The California State Capitol Park is worth your best walking shoes. I was there in March and the views are impressive, the flowers are in bloom, and the forbidden oranges look deliciously illegal to pick. There were beautifully poignant memorials for war veterans, fire fighters, civil war, native monument, world peace rose garden, and many more. If you visit Sacramento and love an outdoor botanical garden, visit this spot. read more

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February 11, 2026, A gloomy afternoon at capital park. We went out to Capital Park around 12:30pm today and it was misty, but not raining. By 12:50pm the rain was starting to pick up and we were almost running for cover. I had my raincoat on, but my husband only had his leather coat on. He was warm, but getting wet. He wished he had brough his umbrella. The park is very lush this time of year with a few puddles here and there on the paths. We though we were on the capital look, but realized that the loop is referring to the outer edge of the park, we started on the loop and then wove through the park, so I'm going to just review the park today and post pictures from the interior park. I really like the cactus garden. It's a little scary at times as the prickles are so large and my husband is worried if he walks by too close they will attack him. So, we kept our distance and skipped the close up shots. Today some of the cactus was in bloom which was pretty spectacular. I loved their orange color and brightness. They really popped. They do have a warning that says keep out of the Cactus garden so you are forewarned to stay away so you don't get poked. I took a picture of a cool tree. The top must have been cut at one time because now there is only a branch that goes over the path. It's fun to read all the tree tags and see what kind of trees growing in the park. They have two types of paths in the park, some that are paved and some that are possibly finely crushed rock. Both paths were a little puddly today, but not too back that you couldn't walk around the puddles. There are a few benches in the park. May of the ones under the trees are occupied by the unhoused population. The ones out in the open are usually vacant and used by local workers to enjoy some fresh air and have lunch outside. Come enjoy Capital Park. I suggest you take public transit here if you are visiting on a weekday as the parking is slim on the streets, but there are aways garages available. If you come on the weekends, there is much more parking on the streets. So, you have no excuse as to not enjoying this beautiful park. read more

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This is a lovely area to visit. There is nature to appreciate with a variety of flora from all over the world, monuments & memorials, & of course the grandeur of the historic Capitol building. We like to come around the holidays to see the big tree & nativity scene. They also display a big menorah. When the World Peace Rose Garden is in bloom in the spring, we stop by to enjoy the beauty & smells. We've done a family photo shoot here, & you will often see photographers with clients in this popular spot. Community events & gatherings happen throughout the year. Flat, wide paths make for an easy stroll in the spacious park. Benches are accessible throughout. Public restrooms & drinking fountains are available. Fruit that's fallen on the ground from the trees is okay for the public to pick up, but don't pick anything directly from the trees, as posted on signs. read more

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It had been years since we last attended the Sacramento Santa Christmas parade. It started at 14th & N streets & circled Capitol Park up 10th street & right on L Streets. On 12.12.25 it was a chilly & little foggy 41 degrees. I can see my breath too as I blew out warm air. Lots of cars, few floats, doggies & horses were included in this parade. A couple marching bands, dance troupes & different companies handing out candy canes, candy, toys for the kids & stickers. It was a delightful day to be outside for this 1.5 hours parade! We could only find street parking several blocks away since we came last minute & many streets were blocked off due to the parade. We didn't see porta-potties so we went to the nearest hotel close by. Keep that in mind when you decide to attend. I guess we could have gone to Starbucks too but we were running out of time since we wanted to watch the parade in its entirety & it was free entertainment! Yes it was FUN!!! read more

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"NO KINGS!"-Rally! SITREP As a "venue" for political activism, the Sacramento State Capitol Park (aka "Park") is Second-To-None! THE SETUP Recently, the Park found itself hosting thousands of people and California citizens for a bi-focal event: 1. The Pro-Prop 50 Redistricting referendum for the recent statewide November election (which we WON): and, 2. The National "NO KINGS!"-Rally Both movements were outstanding and *converged* for a joint-event at the Park. It was powerful and moving and extremely successful in achieving it's goals and making the movements heard across our nation. THE LOWDOWN I'll always be thankful of the Park as a public space in which to raise our voices for important statewide and national causes! (And I can't wait to go back to the Park for the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in just a few days!) read more

