Sacramento is California's capital city. The Sacramento metropolitan area is home to over 1.5 million people in environments that range from rural to suburban to decidedly urban, in a climate that many describe as "ideal." Sacramento offers a dynamic downtown center with opportunities to enjoy the arts, music, theater, dance and sports. Sacramento is home to the NBA Kings, the WNBA Monarchs, and the River Cats minor league baseball team. Just a stone’s throw away from Sutter General Hospital, history buffs can enjoy Sutter's Fort -- home to the 1849 Gold Rush. Old Sacramento is a favorite hotspot for dining, riverboat cruises, and seasonal festivals.

Sacramento encourages its residents to enjoy the outdoors. The climate boasts ample sunshine most of the year. Greenbelts, jogging paths, and bike trails run throughout the city. The 23-mile American River Parkway is one of the largest urban recreational parks in the country, and provides opportunities for biking, rafting, wildlife viewing, fishing, golf, and picnicking. Day trips to the Sierra Nevada mountains satisfies the occasional ski or snowboard itch during the winter, or the craving for hiking, mountain biking, or rock climbing during the warm summers.

» For more information, see The City of Sacramento's Web site.

Photo by Tom Spaulding, flickr.com. Used by permission.