Central Sacramento - Sacramento, CA

Central Sacramento sits close to Sutter's Fort, the first European settlement in the city. The city was founded in 1848, and the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill led to the California Gold Rush the following year. The neighborhood grew from expansion in the region as the years passed.

The restored fort offers visitors a look into pioneer life in California. A museum at the fort houses pioneer artifacts, and the State Indian Museum on the site displays artifacts from Native American cultures. A short ride to downtown offers many more museums, such as the California Automobile Museum and California State Railroad Museum. Visitors can view galleries of American art at the Cocker Art Museum and works from around the world in the constantly changing exhibitions.

The adjacent neighborhood of Midtown forms the artistic hub of the city and sponsors many festivals. The annual Midtown Arts Festival showcases local artwork and performing arts. An annual Valentine's Day Pub Crawl takes place at bars across the area. Local businesses also display artwork during the second Saturday of each month.

Restaurants in the neighborhood include many types of cuisine and range from takeout to fine dining. Most of these restaurants lie along J Street and Alhambra Boulevard.

Locals satisfy cravings for Mexican food by grabbing a carne asada burrito or chicken enchiladas at La Fiesta Taqueria. Don't forget to load up on chips and salsa at the salsa bar, which features unique varieties such as avocado salsa. In the morning, a breakfast burrito with chorizo and potatoes makes a great start to the day. Speedy service makes this a popular place to grab lunch to go.

Juno's Kitchen and Delicatessen has a small-town feel and serves fresh deli sandwiches with ingredients such as panko-crusted eggplant and smoked trout. Pasta dishes, such as the shrimp macaroni and cheese, remain popular selections as well. Sandwiches are made with bread baked fresh in the restaurant, which is also for sale by the loaf. Bring along your dog to dine with you in the outdoor patio area.

33rd Street Bistro serves fare inspired by the Pacific Northwest such as the Oregon bleu cheese salad and seafood club sandwich. People stop by for a drink at the full-service bar, which has happy hour specials and drink specials on Thursday nights. With its upscale atmosphere and private banquet room, the restaurant serves as a popular location for parties and receptions.

Residents of Central Sacramento have many bars and clubs nearby for exciting nightlife options. British pub Bonn Lair brings a touch of Europe to the neighborhood with a large selection of Belgian and English beers. Food selection at the bar features European fare as well like fish and chips and platters of bratwurst. The restaurant also hosts several parties throughout the year including ones revolving around Oktoberfest and New Year's Eve.

The many transportation options available in Central Sacramento make getting around a breeze. The Sacramento Regional Transit operates bus routes and a light rail line through the neighborhood. Bike lanes on most roads facilitate biking through the area and wide sidewalks simplify walking. If you drive, many businesses provide free parking for visitors. Uber services the area and residents can also call at taxi company for a cab ride, though greater difficulty exists in hailing one curbside without calling first.

A major interchange near the neighborhood, where State Route 99 and U.S. Route 50 cross, makes getting out of town easy. To travel to surrounding areas using public transportation, take a bus to the Amtrak Station in downtown Sacramento. The station provides train service to the Bay area and to major cities like Seattle and Denver.

The tightly packed rows of houses and businesses have taken over most of the natural areas, but a few parks still exist. Children enjoy playing on the playground and sand area in East Portal Park. Redwood trees provide shade that many parks in the area lack and people visit to watch the bocce ball club play on the courts. Pets are allowed on leashes. The park is free for normal recreational use, and it also serves as the venue for Pops in the Park, an annual family-oriented concert in the summer.

McKinley Park contains basketball courts, a baseball diamond and playground. The pond and geese that inhabit it make for scenic walks by the water. A popular attraction is the Rose Garden, which features 1,200 rose bushes of many different varieties. It serves as a common site for photography shoots and weddings. The park is also one of the locations for the Sacramento Food & Film Festival, where people have dinner while watching a movie outdoors. Food trucks station themselves in the park and serve food to parkgoers during Food Truck Mania.

For the amenities they enjoy, residents of Central Sacramento have living expenses 20 percent greater than the Sacramento average. Gas prices remain 6 percent higher than the national average, and the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom residence runs around $887.

Expect to pay around $6 for a pint of beer at a local bar. Going from Central Sacramento to downtown costs $2.50 on the Sacramento Regional Transit bus.

Residents of Central Sacramento enjoy close proximity to many shopping opportunities, including several high-end boutiques. Many shopping opportunities lie along J Street. Few high-value stores exist in the neighborhood with the exception of Target on Lincoln Highway.

Locals shop for groceries at Trader Joe's and Safeway and buy local produce at a farmers market held every Saturday morning in McKinley Park.

People stop by Krazy Mary's, a women's clothing boutique, to browse the extensive selection of Toms shoes among other things. With a variety of tops and dresses, customers can find an outfit to suit any occasion. The handmade jewelry and handbags set this boutique apart from what you'll find at larger chain retailers.

Geographica resembles a museum mixed with an antique shop and sells high-end home furnishings. Stop in to buy a repurposed antique table or collectible china. The store sells odds and ends that add a perfect touch to any living room or home office.