkers who came through the Slide.

All true, but, again, for someone who is planning to run the road once, on vacation, to see the sights, it's an unnecessary detour.  We've done it in the bus -- it's not a problem.  If you have to drive it every day, it can be a pain in the butt.  Especially when it's closed for months at a time.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com