Free Kids Activities in Sacramento, California

Sacramento is the capital of California and is located in the northern point of the Central Valley, where the Sacramento River and American River meet. Sacramento's hot, dry summers make it an ideal place to explore the great outdoors, and plenty of outdoor activities and free places to visit with the kids are available. From museums to parks to nature reserves to play areas, Sacramento has something for everyone in the family.

  1. California State Capitol Museum

    • Located in downtown Sacramento, the California State Capitol Museum offers visitors a look into the past, present and future of California. Public tours take place daily, on the hour every hour, and films are shown daily in the museum's Basement Theater. Some of the museum's exhibits are Governors Portraits, Antiques & Artifacts and the Contemporary Art Collection. The property also has extensive grounds to explore, including the Camellia Grove, which was designed in memory of California pioneers.

    American River Parkway

    • The American River Parkway is a 23-mile stretch of land along the American River that is visited by more than 5 million people annually. Several different parks make up the area, including Ancil Hoffman Park, home to both a nature center and reconstructed Maidu Indian homes. Paradise Beach is an area popular with swimmers, Upper Sunrise Recreation Area has a boat launch and Lower Area features nature trails, fishing and picnicking.

    Kaboom PS-7

    • Kaboom is an organization dedicated to helping communities build outdoor play spaces for children throughout America. PS-7 is a play space in Sacramento for younger children ages 2 to 5. The park features an adventure bridge, tether ball, twisty slide, horizontal loop ladder, seesaw and swings.

    California State Military Museum

    • California State Military Museum is the official historical research center and military museum of California. It houses more than 30,000 artifacts and a huge range of exhibits that focus on California and its role in the Civil War, the California Naval Militia, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, the California Air National Guard and Brig. Gen. William Hamilton's collection of California National Guard insignia. Entry is free for children under 6, $3 for visitors under 18 and $5 for adults.

    Sacramento Zoo

    • The Sacramento Zoo offers free admission several days throughout the year, and admission is always free for members. The zoo houses more than 500 animals comprising of 140 different species, including endangered and exotic animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians. Also on offer are late-night tours of the zoo and overnight stays, including kid's activities, dinner and breakfast.

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