This viral TikTok about Sacramento is clearly parody. Can you spot the giveaways?
It’s not that Sacramento isn’t a magical place, filled with beautiful architecture and surrounding nature — but it’s not the Scottish Highlands and the local university isn’t Hogwarts.
One TikTok user’s video referred to the state capital as “the best kept secret in California.” It zoomed in on the city from Google maps and showcased a collage of landmarks. They just weren’t actually in Sacramento.
The online trend has social media users highlighting cities with videos of the region that exemplify their appeal. The parody video, by user “_twoody_” had 1.8 million views and 4,382 comments on TikTok, most of them riffing off the joke. A Reddit post about the video had 1.7K upvotes and nearly 200 comments in the Sacramento subreddit.
The video’s creator confirmed the TikTok was meant as a joke and that the 6-year resident loves living here.
You can watch the video here — just know you’re being duped — then, it’s time to fact check. See if you can spot the differences:
Let’s fact check this:
Old Sacramento Waterfront
Where does the video show?
An Offley Wine advertisement in the video pointed us to look in Portugal for this destination. A Google reverse image search showed similar photos of the Ribeira neighborhood of Porto, not the Old West style buildings of downtown Sacramento.
The Old Sacramento Waterfront is a corner of downtown that feels like you’ve been transported to the 1800s. The area has been preserved and now is a popular tour destination with restaurants and museums.
Midtown Sacramento
Where does the video show?
We’re confident this street is in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The Cashmere sign, cobblestone and Bertie’s Proper Fish & Chips logo pointed us in the right direction. St. Giles Cathedral was also a give away.
In midtown, a popular arts and food district, you’ll discover new restaurants, community gatherings and fun pop-ups. There are also many Victorian homes throughout the neighborhood
Folsom Lake
Where does the video show?
We’re pretty sure it’s Lake Braies in Prags Valley, Italy, per a reverse image search.
Folsom Lake, about 25 miles northeast of Sacramento, is a popular gathering place for recreation. During the hot summer months the lake acts like a sandy beach for nearby residents.
Elk Grove
Where does the video show?
We couldn’t tell where this photos was from, but the creator said it was somewhere in Scotland as well. The bighorn in the shot could be found in Northern Europe.
Elk Grove is a suburban neighborhood just south of the capital city. An attraction to the city are the many wineries situated throughout the neighborhood.
North Highlands
Where does the video show?
We’re pretty sure it’s in the Scottish Highlands, on the same line used by the fictional Hogwarts Express. The creator said it was the Jacobite Steam Train.
North Highlands is a community in unincorporated Sacramento County with a population of about 40,000.
Tower Bridge
Where does the video show?
It’s the Charles Bridge and Old Town Bridge Tower in Prague, a Google image search revealed.
Tower Bridge, the iconic bright yellow passing connecting Sacramento to West Sacramento, is one of the city’s prized icons. It was the first vertical lift tower bridge to be built in California Highway system.
Sacramento State
Where does the video show?
We’re positive this the Hall at Christ Church in Oxford, which inspired the Great Hall at Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies.
Sacramento State is a public university. It was founded in 1947 and is the 11th oldest California State University in the system.
Rancho Cordova
Where does the video show?
We’re not sure, but it’s reminiscent of the Swiss Alps.
Rancho Cordova is a suburb of Sacramento with lots of outdoor activities to explore. The nearby foothills are worth the drive.
This story was originally published February 13, 2023 at 4:46 PM.