An often overlooked subject California The city has been recognized as one of the 50 best places to travel in the world.
The state capital, Sacramento, appeared on Travel + Leisure's 2025 List of choice travel destinations, distinguished by its gastronomic scene, its numerous food and music festivals and its proximity to natural parks.
“Our transformation as a dining destination and music festival mecca has gone somewhat unnoticed,” Mike Testa, president and CEO of Visit Sacramento, told the magazine.
“And so when people come in… they feel like they’ve been told a secret.”
Sacramento was recognized alongside Portland, Oregon and Detroit, Michiganas the best places to experience “big city thrills,” including professional sports.
Major League Baseball Athletics is expected to temporarily relocate to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento for the next three seasons before permanently moving to Las Vegas.
Even if Athletics' stay will be short, the city welcomed NBA has teamed up with the Kings since 1985.
As more Bay Area transplants moved to Sacramento In recent years, the city has grown to cater to more refined tastes.
Sacramento, the capital of California, is on Travel + Leisure's 2025 list of top global travel destinations (Pictured: A view of the Tower Bridge and the Sacramento River)
As Travel + Leisure noted, Sacramento has become something of a culinary hub in California's Central Valley, now boasting 15 Michelin-starred restaurants (Photo: Ella Dining Room and Bar)
Pictured: Grange Restaurant, a high-end bar, has been recognized by the Michelin Guide
Zócalo Mexican Restaurant is another of Sacramento's 15 Michelin-starred restaurants.
As Travel + Leisure noted, the city has become something of a culinary hub in California's Central Valley, now boasting 15 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Some of these include Mediterranean restaurant Ella Dining Room and Bar, upscale bar Grange, and modern Mexican restaurant Zócalo.
For those interested in restaurants committed to eco-friendliness, Sacramento's Pachamama Coffee was named a Sustainability Trailblazer at the 2024 Sustainable Food Awards.
Chef Billy Ngo, who works at contemporary Japanese restaurant Kru, was a finalist in this year's competition for the James Beard Award, an honor that recognizes individuals who have achieved excellence in the food industry.
Travel + Leisure also complimented Sacramento's live entertainment scene, mentioning the new music venue, Channel 24, which is expected to open in 2025.
The GoldenSky Country Music Fest has been happening in Sacramento for three years.
This year, approximately 75,000 fans were able to see performances by Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and others.
For years, Sacramento has also hosted annual music festivals for heavy metal fans and R&B listeners.
The annual Farm-to-Fork Festival, which has been running since 2013, combines both food and dancing, featuring dozens of local restaurants set up on the street as musicians play their sets.
Lake Tahoe (pictured) is just a few hours' drive from Sacramento and is a very popular area for summer and winter sports.
Yosemite National Park (pictured) can also be a great day trip if you're staying in Sacramento. It was the sixth most popular national park in 2023 with almost 3.9 million visitors.
Sacramento is also upgrading its airport to the tune of $1.3 billion, making the city a more attractive vacation spot for domestic and international travelers.
The new and improved airport, expected to be completed in 2025, will include new non-stop routes to Mexico City, Orlando, Nashville and Austin.
And when visitors arrive in Sacramento, they may notice that they're only a few hours' drive from beautiful Lake Tahoe and majestic Yosemite National Park.
Yosemite was the sixth most popular national park in 2023, attracting nearly 3.9 million visitors for its spectacular waterfalls and deep valleys.
And Lake Tahoe is a paradise both in summer – when the boats hit the water – and in winter – when skiers and snowboarders come to the upscale resorts that dot the lakeshore.