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Beautiful park in downtown Sacramento next to the Capitol Building. It's not extremely large, but it's also not small either. Lots of fruit trees and memorials as well. It was a beautiful day today, so overall it helped make the experience nicer. Outside of a couple of suspect people here, it was a great place to bring the family. read more

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Lovely park and rose garden with views of the capital building. Vietnam memorial in the center is very well done and sobering. There is also a cactus garden on the park. Street parking available read more

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The good: There are so many interesting trees with placards so you know what kind of tree it is. There are lots of fruit trees as well (orange, Chinese quince, etc.). It was interesting to look at the statues and war memorials. There was an area dedicated to soldiers from the Vietnam war. The statues were very nice and illustrative. The bad: We had to park pretty far away and walk in. The interesting: Some say it's haunted here but I don't know the history behind that. I think any old building area from the 1800s will be deemed haunted. read more

Carpe Diem, loving these moments spent and exploring Capitol Park with my other half. Since he knows I love anything to do with plants, gardens, & flowers, he took me here spontaneously and Wow, what a surprise and treat! I love it here, LOVED my time here, I wish I could stay here longer and just enjoy park longer, and have a picnic & just to relax! Capitol Park in Sacramento is a must worth visit, a 40 acre park surrounding the California State Capitol building, It features memorials, gardens, and public art offering a peaceful escape in the heart of the city. & all this is FREE, just have to pay for parking or street parking. The park is well kept, I can see the city of Sacramento puts in lots of time in to this park. I loved looking at the huge cactus garden area. Those are some nice looking cactus plants/trees. Some of the desert plants has blooms, nice to see. The rose garden and World Peace rose garden is so pretty & colorful, tons of bamboo trees, noticed orange fruit trees with abundant of fruits on the tree, and so much more to see. The monument and memorials is such a nice tribute to the Veterans and Firefighters. I just love walking around this park and walking towards the capitol was super cool. Lots of photo opt. here, get your cameras & phone ready! All in all, such a great day to vacation, visiting Sacramento. Thank you to my wonderful hubby for this! I am trying not to cry, such a blessing to experience this! read more

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Absolutely beautiful here. So grateful to be so close to it. Take a nice stroll, have a picnic on the grass, smell the flowers. Highly recommend taking some time from your day to come here! read more

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Beautiful park in the middle of the city. Also an important monument for the state of California. A lot of cool little places and things to see along the way. read more

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Capitol Park in Sacramento is worth a visit, a 40-acre park surrounding our gorgeous capitol building; some key features are the memorials, public art, tons of trees and the well-manicured lush gardens that together project a peaceful escape in the very heart of SacTown. The GF is impressed by how well this park is kept. She says SacTown's nickname is the City of Trees. I had no idea, but it fits simply being here, walking underneath these trees is the best grounding exercise anyone can freely do, like honestly, free admission all day every day. read more

They've done a great job keeping the place nice! The memorials are clean, and the 500+ variety of trees are all well maintained and curated. A must see. :) read more

Capitol Park - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

Had some time to kill and walked around the cactus and rose gardens. So beautiful there and a many different varieties! Worth the hour or so I wandered around. read more

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I recommend Capitol Park to locals and visitors. It's gorgeous and very Sacramento. We'll often walk through the park on weekends with our dog. There are so many different types of plants and trees and the World Peace Rose Garden and Native Plants are great spots for photo ops. You can walk all around the Capitol and there are some great views of the building. There are also benches around to sit on and it's walking distance from plenty of great local restaurants that make it a great picnic spot as well. There is street parking in the area and it's pretty walkable even from other parts of downtown, like Midtown. Whether you're planning to spend a few hours or a few minutes walking through it's a great spot. read more

it's a great park, i love the rose garden in the late summer. Such a safe haven and they maintain it very well. all of the benches within the park make an easy escape. i was lucky enough to watch the agave plant produce its century bloom last year in the desert garden. so cool! just don't pick the fruit off any of the trees in the capitol (or don't get caught lol) read more

