Services
Residents of this region enjoy a well-developed network of transportation facilities and services from ground to sky. The Sacramento International Airport is available just 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento, while municipal and county airports offer convenient runways for private, charter, and corporate aircraft. Since the valley is ideally situated at the crossroads of central California, Interstates 5 and 80 combine with major state and federal highways for a strong network of surface travel options. Light rail, buses, and ride-sharing assistance through transportation authority organizations ensure that valley residents have alternatives to private-car travel.

Outstanding healthcare and educational services all play an integral role in the allure to the Gold Country, where the University of California-Davis allows the region to claim a position of leadership in research, diagnostics and treatment through its UC Davis Medical Center.

Excellent healthcare systems such as Sutter, Mercy, Kaiser Permanente, and Davis Health ensure that a network of major hospitals, community clinics, advanced specialists, and supportive services are available to meet every need.

Quality public and private schools serve the region, enhanced by a network of vocational and career institutions, community colleges, law schools, and major universities. Near the Capitol Building in downtown Sacramento lies the tree-shaded campus of the California State University-Sacramento, placing students within easy reach of opportunities for governmental research and internships. Not far from Sacramento in Davis, the University of California-Davis includes professional schools for Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Law, and Management. Respected as one of the premier advanced science and engineering schools in the nation, UC Davis was ranked by Money magazine as one of the top ten “best buys” in a public colleges and universities for in-state students. A number of quality colleges and universities also offer extensions in the Sacramento area, many of them providing the working adult with a convenient path toward an undergraduate or graduate degree.

 

Lifestyle
Claiming a starring role in the region, the city of Sacramento is regarded as one of the nation’s top metropolitan areas. Slower to develop than the Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas, Sacramento has nevertheless emerged in recent decades as the “new frontier” for growth and development. The entire metropolitan area continues to capture national attention as one of the most livable and dynamic in the nation. In response to its magnetism for business and tourism, the city completed a massive expansion and renovation of its downtown Convention Center, underlining its unique architecture with cutting-edge technological capabilities. From beautifully landscaped garden terraces, guests can enjoy spectacular views of the lush State Capitol Park or the lively K Street Pedestrian Mall.

Downtown Sacramento and historic “Old Sac” are brimming with world-class attractions like North America’s largest interpretive railroad museum, the Leland Stanford Jr. Mansion, the Governor’s Mansion, Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park, the Towe Auto Museum, and the Crocker Art Museum. Add to the list the California State Indian Museum, the Discovery Museum, the Sacramento Zoo, the Wells Fargo History Museum, the California State Capitol Museum, and the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Enchanting cafes, shops, boutiques, carriage rides, galleries, night spots, and theatre have made Old Sacramento a favorite gathering place for residents as well as visitors.

Also centered in Sacramento is the valley’s cultural community, anchored by professional companies for ballet, opera, theatre, and symphony. Dance, music, theatre, gallery exhibitions, big-band sounds, chorale groups, and innovative artists of every genre keep the calendar filled with exciting performances and events. Seasonal festivals and celebrations add to the spirit of camaraderie within each community—or the entire valley. More than 100,000 music fans flock to Sacramento for the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee, renowned as the world’s largest traditional jazz festival. The California State Fair alone attracts over 800,000 attendees in a typical year.

Professional sports are another draw to Sacramento—home to men’s and women’s basketball teams, the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs respectively — as well as indoor soccer, minor league baseball, and World Team Tennis. Fans cheer on harness races at Cal Expo and collegiate competition in any number of exciting sports for both men and women. Those who enjoy active sports will find a four-season wonderland in and around the Sacramento Valley. The California Delta beckons water-sport enthusiasts to 1,000 miles of waterways for boating, fishing, camping, houseboating, cruising, water-skiing, windsurfing, swimming, bird watching, and dining. Closer to home the American River Bike Trail winds along the nationally scenic waterway, providing 35 miles of multi-purpose paved trails. As the valley rises into the Sierra Nevada foothills and towering mountains, outdoor enthusiasts will find world-renowned recreation sites like Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley “Olympic” Ski Resort.

Equestrian activities, golf courses, tennis and racquet clubs, athletic fields, playgrounds and lush parks, swimming pools, skating rinks, fishing and hunting areas, downhill and cross-country ski areas are all available in the hills, mountains, and valleys of this panoramic region. Most communities offer a kaleidoscope of artistic classes and modes of expression, from dancing to painting. Teen centers, community centers, recreation centers, and senior centers abound. The more adventurous may want to explore skydiving, wind-surfing, jet-skiing, air-ballooning, snowmobiling, snowboarding, off-roading, rodeo competition, backpacking, bungee jumping, rock-climbing, whitewater rafting, kayaking, or canoeing.

Day trips and weekend vacations are a common indulgence for residents of the Sacramento Valley, who have for their backyard such unsurpassed delights as the pristine and majestic Lake Tahoe, alpine recreation areas, Nevada casinos, and the award-winning wineries of the Napa and Sonoma valleys. Just a two or three-hour drive from home is one of the world’s most beloved travel destinations: the San Francisco Bay Area. Vistas of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, and narrow streets graced by lovely Victorians add to the mysterious allure of the shopping, culture, and entertainment scenes.

Whatever lifestyle you might desire, the Sacramento Valley has the ideal environment. Rustic small towns contrast with the cosmopolitan atmosphere of bustling urban and suburban settings. Even the Sacramento streets reflect an unusual degree of mixed architecture, and cozy bungalows shaded by large old trees often share the neighborhood with stately mansions. In the River City as Sacramento is often called, this visually engaging harmony of elements creates an undeniable charm and a unique cityscape.

Residents and visitors alike agree that the Sacramento Valley is a place of incredible natural and crafted beauty, from the snow-capped mountains to the impressive rotunda of the California State Capitol building and park. Miles of sparkling waterways meander through wildlife preserves, pine-scented forests, and fertile valleys. The timeless scene of picturesque riverboats against a crimson sunset creates the ideal backdrop for tree-shaded streets lined with magnificent Victorians or elegant old hotels. Masterpieces of custom construction are often set on oak-studded home sites that command spectacular views of lush fairways or shimmering lakes. Wherever you decide to settle in the Sacramento Valley, you’ll discover a quality of life that grows richer and more endearing with each passing year.

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