Fall is approaching. Here are scenic Sacramento adventures to tackle this upcoming season
Living in Sacramento means you experience beautiful California weather without giving up all four seasons. That also means you can enjoy autumn, one of the prettiest times of the year — especially during the transition from summer to fall. But as we exit yet another days-long heatwave and temperatures reaching over 100 degrees, it’s safe to say summer just won’t quit.
But try to keep your mind cool with the idea that more comfortable weather, orange-toned leaves, embroidered cable knit sweaters and scenic views are on the horizon. In the meantime, pick a shady area and create your fall season bucket list.
Here are a few things to get you started.
River Fox Railbikes
Suited for riders of all skill levels, River Fox Railbikes offer pedal-powered and pedal-assisted journeys guaranteed to be Instagram-worthy. Cruise along the Sacramento River and Yolo countryside in two-seater railbikes and enjoy the picturesque views.
Railbikes have a generous gap between parties to maintain social distancing during the trip.
IF YOU GO
Boarding location: 18095 County Rd. 117, West Sacramento
Contact: 800-866-1690
River Fox Train
The River Fox Train, which was originally named the Sacramento RiverTrain, offers riders round trips in all of its family-owned diesel-powered locomotives. The 14-mile track, originally built in 1911, transported passengers between Woodland and West Sacramento. Now the River Fox Train offers roughly 28 mile-long trips along the Old Garden Highway beside the Sacramento River going about 16 miles an hour.
IF YOU GO
Boarding location: 18095 County Rd. 117, West Sacramento
Contact: 800-866-1690
Dave’s Pumpkin Patch
For over 30 years, residents have traveled to the Vierra Farms in Sacramento for an ultimate fall experience at Dave’s Pumpkin Patch. With over 20 acres of outdoor fun, the experience is designed for the entire family.
Ride the hayride, pick a pumpkin, take on the newest 10-acre corn maze design, enjoy Dave’s famous apple cider and cinnamon donuts and more this fall at the Vierra Farms. The pumpkin patch opens on Sept. 25 and runs until Oct. 31.
IF YOU GO
Location: 3010 Burrows Ave., West Sacramento
Contact: 916-849-9450
Days and hours of operation: Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Days and hours of operation: Friday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ticket info: Select activities require a purchased ticket
Admire Sacramento’s fall foliage
It can be difficult to predict when the leaves will change because of the elevation and weather, but typically Sacramento transitions into fall colors by mid-October to early November. The Sierra Nevada offer front-row seats to an autumn wonderland filled with quaking aspens, cottonwood, maple, oaks and willow.
If that isn’t doable, there are plenty of fall colors closer to home. In Sacramento, the communities of Land Park, Midtown, East Sacramento, Auburn, Placerville and Folsom are traditionally filled with fall foliage ready to be photographed.
Tree Top Sac
Test your agility at Tree Top Sac, an aerial adventure course located in Heritage Oaks Park in West Sacramento. The course offers two hours of climbing in a full-body harness and helmet three to 25 feet or more about the forest floor into the canopy.
Tree Top Sac offers various obstacles, each connected to a platform and zipline exit. The course includes five different routes based on difficulty including hanging bridges, ladders, ropes, a 20-foot tall slack-line and balancing challenges.
IF YOU GO
Location: 1400 Lake Washington Blvd., West Sacramento
Contact: 916-893-1596
Fall days of operation: (September through April) Thursday through Sunday
Fall hours of operation: Thursday’s noon to 8 p.m., Friday to Sunday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.