Sacramento

In a nutshell

Driving the Pacific Highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, many holidaymakers miss Sacramento, tucked away inland in the Central Valley. The little-known state capital of California was the supply point for the famous 19th-century Gold Rush, and back then it was a rowdy, bustling place. Today it's a pleasant city of leafy blocks, with sleek towers in the central district, and the largest collection of restored buildings in California.

Along the riverfront, Old Sacramento has been resurrected through the restoration of the wharves, warehouses, stores and saloons, which are now atmospheric restaurants and shops. There's a Railroad Museum with some of those huge old trains with the cow-catcher grills on the front, and on summer weekends you can take a 45-min ride along the river on the Central Pacific Railroad steam train.

The elegant State Capitol, where the state government still sits, has also been restored to its former glory. Take one of the hourly tours to get the most out of it. A recreation of the original settlement, Sutter's Fort State Historic Park, is in the east of town. On summer weekends, volunteers get in costume and act out scenes from the Gold Rush days.