Although the world is currently in the midst of fighting Coronavirus, this doesn’t stop any of us from thinking ahead to amazing places to visit once the outbreak is under control. In this guide, we take a look at the capital of California, Sacramento.

The buzzing capital of California, Sacramento is an edgy, cool city with an exciting gastronomy scene, a rapidly expanding city centre and a thriving arts and culture scene.

In the centre of wine country, Sacramento is located at the foothill of some of California’s most spectacular natural wonders – Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park.

Rapidly expanding city centre

For a city of only half a million people, Sacramento knows how to pack it in. 2020 will see the opening of three brand-new hotels in central Sacramento. Nearly three years after announcing plans for midtown’s first upscale hotel, restaurateur Randy Paragay is nearing completion of Fort Sutter – the newest of Hilton Hotels’ Tapestry Collection.

A few streets away, the historic California Fruit Building will also transform into a 100-room boutique hotel, The Exchange Hotel, featuring a signature restaurant, Ecce-liente!, that will celebrate all things Italian – food, art and design.

These openings will be followed by Hyatt Centric, a new 172-room hotel with an elevated outdoor lounge adjacent to the Golden 1 Center, making it a perfect base for exploring the wider city.

Exciting gastronomy scene

As America’s ‘Farm-to-Fork’ capital, Sacramento’s dining scene is experiencing a renaissance as talented chefs make their homes here due to proximity to farms as well as lower rent costs compared to cities like LA and San Francisco.

Michelin’s recent guide to California honoured 13 of Sacramento’s restaurants, including awarding a coveted Michelin Star to The Kitchen – a family-owned restaurant that has been supporting local farmers for decades.

Joining the scene this year is Camden Spit & Larder, the new fine-dining hotspot inspired by the head chef’s childhood in London, with a decidedly Californian flair.

Sacramento’s historic D.O. Mills Bank building recently reopened as an upscale culinary space with food vendors and several bars over three floors.

The identity of this 1912 building is still intact, down to the original bank vault that now serves as a unique hideaway in the beer hall.

California’s best-kept secret wine region

Nestled in the heart of more than 200 wineries, Sacramento is a top wine region yet often overlooked for well-known Napa and Sonoma.

With its diverse soil and terrain, the vineyards around Sacramento provide vintners with a fertile ground to grow a wide array of wines, which they are more than happy to showcase to visitors.

For those wanting to sample local wines on foot, there are several wineries downtown offering tastes of regional wines. Visitors can also make the quick 15-minute Uber ride to the Old Sugar Mill, where they can find a variety of tasting rooms.

Arts and Culture

Sacramento has become a mecca for graffiti artists thanks to the popularity of the annual Wide Open Walls, a mural festival that activates spaces in alleyways and buildings throughout the city.

Visitors can take walking, running, or biking tours exploring several of these murals, where they will learn about the artwork, the artist’s inspiration and the history of street art in Sacramento and its evolution around the world.

This year, The California Museum will be home to the annual ‘California Hall of Fame’ exhibit until the end of 2020, honouring 13 Californians who embody the innovative spirit of the state; inductees include Dr Maya Angelou, RuPaul Charles and Tony Hawk.

For more information, visit visitsacramento.com.

Bon Voyage runs trips to Sacramento from October 2020 from £1545 per person and includes Virgin Atlantic flights from LHR – SFO, car hire and seven nights at the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel with an evening wine reception. 0800 316 0194 / www.bon-voyage.co.uk