My husband and I moved to Sacramento with two goals in mind, to buy our house and start a family. We’ve been living here in Sacramento for over five years now and we have a toddler and baby. We love exploring our city and finding new and engaging ways to entertain the kids.

Sacramento is a great place for families to both live and visit, with plenty of activities to keep children of all ages thoroughly amused. In this guide, we've put together some of the best things to do in Sacramento that are perfect for families. From visiting tourist attractions like the California State Railroad Museum to enjoying the great outdoors at one of the city's many parks, there's something for everyone in Sacramento.

The Seasons & Weather in Sacramento

Sacramento is one of the few places in California that has four true seasons. In the spring the weather is mild with scattered rainy days. The summer is very hot with temperatures in the high 90’s and often over 100 degrees. The fall is gorgeous with cooler temperatures and colorful fall foliage. Winter days tend to be dark and cold, with occasional sunny days.

When it comes to spending days outside with the kids, you want to avoid peak heat which is often in August and early September (but also random days in June and July). On hot days the plan is always to leave the house by 9am and be back home by 11am. And then stay inside until the evening cools down which is about 7pm. Being inside with AC is vital for peak heat times in the middle of the day during the summer.

The Best Parks in Sacramento

Sacramento is known for having excellent outdoor parks for families. I’ve listed the top big parks below.

William Land Park

When the weather is warm and mild, William Land Park is the place to be. This 207 acre park has huge wide open grassy fields where children can run around freely. There's also two large duck ponds, including the famous lily pond with fish and turtles. In the springtime you can see baby ducklings following their mother ducks around the pound.

Inside the park there's also picnic tables, a play structure, baseball fields and walking paths for strollers. For adults there's a golf course inside the park.

Right across the street from William Land Park is the health food store Sprouts. They have a deli, snacks and drinks. Many times we have picked up a picnic lunch at Sprouts and set up camp inside the park to watch the ducks at the lily pond.

American River Parkway - Discovery Park

Discovery Park is a great option for families who want to enjoy the great outdoors. With over 2,500 acres of space, this is an impressively huge park. The Jedediah Smith Bike Trail runs for 32 miles which makes it the ideal place for bike enthusiasts. Discovery park is located right where the American River meets the Sacramento River, giving you several great river lookout spots.

We have taken the kids out on stroller walks at Discovery Park to collect wild blackberries. There's huge blackberry bushes filled with blossoms and berries. The berries that have turned dark black are the ripe ones, very sweet and juicy.

As a parent with young children, I would avoid this park during peak heat days. There's long stretches of trail with little or no shade. This park is ideal for the spring, fall and mild winter days.

Mckinley Park

McKinley Park is located in East Sacramento. While it’s comprised of 32 acres which is much smaller than the parks listed above, the selling points of McKinley Park are the well-maintained play structures and the beautiful rose garden. The playgrounds are especially great for young toddler children. The rose garden is in full bloom in the spring and great for family photos.

River Walk Park

The River Walk Park is on the West Sacramento side of the Sacramento River. This smooth paved walking path follows along the riverbank and you can see scenic river views including the gold Tower Bridge and The Delta King Hotel, an authentic paddlewheel riverboat. This trail continues over the Tower Bridge and connects you to the other side at the Old Sacramento Waterfront.

Sacramento Amusement Parks for Children of All Ages

Amusement parks can help beat boredom and are ideal for special days such as birthdays.

Funderland Amusement Park

Funderland Amusement Park is like a vintage style carnival, ideal for younger kids between the ages of 2 years old - teenagers. But don't fret if your child is younger, babies can ride the train and sit on the carousel. There's also a few rides for older kids that go faster. They have carnival foods and deserts available for purchase. Funderland is located inside William Land Park.

See our complete guide to Funderland here.

Fairytale Town

We recommend Fairytale Town for any family with young toddler and elementary school age children. This park is dedicated to all things fairytale, with storybook-themed rides and attractions, plus a petting zoo.

Fairytale Town is located inside William Land Park and is ideal for children between the ages of 2 years old - 10 years old. Most of the activities are slides and play structures. There's limited food inside the park so I recommend bringing a picnic with lunch and snacks.

Urban Air Adventure Park

This is a great option for families with older kids. Urban Air Adventure Park is an indoor trampoline park that's perfect for letting off some energy. There's also a climbing wall, dodgeball, and a foam pit.

