Lady’s California Road Trip from Oakland to Sacramento

I love a good road trip, and when it involves my home state of California I love it even more. Visit California has sponsored me on just such a journey in Northern California, and I can’t wait to do a classic California road trip to Oakland, Sacramento, and Lake Tahoe.

California Road Trip from Oakland to Sacramento

After flying to San Francisco, I go to pick up my rental car at the airport, which has been arranged by Rentalcars.com.

There are a couple of snags when I get to the Alamo counter (they don’t accept my US driver’s license but do accept my provisional UK one, and the type of car I booked isn’t available without an extra fee), but I’m soon on my way.

Oakland

Leaving the airport, I head out on the road to Oakland, which is just across the water from San Francisco. The sun is shining and it’s the perfect day for a California road trip.

I cross the Bay Bridge and soon arrive at the Claremont Club & Spa, A Fairmont Hotel. I remember seeing this historic luxury hotel when visiting relatives in Oakland as a child, and I’ve always wanted to go inside.

When I do, I’m impressed. The hotel has everything from an expansive lobby with bars and restaurants to a spa, gym, and spacious rooms with views.

I watch an orange sunset behind the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco city skyline before dinner at Limewood Bar & Restaurant, where the Hamachi Crudo in particular goes down a treat.

The next morning I’m off to explore Oakland. I haven’t been here since childhood, and the city has changed dramatically since then.

Oakland is to San Francisco what Brooklyn is to Manhattan. All the cool kids are moving here these days.

I start at the Oakland Museum of California, where I remember going on a school field trip in fourth grade. I’m a lot more interested this time around, and I spend a couple hours (re)learning about California history, wildlife, and art.

After the museum, I head to the market. There’s a big farmers’ market in Old Oakland on Fridays, and it’s fun to browse the produce as live music plays in the background.

The area also has independent shops selling products made in Oakland, colorful Victorian houses and buildings, and delis with foods from around the world.

I stop for lunch at Swan’s Market, a historic food hall in Old Oakland that’s been updated for the 21st century. I opt for shrimp tacos, which are delicious, and eye the cupcakes across the hall as I eat.

After lunch I walk down to the waterfront for some wine tasting. A Pinot Noir flight at Rosenblum Cellars is just the thing for a sunny afternoon, and propels me on my way to explore Jack London Square.

In addition to a statue of the square’s namesake (he was a famous writer), the area is full of waterfront restaurants and bars.

There are people outdoors playing cornhole and other lawn games, and I even discover Jack London’s Alaska cabin next to a historic bar.

After exploring Jack London Square, I drive over to the Temescal Alleys to shop and eat. The alleys themselves are side-by-side havens of creative shops with a lot to browse and buy.

Around the corner, I do a beer tasting at Roses’ Taproom in Oakland. I’ve never considered myself much of a beer drinker, but their Springtime Yawning beer is really to my liking.

After the tasting, I head to dinner at Dona restaurant. The ceviche is good, but they seat me at an awkward table by the entrance and seem to want to rush me out.

It can be difficult being a solo diner sometimes, and it doesn’t make it easier when a restaurant seems uncomfortable with it.

Sacramento

In any case, I’m up and off to Sacramento the next morning and excited to explore California’s capital. I haven’t been here since I was a child and have heard the city has changed as much as Oakland has.

In fact, it’s changed even more than I imagined. As soon as my hour-and-a-half drive is over, I notice new restaurants, shops, and bars everywhere.

Most places tell me they’ve opened in the last six months, and all around them are signs saying more places are about to open soon.

I visit the R Street Corridor, where street art, markets, and bars bring the historic streets to life. I cruise through Midtown and spot restaurants and cafes I’d like to stop at.

And I swing by Sutter’s Fort, the Historic Governor’s Mansion, and the Leland Stanford House, all of which give a nod to Sacramento’s past.

In the evening I go to The Bank, a former bank building that’s being transformed into a food hall and bar space. I have a cocktail on the mezzanine and explore the subterranean beer hall, all while taking in the awe-inspiring ceiling.

Dinner is at Grange Restaurant & Bar, and I’m glad it is. The butter poached Atlantic halibut is everything I remember about good California cuisine, and the s’more is a refined version of my childhood favorite.

After dinner I float up to my hotel room, which is right above the restaurant. It’s at the Citizen Hotel, a historic building that’s been given a contemporary makeover. The decor is sleek and stylish, and my 11th-floor room has a great view of Sacramento.

Following a good night’s sleep, I wake up early the next morning to explore the city on foot.

I have a great latte at Temple Coffee Roasters, and it fuels me past the capitol building and all the way down to the Sunday farmers’ market under the freeway at 6th and W.

The market is huge, and I spend ages browsing the produce. The smell of fresh strawberries mingles with the sight of multicolored carrots, mandarin oranges, and fat purple cabbages as a live guitar strums in the distance.

After my food fix, I walk past colorful Victorian houses to Old Sacramento.

This part of the city looks just like it did in the 1850s, when California’s Gold Rush brought people from all over the world to seek their fortunes. It feels like the Old West here, with horses and carriages parading through the streets.

I take the Old Sacramento Underground tour, a half-mile guided historical walking tour that reveals the area’s highlights. As the name implies, it goes both above and below ground, showing layers of the city’s history.

I’m fascinated by all the stories of women who struck it rich during the Gold Rush by setting up shops and businesses in California.

Unlike many other parts of the country, women were allowed to own property and businesses here at that time. Many of them made a pretty penny “mining the miners” by selling them dry goods and other things.

After the tour, I have lunch at the Delta King Hotel in Sacramento. It’s a unique docked riverboat with a restaurant and rooms. The ambiance is a bit touristy, but the crab cakes are delicious.

After lunch I head over to the California State Railroad Museum and Crocker Art Museum. The former is full of the state’s rail history and the latter replete with its art history.

By the time dinner comes around, I’m in need of a rest. I find it at Scott’s Seafood on the River, which is packed and buzzing for a Sunday evening.

I settle in and order the Cioppino. A steaming bowl of mussels, clams, shrimp, fish, and sausage is welcome sustenance as I wind down from a big day of sightseeing.

It’s a great way to end the second stage of my California road trip in Oakland, Sacramento, and Lake Tahoe.

I’ve been impressed by both cities and amazed by how much they’ve changed since my childhood. I’m excited to head to the mountains next, so stay tuned to see what I get up to…

This post is sponsored by Visit California.

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