Sacramento: A Capital City

Visit the state seat of governmental power on your trip to the State Capitol. Walking through the building, you'll see paintings, sculptures and other artifacts from California's historic past--all while also experiencing the contemporary California lawmaking process.

The first settlement non-Native American settlement in California's Central Valley, Sutter's Fort, named after Swiss immigrant John Sutter, served as a welcome refuge for early travelers fresh off the wagon trail to the West. In fact, Sutter even provided aid to the ill-fated Donner party. Eventually, the influx of traffic from the Gold Rush of '49 destroyed much of Sutter's Fort, however, the area has been meticulously restored to it's former state for historic purposes.

Experience what it was like to go to school 200 years ago. The Old Schoolhouse Museum is a historically accurate replica of the kind of one-room schoolhouses that kids of all ages attended in the 19th and early 20th centuries. You'll meet 'schoolmarms' in period clothes, and 'school masters' may put you through your paces on the Three 'R's (readin', writing, and 'rithmatic).

Visit the site that changed California history forever. When James Marshall found flecks of gold where he and his friend John Sutter were building a sawmill, they sparked the largest mass movement of people known to have occurred in the Western Hemisphere. On your tour of this historic site, you can enjoy hikes and picnics that overlook the idyllic river canyon.

The island of Alcatraz has a rich and storied history, and you'll hear about it all on this tour of one of America's most famous (and infamous) islands. Before becoming the prison of popular lore, Alcatraz previously served as a lighthouse and a military base. But you don't want to hear about that...you want to hear about the prison! Check out the previous cells of such notorious prisoners as Al Capone, Robert Franklin Stroud (the "Birdman of Alcatraz"), and James "Whitey" Bulger. Decide for yourself whether Clarence Anglin, John Anglin, and Frank Morris really drowned in their intricate escape attempt made famous in the film Escape From Alcatraz.

Welcome to the city of the Golden Gate Bridge, steep windy roads and the formidable Alcatraz! Follow your guide down Lombard Street, the “crookedest” street in the world, through Haight-Ashbury, the district known as the center of the Hippie movement in the 60’s, and up onto Nob Hill, known for its affluent residents and spectacular views of the bay. Wander around the specialty shops and restaurants in Union and Ghirardelli Squares and go up Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill for fantastic views of all of San Francisco. Then head to Fisherman Wharf’s Pier 39, with its fashionable shops, high-end restaurants and street performers. Hear the Sea Lions before you even see them as they sunbathe on the boat docks of the pier. And explore the Golden Gate National Park for an up-close view of the famous bridge and to learn about the history and appreciate the beauty of this Bay City.