West Wind Retro Drive-In Movie Theater

My husband and I discovered that this old-school movie drive-in theater was a great parenting hack for families with young children. We didn’t want to take our baby into a traditional movie theater and have her possibly cry and disrupt everyone else sitting next to us. At the West Wind you literally sit inside your own car for the entire movie. Or you can set up a tailgate party with lawn chairs. You get up and walk around anytime, it’s great for parents with babies. They show the latest releases in movies of all kinds of genres.

Sacramento Zoo

The Sacramento Zoo is also located inside William Land Park. This zoo only covers 14 acres which definitely makes it a much smaller zoo (especially when if you’ve seen the world-famous San Diego Zoo). But they do have some great wild animals including lions, giraffes, cheetahs, leopards, flamingoes, zebras and more.

It takes about 2 hours to walk through the entire zoo. They have a choo choo train and carousel inside the park. There’s also a new playground for younger kids to play. During limited hours you can feed the giraffes which the kids love to do.

Tree Top Sac Climbing and Ziplining in West Sacramento

For families with older kids who enjoy adventurous activities, in West Sac you can suspend from the tree tops and take your best shot at ropes courses, climbing wooden ladders, crossing rope bridges and obstacles and then ziplining through the tree canopies. Book your tickets here.

Scandia Family Fun Amusement Park

The Scandia Family Amusement Park has multiple locations in Northern California, and one of them is near Carmichael in Sacramento. They are an outdoor park for older kids with rollercoaster rides, mini-golf, go-karts and batting cages. Inside they have an arcade with all kinds of games.

Summer Fun Water Activities in Sacramento

The summer heat in Sacramento is no joke, with temperatures often over 100 degrees. Finding fun ways to cool off in the summer is a local pastime.

Sand Cove Park

We may not have an ocean in Sacramento, but we do have riverbank beaches. The Sand Cove Park is a sandy beach along the Sacramento River where you can set up a picnic and go swimming. This is the perfect place to cool off in the water on a hot summer day.

A fair warning, parking is limited and you do have to pay a small parking fee. I suggest arriving early on a weekend day to ensure a parking spot.

Raging Waters Sacramento

Raging Waters is a California summer tradition, an entire theme park built around water slides, floating and splashing. It is recommended for older children who safely know how to swim. With over 50 water slides and attractions, plus a lazy river, Raging Waters Sacramento is perfect for a day of fun in the sun.

Roseville Golfland Sunsplash

Roseville is just a short 30 minute drive outside of Sacramento. Right off the freeway you can see the enormous Sunsplash water park with towering water slides and pools. There’s also mini golf located on the same property.

Yankee Jim’s Swimming Hole in Auburn

There’s a growing popularity in frequenting naturally occurring swimming holes, and the Yankee Jim’s Swimming Hole is the perfect example. I only recommend taking older children to this spot because you need to climb down a semi-steep mountain side. Auburn is an hour drive outside of Sacramento, but it’s a fun day trip with plenty to explore.

Kid-Friendly Indoor Activities for Hot or Rainy Days

There are some days during the year when you need to find indoor activities to entertain the troops of kids. Whether it’s raining outside or just too hot and air conditioning is necessary, below you can find kid-friendly indoor entertainment.

Sacramento Children's Museum

The Sacramento Children's Museum is a great option for families with young children. With a range of interactive exhibits, plus a play area, this museum is perfect for kids between the ages of infant to 8-years-old.

Arden Fair Mall

Arden Fair is the main shopping mall in Sacramento and the majority of the center is enclosed indoors with temperature control. You will find all the classic fashion brands you’d expect to find at any mall in a major city. With over 150 stores, plus a food court, Arden Fair Mall is perfect for a day of shopping.

Notably for children they have a carousel on the second story inside the mall. Also there’s the Kid’s Adventure Area with play structures, located next to the food court. This area is particularly for toddlers and younger children.

Best Family-Friendly Neighborhoods to Explore

If you’re looking for a pleasant area to walk around with the kids, check out the below neighborhoods. You can push them in a stroller and search for coffee shops, restaurants and ice cream.

Old Sacramento

This is a must-see for any family visiting Sacramento. Old Sacramento is a historic district that's full of things to see and do. There are plenty of shops and restaurants, plus a number of museums, including the California State Railroad Museum which has a children’s section.

See my complete guide to Old Sacramento here.

