Downtown Sacramento facts for kids
Downtown Sacramento is the main central area of Sacramento, California, a big city in the United States. It's often called the "heart" of the city. You can find it generally south of the American River, east of the Sacramento River, north of Broadway, and west of 16th Street. This busy part of Sacramento is where many important buildings, shops, and fun places are located.
Exploring Downtown Sacramento
Downtown Sacramento is laid out in a simple grid pattern, making it easy to find your way around. The streets running north and south are named with letters (like J Street or K Street), while the streets running east and west are numbered (like 10th Street or 16th Street).
There are a few special streets that don't follow this rule:
- Capitol Mall and Capitol Avenue are like M Street.
- Front Street in Old Sacramento is like 1st Street.
- Broadway is like Y Street.
- Alhambra Boulevard is like 31st Street.
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What to See and Do in Downtown
Downtown Sacramento is home to many exciting places and important buildings.
California State Capitol
One of the most famous buildings is the California State Capitol. This is where the California state government works, making laws and decisions for the entire state. It's a beautiful building with a big dome, and you can often take tours to learn about California's history and government.
Downtown Commons (DOCO)
For shopping, eating, and entertainment, check out the Downtown Commons, often called DOCO. This lively area has:
- A large Macy's department store.
- The Sawyer Hotel, a fancy place to stay.
- The Golden 1 Center, which is the home arena for the Sacramento Kings NBA basketball team. You can watch exciting basketball games here!
- Many different restaurants and shops, offering something for everyone.
Other Important Buildings
- The Sacramento City Hall is also downtown. This building has been updated and expanded.
- The Sacramento Convention Center Complex is a huge place where big events, meetings, and shows happen.
- The Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, located at 11th and K Streets, is a very old and beautiful church. It's the largest historical cathedral west of the Sacramento River.
Pedestrian-Friendly Streets
Some parts of downtown are designed for people to walk and enjoy, rather than for cars.
The Kay (K Street)
K Street used to be the main street for shopping and fun. In 1969, it was closed to cars and became a pedestrian mall. Later, in 2011, parts of K Street were reopened to cars, but only for a few blocks. Other sections, especially around the Downtown Commons, are still just for walkers. In 2012, K Street was renamed "The Kay" and is still a popular shopping area.
Other Pedestrian Malls
There are also two smaller pedestrian-only areas on 11th Street, making it nice for a stroll.
Getting Around Downtown
Downtown Sacramento has good transportation options.
Public Transit
The Sacramento Regional Transit offers light rail and bus services throughout downtown, making it easy to travel without a car.
Major Roads
- Interstate 5 runs along the western edge of downtown, separating it from Old Sacramento State Historic Park.
- 15th and 16th Streets form the eastern border of downtown.
- Major highways like Interstate 80 Business (Capital City Freeway), California State Route 99, and U.S. Route 50 all connect to the downtown area. Interstate 80 goes around downtown to the north.
Train Station
The historic Sacramento Valley Amtrak Station is just north of Downtown Commons. You can catch Amtrak trains here, including the Capitol Corridor route. It's also the starting point for the Gold Line of the light rail system.
Future Plans
There are plans to bring back streetcars to downtown, which would make getting around even more fun and easy.
Downtown Theatres and Arts
Downtown Sacramento is a great place to experience live performances and movies.
- The Crest Theatre at 10th and K Streets and an IMAX theater at 13th and K Streets offer movie experiences.
- Downtown Commons also has a large Century Theatres movie theater.
- The Sacramento Community Center Theatre on 13th and L Streets hosts many shows, including Broadway plays, orchestra concerts, opera, and ballet performances.
- The UC Davis Health Pavilion (also known as Music Circus) on 14th and H Streets offers a special "theater in the round" experience, where the stage is in the middle and the audience sits all around it.
- The historic Memorial Auditorium at 16th and J Streets is a large venue for comedy shows, concerts, and speakers.
- The Assembly Music Hall at 10th and K Streets is a smaller, cozy venue for musical comedies.