Capitol Park - capitol building - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

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No public restrooms, no street parking due to an event the next day. Public garage parking is available for $1.50 for 1/2 hour . Couldn't really see alot of the tribute monuments due to construction barriers at different sections of the park . Reason for the 3 star rating . we saw veterans memorial & fire fighters monuments. Reading the names of the soldiers and firefighters who served were touching. I felt a sense of sadness and grateful to those who put their lives in harms way to protect us . Thank you from the bottom of my heart . read more

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We walked by the State Capitol on our way to get ice cream. The building itself is very impressive and the park was very well maintained. There were other visitors around so we felt safe. read more

Capitol Park - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I love Capitol Park. First of all, the flowers. The International World Peace Rose Garden, which sits at the corner of the park near 15 and L, is beautiful. I've written a separate review for it, which you can check out here: https://bit.ly/3rD4qAq I'm a huge fan of the desert garden, which lays near 15 and N. I'm from the mojave desert, so one of my favorite things to do here is to take pictures with the cacti, and then send them to my older sisters with messages like, "I'm almost to your house, be there in ten minutes!" Last time I was here, I found a cactus I did not recognize. I sent a picture to my mom, asking, "Do you know what this is called?" She replied, "Jumping Cholla." I took pictures of what I thought was a rare bloom, and later realized was a fake flower. Lol. There were lots of opuntia and barrel cacti in bloom, though. My daughter messaged me to ask what I was doing, and when I told her I was walking around Capitol Park, she asked if I could send some pictures of the Rose Garden to show her friends who she was with. You betcha... I had been heading towards Old Sac, and had already reached 9 and L, but when my kid asks for a picture of a flower, I cannot say no. I sent like 30. There are many kinds of trees at Capitol Park, each labeled with its name on a little silver plaque. So, I should know the name of my favorite tree, but I don't. But it's the one with the yellow/red-veined flowers that like like fuchsia. There are several of them on L between 12th and 13th. There are a few redwoods here, technically, but they are nowhere near as impressive as you can find elsewhere in NorCal. They are like sample-sized sequoias. If you're a fan of memorials, Capitol Park has you covered. There are lots of statues and war memorials here. Plus, of course, there's the Capitol itself, which doubles as a free state history museum. Whenever I walk through all the orange trees near the Capitol, I can't help but flash back to bringing my little sister, her first husband, and their baby to stroll around here when they were living with me, about 14 years ago. "Where's Martin?" Asked my sister. We both looked around, but couldn't spot him, until he jumped out of an orange tree with an orange in hand. "Um, I'm not sure if you're allowed to eat those..." He didn't care. He looked like a kid in a candy store. This was the most excited I had ever seen him. "I've never seen an orange tree before," he said. Welcome to California, bud. read more

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Anyone living in or passing through Sacramento needs to visit Capitol Park. Fun fact is that every tree you can find in the state is in the park, neatly labeled for people passing by. Definitely check out the rose garden - modest but pretty - and succulent area - small but abundant - as well. There are lots of benches and shady spots. You see lots of photoshoots happening, as well. Catch a nap under a tree, meet up with a friend, watch representatives enter the Capitol... lots to enjoy. read more

Capitol Park - Another beautiful day in Sacramento - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

I never knew this was here and I loved that we got to stop by! There are so many sections to the Capitol Park. And the park itself is very vast. Everything is a bit a walk away so make sure to grab some water, sunblock and a hat! There are monuments to read, the rose bushes/state garden, desert area and so much more! The area is kept clean and beautiful, definitely a beautiful tourist spot to just stroll and admire the area. read more