East Sacramento

East Sacramento is a very family-friendly neighborhood with cute tudor-style homes and stroller-friendly sidewalks. Local coffee shops include Pachamama Coffee on J Street and Chocolate Fish Coffee Roasters on Folsom Blvd. I suggest grabbing a cup of coffee and walking down M St between the 40’s East Sac city blocks. This is a popular and pleasant walking route and you can see some truly spectacular houses. This area is known as the Fab 40’s.

East Sacramento is considered one of the most desirable neighborhoods to buy a house. When looking at homes for sale in Sacramento, consider this area for the great schools and family-friendly community.

Midtown Sacramento

Midtown is very close to Downtown Sacramento and it’s where you’ll find all the hustle and bustle of the city. In Midtown you’ll find the California Capital building which is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Popular streets in Midtown to find shopping and restaurants are:

Ice Blocks in the R District
The corner of 19 Street and Capital Ave has Fieldwork Brewing Company where we’ve taken our kids for pizza.
Also the corner of 19th Street and L Street there’s a large outdoor beer garden at Golden Road Brewing Company.
Temple Coffee on J Street is a popular destination for coffee lovers.

Where to Eat with Babies & Toddlers in Sacramento

As parents to young children, we understand how awkward it can be to show up to a fancy restaurant with young children in tow. All of the places listed below, I have taken my own baby and toddler without any issues.

Cafeteria 15L

Cafetria15L is located in Midtown at the corner of 15th Street and L Street (hence the name). This spot is the best of both worlds because they have sophisticated and foodie approved meals for adults, but they also provide a kid’s menu and booster seats. I would classify this restaurant as a little bit upscale, but still a bit casual. They serve elevated American comfort food. The Cafeteria 15L brunch is very popular and I always order one of their fizzy mocktails.

Drake’s The Barn

Drake’s the Barn is a very large outdoor kid-friendly beer garden in West Sacramento. They are well equipped with casual entertainment such as lawn games, fire pits, a grassy lawn and picnic tables. They serve beer for adults and many kid-friendly food items such as pizza, mac and cheese, chicken nuggets and desserts.

Mendocino Farms

Mendocino Farms is a trendy casual sandwich and salad restaurant in the R District of Midtown. They have delicious and healthy food for both adults and children. When we go with our kids, we usually sit on their outdoor patio because there’s limited seating inside the restaurant.

Fall Season & Holiday Things To Do with Kids Near Sacramento

Apple Hill

Apple Hill is a great place to visit in the fall, with a range of apple-themed activities, including picking your own apples, apple cider tastings, pumpkin patches and more.

During the holiday season you can select and cut down your own Christmas tree from a tree farm in Apple Hill.

Apple Hill is about an hour drive outside of Sacramento, making it a great day trip destination. I’ve even have a dedicated blog post to child-friendly Apple Hill wineries!

Halloween Trick-or-Treating in the Fab 40’s

When you’re looking for a family-friendly neighborhood to take your kids trick-or-treating, East Sacramento is the place to be for Halloween night. The streets are blocked-off from cars so pedestrians can comfortably walk from house to house seeking candy.

The East Sac houses are very festive with lights and spooky Halloween decorations, and most houses participate in trick-or-treating by handing out candy. The best place to start is at the corner of M Street and 42 Street. Be aware that parking can be a little tricky because people come from all over Sacramento to trick-or-treat in this area.

Christmas Lights and Horse Drawn Carriages in the Fab 40’s

Also in East Sac you’ll find a holiday wonderland during the Christmas season. In the city blocks between M Street and 42nd Street the houses are filled with lights and Christmas decorations. You can ride a horse drawn carriage down these blocks with sleigh-bells and Christmas music playing. Check out the photos from our East Sac Christmas here.

Ice Skating at DOCO

DOCO is short for Downtown Commons which is the large outdoor shopping center in Downtown Sacramento. The King’s stadium and Punch Bowl Social are also located here. During the holiday season they make an outdoor ice skating rink for families to enjoy. They have Christmas music playing and twinkling lights, it’s very festive.

Wonderland Imaginarium Lights Show at the Cal Expo in Sacramento

Every holiday season the CalExpo turns into a magical lighted wonderland with the Imaginarium. They have thousands of light sculptures, arches, rides and LED flower fields. You can bring the kids, walk around at night and listen to the Christmas music. See our complete guide to the Wonderland Imaginarium in Sacramento.