Sacramento is attracting more and more people every year, thanks to its stable economy and its strong job market. If you’re planning on moving with kids to the Sacramento area, you’ll be glad to hear this city is also bubbling with fun places and activities for younger ones. From fantastic playgrounds to duck ponds and apple picking, here are some of the best places to make beautiful family memories:
Art Beast
Let your kids’ creativity run rampant in this specialized art studio designed specifically for children. Art Beast has lots of open studio space for creating arts and crafts as well as exploration rooms where your kids can express their inner worlds in drama, music, and movement. The shelves are stocked with art materials such as paint, brushes, and glitter as well as recycled materials objects from nature and other tidbits to inspire originality and creativity. While children of all ages are welcome, space was created to cater specifically to children under six, which means loudness and messiness are most welcome. It also offers daily classes and events, including Baby & Me and Toddler & Me classes.
Fairytale Town
One of the ways to make moving fun for kids is to let them know just how great will be the town you’re moving to- so don’t forget to tell them about their new favorite hangout- Fairytale Town. Fairytale Town is a 3.5-acre park and outdoor children’s museum which brings nursery rhymes and fairy tales to life, sparking the imaginations of generations of Sacramento kids for over 50 years. Your little ones would love climbing down Jack’s Beanstalk, petting Mary’s lambs, visiting Peter Rabbit in Mr. McGregor’s garden, riding in Cinderella’s carriage or playing in Robin Hood and his Merry Men’s vast fort. The brightly colored playsets are designed to inspire free, active and creative play while two performing arts stages introduce young viewers to the magic of theater, storytelling and live music. The Mother Goose stage is open for visitors’ experiments in theatrical self-expression while the Children’s Theater hosts plays and performances year round.
Sacramento Zoo
The Sacramento Zoo is home to over 500 animals and over 140 rare and endangered species. Stretching over 14.2 acres and located in William Land Park, this zoo is the perfect place to introduce your kids to the wonders of the animal kingdom and the importance of conservation awareness. Its layout allows children to come very close to the animals, making it a very exciting experience for kids. They can also feed leafy vegetables to the giraffes, for an additional charge.
Funderland
Who doesn’t like a fun ride? Spinning around in the Crazy Cups, soaring up on the back of the Flying Dragon, or thrashing about in the Wild Stagecoach, your kids will love every minute at Funderland. Admission is free, so you can pay separately for each ride, which is great news for the frugal parent. Take a walk around before deciding how many tickets to buy and whether you should invest in the free-pass bracelet because depending on your child’s age or height some of the rides might not be accessible. Funderland is also a great place to celebrate your child’s birthday- you can just reserve one of the birthday spots or go for a full-service package and have the establishment take care of all the little details for you.
Sacramento State Railroad Museum
Telling the story of the railway in California and the West, the Sacramento State Railroad Museum houses flawlessly restored locomotives and offers fascinating exhibitions about different aspects of railroad history. Younger ones might not be too eager to learn about the 1894 Pullman strike, but they will simply delight in running around the impressive engines, “driving” a real locomotive and following the beautiful model trains zigzagging through intricate settings. The toy train play tables offer even more fun and of course, there are actual train rides!
McKinley Park
Your kids are going to love spending the weekends and afternoons in this beautiful, sprawling park located in East Sacramento. With ample space to run free, throw a ball or Frisbee and enjoy a family picnic, the park also offers lots of different sports and recreation options. These include a running path, lap pool and tennis and basketball courts. The huge playground is fitted with swings for younger and older kids, a merry-go-round, and slides as well as some special features like a giant swing that fits about half a dozen children at once. There’s also a library, a rose garden, and a pond on the grounds. The pond is a favorite with young ones who love feeding its ducks, geese, and turtles.
Apple Hill
Located about 40 miles northeast of Sacramento, Apple Hill is an association of adjacent apple orchards set within a short driving or even walking distance of each other. Apple Hill’s inspired farmers created a beautiful place to visit year-round, with much more than apple-picking to enjoy; there are plenty of activities for children of all ages including hay and corn mazes, petting zoos, face painting, hay rides, pony rides and craft stands. The many ranches also offer bakeshops and specialty shops where you can find delicious apple jams, sauces, cider and obviously- pies!
Making a long distance move with kids isn’t easy, but look at all the fun you have to look forward to! If you already live in Sacramento but is looking to move nearby, we recommend comparing the best moving companies in Sacramento to get you there.
Best of luck!