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Its FREE entrance! Beautiful park filled with labelled trees and plants. The trees are quite substantial and in full bloom. Impressive. The eye-catching historical tributary monuments were heartfelt and interesting. There are rose gardens, herb gardens, resting areas and restrooms. Beautiful ivied restrooms. The perimeter is surrounded by the Capitol building and many restaurants and businesses. read more

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Wonderful place to practice some photography and just enjoy the botanical beauty. There are random homeless people but it's an awesome amazing park. read more

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Beautiful park with well kept greenery. Great for walks during sunset. Parking was not too difficult to find. Good opportunities to take pictures here. Was not too busy when we visited. read more

Did a brisk walk and stopped to view the pretty rose garden. The sprinklers were on it was bright and fresh in the morning no squirrels in sight just dog walkers and joggers The gardens are beautiful to take a walk and enjoy before the we weather gets any warmer. Nice landscape , trees do have have labels great for taking the kids to learn about different plants and trees. read more

I have been to Sacramento many times before and even toured the Capitol a couple times. How have I missed strolling around the beautiful surrounding Capitol Park during my previous visits? I have no idea, but will make sure I make time to walk through it every time I come back! We moved to Reno several years ago from Southern California, so driving to Sacramento is a breeze. Perhaps living in the high desert now makes the luscious citrus trees, green shrubbery, and stunning flowers stand out even more to me and makes me realize what I miss the most about living in California. There is signage found amongst the various trees and plants showing from which parts of the world they came. There is even a dedication to the Union Veterans of the Civil War near a grove of trees explaining how they arrived as saplings, transplanted from southern battlefields. The rose garden was not yet blooming when we were there, but I think we'll need to make another trip to Sacramento when they do so we can check out the different varieties of roses, with names like "John F. Kennedy," "George Burns," "César Chávez," and "Betty Boop." I imagine they would be worth the drive to check out! And, while we're at it, there are several memorials and other points of interests I have yet to explore. read more

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I'm amazed by the historical values and colorful flowers displayed in the capital park. I have driving by it a few times, even walked by it during the annual breast cancer walk that starts at the captial each year and never really looked at it. A random Sunday i decided to take the kids for a drive and just look around downtown Sacramento and sight see, something we never done before and living in the city for so many years you miss so much by going on your daily routine. The park is very clean and pretty well kept up for a park, yes it is the capital after all, but on a Sunday and most parks are kept up in the beginning of the week it was a good site to see. Many people use it from walkers, jogger, site seeing, picture moments, activists, and the locals who use it as a nap spot for the moment and people to visit the many memorials located inside from Firefighters, Vietnam war, Cuba, memorial rose garden, and a few more. To the vast tree's from around the world many include fruit but you can't pick em or climb them, they are very old and fragile. And a spot for cacti and drought resistant plants. Also no bicycle, skateboarding or roller skating is allowed inside the park. We had a good time walking and viewing the site located here. We spent a good hour plus and didn't even come close to the whole park. We did get to see the CHP on horseback so they do have security around the park. Sunday overall was a great day, and even free parking at the meters(sundays only), im not sure if all the areas are but at least ours near the department of education building across the stree was. Restrooms didn't happen to see any, but there was an old structure/houses that was gated around, not sure what that was. And they did have few water bubbler's around the park and they all worked. And we happened to see many people walking thier dogs around, just remember your leash for them. read more

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Such a beautiful park. Running path around the park and a beautiful rose garden to visit. The roses are in full bloom right now and so gorgeous. The roses have a name plate so you know the name of each rose. A great place to walk around and enjoy the beauty of Capitol Park. Also, the trees in the park are labeled so you are like at a nursery, but these trees are very old. read more

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We walked by here on the way to and from dinner. It was breathing. At night it appears so majestic read more

Capitol Park - Capital at night - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

