Overview of Old Sacramento

Posted in A to Z, local businesses, Sacramento Sights

Whether you’re in search of history lessons, Sacramento’s “origin story,” some current-day nostalgia, old-fashioned cosplay, or just a few good souvenirs, Old Sacramento is one of the city’s must-see tourist destinations.

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Photo by Morn at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0

As per the neighborhood’s Google description:

“Old Sacramento is the riverfront historic district, with Gold Rush-era buildings, cobblestone streets, and horse-drawn carriages. It’s home to numerous museums, including the Sacramento History Museum and the state Railroad Museum, which offers excursion train rides. Souvenir shops sell T-shirts, movie memorabilia, and antiques, and there are several upscale restaurants and a few bars popular with the college crowd.”

Exploring Sacramento has already covered a few of the shops located in Old Sacramento, including Evangeline’s Costume Mansion and the Underground Tasting Room, as well as tours by the Sacramento History Museum, but here’s a full list of all the sights you can see in this part of town:

Not to mention all of the dining and shopping options!

During the summer months you may see docents dressed in period costumes, leading tours and offering information about Sacramento’s history. And, of course, this is an area that likes to host public events, so you may find yourself in the midst of a Latin dance night, some waterfront yoga, or eager to enjoy some chocolate tastings during Chocolate Week (May 13-19, 2019).

Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg has also recently announced plans to improve the Waterfront area using hotel tax fund money, so potential additions to the area could include a “freight depot, history museum event deck, water feature, floating terrace, festival space and more,” according to local news source KCRA. Check back in a few years to see how far that $45 million renovation plan goes!

Notes on (public) nudity

Posted in A to Z, local businesses

If you’ve been wondering about California’s reputation as a hangout for hippies and weirdos, I must say that for the most part it is well earned. Our state is home to many folks who enjoy pushing boundaries, testing limits, and living life according to their own rules.

Which brings us to nudists.

What is a nudist? An enthusiast of wearing nothing but the birthday suit God gave him or her, someone who prefers to go “clothing optional” whenever possible, a person who celebrates the human form – with all its glories and imperfections. All of these are part of the nudist experience.

Naturally, going nude in public is generally frowned upon – even in a laid-back state like California – and nudity is often associated with sexuality, which sometimes gives nudists a bad reputation.

So, where to experience the freedom of public nudity, without all the drawbacks? At a nudist (“clothing optional”) resort, of course!

Laguna del Sol is Sacramento’s premiere clothing-optional resort, with four separate pool and spa areas.

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Laguna del Sol waterfall along the Cosumnes River (photo via LagunaDelSol.com)

As with local hot springs, much of the fun of clothing-optional resorts revolves around soaking and swimming. Laguna del Sol also promotes various outdoor activities, including strolling, jogging and cycling around Lake Archie; boating or kayaking on the lake; lounging in a hammock or around a fire pit, and camping out.

There’s also a restaurant, clubhouse, fitness center, tennis and volleyball courts, pickle-ball courts, shuffleboard, horseshoes, archery, and a rec room with ping pong and pool tables.

To learn more about visiting Laguna del Sol for the first time, please see their website for more details.

Musing about mermaids

Posted in A to Z

For some truly magnificent musing, wander down to Dive Bar (1016 K Street) and check out the live mermaids.

That’s right, mermaids.

We may be landlocked, here in Sacramento, but we’ve got mythical creatures swimming in special aquariums located in our adult beverage-serving establishments. You can choose to view them sober or sloshed, but here are their general hours of appearance:

  • Sun-Wed: 9 & 10 PM
  • Thurs: 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 PM
  • Fri-Sat: 5, 6, 8, 9, 9:30, 10, 10:30, 11 PM

Although I’ve previously checked into Dive Bar (and enjoyed an adult beverage), I’m afraid I missed the mermaids. I checked the tank above the bar, but it was empty. There was a list of scheduled mermaids listed on the wall, and unfortunately I had to leave before they made their appearance, so I’m still not sure if these sirens are anything more than a dream.

Luckily, many Yelp users have taken photographs to attest to the mermaids’ presence! Here is a smattering to whet your whistle:

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Photo via Yelp by contributor Frank P.
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Photo via Yelp by contributor Joe F.

Lest you believe these maidens be humans performing trickery with smoke and mirrors, I’ll refer you to Dive Bar’s Yelp page to view the videos. You can also check out their Facebook fan page for more!

I’ve heard tell of some mermen in the tank, to boot, but so far haven’t stumbled upon any photographic evidence of these elusive creatures…

If you’re interested in hearing from the maids themselves, be sure to check out I Am A Mermaid‘s interview with Head Mermaid Rachel Smith, as well as KCRA’s interview with Rachel!

And if you want to become a mermaid yourself, I highly recommend Mermaid School, a one-day-only mermaid class coming up on April 27th, taught by Mermaid Ashley at the Southgate Recreation and Park District’s New Aquatic Center. It’s only $45 (+$25 for a monofin rental), and open to mermaid wannabes ages 10 and up. Full details below.

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