Unexpected California city is named hot new travel destination by prestige guide

An often overlooked city in California has been recognized as one of the top 50 travel destinations in the world.

The state capital, Sacramento, appeared Travel + Leisure’s 2025 list of the best travel destinations, which deserves the distinction for its gastronomic food culture, its many food and music festivals and its proximity to natural parks.

“Our transformation as a dining destination and music festival mecca has flown somewhat under the radar,” Mike Testa, president and CEO of Visit Sacramento, told the magazine.

“And so when people arrive… they feel like they’ve betrayed a secret.”

Sacramento was recognized, along with Portland, Oregon and Detroit, Michigan, as top places to experience “the thrill of the big city,” including professional sports.

Major League Baseball’s Athletics will temporarily relocate to Sutter Health Park in Sacramento for the next three seasons before moving permanently to Las Vegas.

Although the Athletics’ stay will be short-lived, the city has been home to NBA team The Kings since 1985.

If more Bay Area transplants have moved to Sacramento in recent years the city has grown to cater to more sophisticated tastes.

As Travel + Leisure noted, Sacramento has become something of a culinary hub in California’s central valley, now boasting 15 Michelin-starred restaurants (photo: Ella Dining Room and Bar)

In the photo: Grange Restaurant, a luxury bar, was recognized by the Michelin Guide

Zócalo Mexican restaurant is another of 15 Michelin-starred restaurants in Sacramento

As Travel + Leisure noted, the city has become something of a culinary center in California’s central valley, and now boasts 15 Michelin-starred restaurants.

Some of these include the Mediterranean restaurant Ella Dining Room and Bar, the luxurious bar Grange and the modern Mexican restaurant Zócalo.

For those interested in restaurants that are committed to being environmentally friendly, Sacramento’s Pachamama Coffee was named a Sustainability Pioneer at the 2024 Sustainable Food Awards.

Chef Billy Ngo, who works at contemporary Japanese restaurant Kru, was a finalist in this year’s competition for a James Beard Award, an award that recognizes people who have achieved excellence in the food industry.

Travel + Leisure also complimented Sacramento’s live entertainment scene and mentioned its new concert venue, Channel 24, set to open in 2025.

The GoldenSky Country Music Fest has been taking place in Sacramento for three years.

This year, approximately 75,000 fans saw performances by Keith Urban, Thomas Rhett, Luke Bryan and others.

Sacramento has also hosted annual music festivals for heavy metal fans and R&B listeners for years.

The annual Farm-to-Fork Festival, which has been around since 2013, combines food and dancing, with dozens of local restaurants setting up on the streets as musicians play their sets.

Lake Tahoe (pictured) is just a few hours’ drive from Sacramento and is a very popular area for both summer and winter sports

Yosemite National Park (pictured) can also be a day trip if you’re staying in Sacramento. It was the sixth most popular national park in 2023 with almost 3.9 million visitors

Sacramento is also upgrading its airport at a cost of $1.3 billion, making the city a more attractive vacation destination for both domestic and international travelers.

The new and improved airport, scheduled for completion in 2025, will include new nonstop routes to Mexico City, Orlando, Nashville and Austin.

And when visitors reach Sacramento, they may find that they are just a few hours’ drive from beautiful Lake Tahoe and majestic Yosemite National Park.

Yosemite was the sixth most popular national park in 2023, drawing nearly 3.9 million visitors to its spectacular waterfalls and deep valleys.

And Lake Tahoe is a paradise, both in summer (when the boats hit the water) and winter (when skiers and snowboarders flock to the luxury resorts along the lake’s edges).