Sacto can be a rough town to find some solace, especially if you're within walking distance of the Capitol. With plenty of traffic, an unfortunate number of homeless, and every sign that many of the folks in town don't seem to use trash cans (or sharps containers...), I was pleasantly surprised to stroll across Capitol Park and find it to be a quiet, peaceful setting. The park features various memorials, statues, and plantings, with benches and walkways near each should you wish to stroll or sit. Trees from around the state grace the park, providing shade for visitors, and shelter for songbirds and squirrels. There were relatively few folks in the park when I visited, which added to the tranquility. The park is also ringed by various coffee places, cafes, and other stores. Of course, the center of the park is the capitol building, but amazingly, just a short walk in pretty much any direction, and the trees block it out if you want them to. Future visits to Sacramento will have to include a little strolling time through this park, even if only for momentary therapy between visiting with legislators... :) read more

Capitol Park - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

I LOVE this park. It's truly one of the most beautiful city parks I've ever been in. I walk my dog here a few times a week. We enjoy strolling through the paths and admiring the gorgeous landscape. Love the various trees - redwoods, sequoias, dogwoods, magnolias, bamboo and cactus patches, and so many fruit trees . Most trees are labeled too. There are lots of grassy spots to hang out on and plenty of benches too. The entire Capitol grounds are quite enjoyable - there are statues, a memorial wall and two different rose gardens. The ground are meticulously maintained. Every season has its own beauty. I feel so lucky that this park is walking distance to my house. read more

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Regardless of how enamored I am of Capital Park, I feel like this 5 Star Rating is coming from my dog... He's obsessed! Like, to the point where we walk out our front door, and he makes a Bee Line to the park. Who could really blame him tho?! Capital Park is pretty meticulous, green, and beautiful. The Freedom Rose Garden is fragrant and gorgeous. The many species of plant life really make for an amazing scene, as do all of the memorial statues. Nestled in the center of it all?! The lovely State Capital! I come for the scenery, Jameson goes for the squirrels. It's a 'win win'. Although there have recently been an influx of homeless people within the park, I have never felt unsafe or threatened. I have even recently taken up running the park perimeter (along with everyone else in the downtown/midtown area). If you're a tourist (OR local!), don't skip Capital Park. It's the perfect place for Snaps, Selfies, and family photos. read more

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When you think of a park, it's usually far more modest than this. This is the mother of city parks, covering four massive city blocks. It happens to be the home of the Capitol, yes, but the park itself is a treasure trove of California history, from war monuments to exotic flora and fauna to the famous rose garden at the east end. Not to mention it's a great place to stroll, jog or chill n one of countless shaded benches hidden down its many paths. In my younger years I sort of wrote this park off by negatively associating it with forced field trips. When you're my age with a son and really get a chance to explore, it's just a great place to hang out and relax. One of my favorite pastimes here is just people watching. There's dozens of neighboring eateries where you can easily take lunch to go. Grab a bite and sit back to watch the mix of government workers, exercisers and tourists who visit here by the hundreds on a daily basis. read more

I have parked near this park for 5 years and not once stopped in until they had an Electabuzz nest. LOCATION: Literally at the capitol building in the middle of downtown. There's a Starbucks on L st for a walk through the park on a cold day and you need a coffee. PARKING: Street parking next to the park fills up quickly. There are parking garages within 3 blocks of any direction. SCENERY: There are plenty of flowers and fruits on trees to keep your eyes glued to what's around you. Great place for outdoor photo shoots if you haven't already seen all over Instagram. Lol TRAFFIC: Traffic inside the park is pretty steady. You can always find people there, but they all are friendly. AMENITIES: Other than traditional benches, I saw no amenities for the park. It's just for looking and passing through... And now, for Pokemon hunting. read more

Capitol Park - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

This park is huge! There are lots of trees and different paths. It is possible to miss certain historical structures here. There is parallel Peking around the building. From this park, you can access the state capitol building, free of charge. There is a lot to look at. You can easily spend a few hours here and it won't cost a penny. read more

