We had walked back to our hotel to drive to this tourist attraction...
which is Sacramento's version of Old Town (even having the same name). Even with the short drive over here, walking around was still not fun. You can't see the winds but it was pretty strong. My eyes kept watering and I literally could not keep them open at times. It really was not a pleasant morning because of that.
Just like San Diego's Old Town, there were a lot of historic buildings, many now repurposed as shops, offices, and eateries.
There was even an old steamboat, the Delta King, which is now permanently docked and serves as a hotel and restaurant.
Old train tracks were still here:
The visually striking Tower Bridge, a vertical lift bridge which spans the Sacramento River, the first of it's kind in the California Highway System. It opened in 1935 and has elements of Streamline Moderne architecture (an off shoot of Art Deco).
You can't see the bridge span here, thanks to Eat at Joe's.
Here is a better view. It would have been cool to see the bridge lift in action. I remember taking pictures of TC with the bridge as a backdrop; her hair was whipping wildly in the wind.
Across the river was this curious building. A quick check on google maps showed it was known as The Ziggurat, a ten story stepped office building. It was built in 1997 and meant to resemble something out of ancient Mesopotamia.
Map of Old Sacramento Historic District:
It was still pretty dead. No hordes of tourists just yet. It was not even 10 am yet but we wanted a quick look (we were on a timed meter, which I hate) before heading to our next destination, a quirky medical museum.
TC wanted to go in here. Even though she's a teenager, she still cannot resist candy stores.
The owner of the store was a guy with a tie dyed shirt handing out coupons for free samples. You could sample certain pieces of designated salt water taffy candy in the store.
Candy overload here!
I got two PEZ dispensers during this visit - Bailey the Beluga whale is Pixar's "Finding Dory" (the sequel to "Finding Nemo"). The other dispenser was Dory herself (can't really see it since it wasn't front facing).
The candy store had one of these creepy Zoltar fortune tellers...I get the creeps just looking at it. Total rip off too.
More historical buildings:
Ooh, mini donuts, but we did not partake.
Our time was almost up in the meter and we didn't want to get a ticket. I was only too glad to get back into the safe confines of the car. The pollen laden air really did a number of me. I was sneezing and not having fun with my watery and itchy eyes.
Old Town Sacramento
1002 2nd St.
Sacramento, CA 95814
oldsacramento.com
The Tower Bridge (downtown)
100 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, CA 95814
Bridge Specs:
"BridgeHunter
Here is an older article in which the public was asked to vote about which color to paint the bridge:
"No Golden Gate, Tower Bridge in Sacramento still wants to shine" LATimes, Jan 7, 2002
Obviously, gold won out!
plus:
"Tower Bridge turns 75
Sacramento Press, Dec 14, 2010
Candy Heaven
1201 Front St.
Sacramento, CA
Reviews from yelp
The morning was still young. I really wanted us to check out a museum not too far from downtown. It definitely fit into my definition of a "must see" and since it was free, well...it was a no brainer! That post coming up next.
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