The Atlas Obscura Guide To Sacramento

19 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Sacramento, California

Updated August 7, 2026

Email

Unusual Attractions in Sacramento

The Mansion Belle.

Sacramento, California

Spirit of Sacramento

Before it was abandoned and left to rust alongside the road, this riverboat starred in a John Wayne movie.

Original floor level

Sacramento, California

Sacramento's Original Street Level

The California capital city once stood 10 feet lower than it does today.

Sacramento, California

Dragon House

An eccentric home stands out in an otherwise average neighborhood with mosaics, mini topiaries, and kinetic sculpture.

The exterior.

Sacramento, California

Vic's Ice Cream Parlor

At this 1940s-era neighborhood favorite, you can still drink a cherry phosphate.

Miniature police and fire department.

Sacramento, California

Safetyville, USA

A working miniature city designed to teach kids about safety and presumably city planning.

Many ornate statues and obelisks are used as markers here.

Sacramento, California

Sacramento Old City Cemetery

The capitol city's oldest existing cemetery.

"Subtile."

West Sacramento, California

'Subtile' Sculpture

A mesmerizing disco ball-like sculpture along the Sacramento River Walk.

See All 19 Things To Do in Sacramento

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Sacramento

The exterior.

Sacramento, California

Vic's Ice Cream Parlor

At this 1940s-era neighborhood favorite, you can still drink a cherry phosphate.

Sacramento, California

Corti Brothers Grocery

The last of a gourmet supermarket chain, this store helped spark California's Food Revolution.

In partnership with GetYourGuide

Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Sacramento, California

History 3

Travel 2

Roadside Attractions 2

Art 2

Transportation 2

Collections 2

Architecture 2

Prisons 1

Donner Party 1

Abandoned 1

Roads 1

Miniatures 1

Murals 1

Engineering 1

Bridges 1

Dolls 1

Hotels 1

Cannibals 1

Boats 1

Gold Rush 1

Sacramento Leaderboard

Places Added

Join the Ranks!

Add an unusual place to Sacramento.

Places Edited

Join the Ranks!

Improve the Atlas with edits and photos.

Places Visited

Join the Ranks!

Visit a place in Sacramento.

Recent Sacramento Activity

dmkxk9bkcj profile photo

dmkxk9bkcj

has been to Dragon House
dmkxk9bkcj profile photo

dmkxk9bkcj

has been to Johnny Cash Mural
dmkxk9bkcj profile photo

dmkxk9bkcj

has been to Tower Bridge
lefthand profile photo

lefthand

wants to go to Sacramento's Original Street Level
patrickmeadows2 profile photo

patrickmeadows2

has been to Samson Luggage Sculpture

Stories About Sacramento

Queering California

I ran away from California to find myself. Turns out I should have just looked down.

by Patrick Tindall, Community Contributor

The rocky Revere Beach coast in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston.

Which Places With Bad Raps Are Actually Worth Visiting?

Our podcast listeners defend their favorite places with bad reputations, ranging from laundromats to ... Sacramento, California?

by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

Peale was the first professional still-life painter in the United States.

Why We Love Looking at Paintings of Food

For centuries, artists have painted fruit and cakes as a flex.

by Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

September 16, 2024

A "batnado" in action.

'Batnadoes' Can Protect California’s Crops

Bats are farmers' new best friends.

by Anne Ewbank, Atlas Obscura

August 16, 2018