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What an oasis in the middle of a bustling city center. Best to check out the map to figure out path to maximize visualization of all the gardens, memorials and walkways it has to offer. Lots of benches, shady mature trees and flowering plants this day. The park is surrounded by a lot of restaurants and is next to the convention center. You can't get lost but one can get lost in the cleanliness and beauty of such a well taken care of public park. Lots of people dressed in business attire meander through during the day. read more

Woohoo!! This will be my 100th review for this year, so I made my goal this year!! I went to this park after visiting the capital building. It's a beautiful urban park with lots of walking space, flower, trees, memorials, and tons of seating!! I've never seen a park with so much seating available for people!! I also love all the fruit trees around but all the fruit within reach have been picked clean. We did not get to explore the entire park as our parking meter was running out and I'd rather not get a ticket. We saw a firefighters monument and another veterans memorial. There is also a rose garden with a variety of roses. I also like how there are various trees from the weeping willows to the redwoods! Metered parking can be found around the park. There is parking adjacent to the park and a bit further away as well. Some parking meters increase in price after 1 hour and some after 2 hours. If you play pokemon go, there are tons of pokestops and tons of pokemon that spawn here! I'll come back here on my next visit to Sacramento and explore the whole park! It's a great place to take a relaxing walk or have lunch outside! read more

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The priest and his sandwich board-wearing helper yesterday stood facing the Capitol, their backs to busy L Street, crossing the foreheads of anyone who stopped and bowed their heads for a blessing. Ashes to Go, read the sandwich board. The crossing they served was the one most frequently used by those who spend their days doing California's business. Well placed they, as the passers by are among those most seriously in need. The rose garden is still a stick garden, even though spring was most definitely in the air. The flowering trees, however, have elected to not wait. Vanguards of the season I most enjoy they invited me to right there and then get to rubbing the velvet from my antlers. Thanking them in my inside voice I offered that the velvet only comes off after dark. Happy Valentine's Day, my friends. read more

Capitol Park - Parks Near Me - Sacramento, California

Now this is one scenic and historic park! Yes the state capitol building is the main attraction, but stop and take a look around and you'll be in 'awww' about the number of native California related things you'll see. Some features and highlights: ~ A few monuments dedicated to California heroes like the Firefighters Memorial (the reason for me starting this review). I see the names and I ponder. ~ Roses galore, succulents, and plants everywhere you stroll. Simply beautiful during the spring. It's just green everywhere! Check out the World Peace Rose Garden section as well. ~ There's also the California Veterans Memorial Memorial dedicated to all those that served beginning with the Mexican-American War, Civil War, and up to our more recent wars. Another feature is the special Purple Heart Monument, or that tall granite obelisk, and a Vietnam Veterans Memorial honoring our service men and women from California. ~ Trees trees trees! So many of them. Some native, some from different countries. Huge, gigantic, and just admirable to see! ~ Other highlights I enjoyed seeing; the Liberty Bell replica, the Indian Grinding Rock, a life-sized statue of Father Junípero Serra, the Seal of California, and the Peace Officers Memorial. ~ Not as ginormous as NY's Central Park, but coming here does remind me of St. Steven's Green in Ireland. Plenty to see here, and all for free! So take your allergy medicine, bring a picnic blanket, leash up the dog, prep the baby stroller, do whatever, but don't forget a camera to start snappin' away for some great shots! read more

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This weekend I learned that Sacramento's nickname is the City of Trees. Really, really beautiful trees, especially this time of year. Capitol Park is a beautiful sight, walking underneath the trees, leaves in different colors falling, the beautiful lit Christmas Tree and the amazing architectural design of the Capitol Building. Not to mention the smaller gardens with perfectly maintained plants. I think I was caught up in the beauty of this park and getting a tour of Sacramento by a awesome city native and very special guy, I wont forget my time here. This park is one of California's not to be missed treasures. I had a great time and hope you check it out for yourself. read more

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