VISITING Sacramento · City of Trees

Visiting Sacramento with toddlers and little kids: the plan.

Base yourself downtown. Fairytale Town and the zoo face each other in Land Park, ten minutes south, and the Railroad Museum and MOSAC are on the river. The Children’s Museum is a short drive east in Rancho Cordova.

Top 2 can’t-miss spots

#1Land Park, 3901 Land Park Drive
Fairytale Town
Thu–Sun only from November to February.
$10 each1 and under
See it in the guide
#2Old Sacramento, 125 I Street
California State Railroad Museum
Last admission 4:30pm.
Kids $6Adults $125 and underIndoor
See it in the guide
Nap breaks built in

One day or two in Sacramento

A couple of big stops, a real lunch and a nap in the middle. Tap a stop for the full listing.

If you have one day
MORNINGFairytale TownStory at 11am · Land Park, 3901 Land Park Drive · $10 per personLUNCHThe Dish & Spoon CafeIn the park · Land Park
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPSacramento ZooLast entry 3pm in winter · Land Park, Land Park Drive & 16th Ave.
If you have two days

Day 1 is the one-day plan above. Day 2:

MORNINGCalifornia State Railroad MuseumKids 5 and under free · Old Sacramento, 125 I Street · $6 kids, $12 adults
NAPBack to the hotel for nap. If your little one sleeps best in the car, take a loop.
AFTER NAPSacramento Children’s MuseumCloses at 4 on weekends · Rancho Cordova, 2701 Prospect Park Drive
Where to stay

Kid-friendly areas near the big attractions

Pick the area by the stops you’ll make most, then plan around nap.

DOWNTOWNDowntown and Old SacramentoThe Railroad Museum, the Crocker and MOSAC are all near the river.Near California State Railroad Museum
Eat

Easy restaurants near the big stops

Kids’ menus, quick service and a short drive from the attractions. Prices come from each restaurant’s own menu.

Snack bar · Land ParkThe Dish & Spoon CafeNear Fairytale Town
Before you go

Practical tips

Parking, strollers, changing tables and the best times to go.

Parking
Street parking around Land Park is free.
Strollers
The Children’s Museum asks families to leave strollers and wagons outside the exhibits.
Visiting in November or December?

Santa and Christmas lights in Sacramento

If your trip lands in the holiday season, these two pages have the dates, prices and booking links.

Santa in SacramentoBreakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains, with 2026 pricesChristmas lights in SacramentoDrive-thru and walk-through displays, start times and 2026 prices
This week

Happening while you’re here

This week’s top events in Sacramento. The full list, with hours and the forecast, is on the this-week page.

#1Sat 10am–2pm
Halloween Fun Day at Fairytale Town
A not-so-spooky dance party, a scavenger hunt and trick-or-treating around the storybook park. The listing says 10am–2pm, though the write-up mentions treats until 3, so get there early.
Fairytale Town · Sacramento
Included with park admission
Hours, food & parking
#2Sat 10am–noon
Trick or Treat at the Sacramento Children’s Museum
Candy stations, outdoor play and art activities in costume. It all happens outside, and the museum itself is closed the rest of the day.
Sacramento Children’s Museum · Rancho Cordova
Free
Hours, food & parking
#3Sat 11–11:20am
Tractor Tales with Charlotte the Tarantula
A 20-minute story time in the Story Center classroom where kids meet Charlotte the tarantula and a few other animals. It’s short, so arrive a little before 11.
Fairytale Town Story Center · Sacramento
Included with park admission
Hours, food & parking
#4Sun 10am–2pm
Day of the Dead Celebration at Fairytale Town
Sugar skull masks, stories, face painting and a community altar with marigolds, plus music and dancing on the stage.
Fairytale Town · Sacramento
Included with park admission
Hours, food & parking
#5Sun 10am–4pm
Día de los Muertos at the Sacramento Children’s Museum
Decorate a sugar skull and add a photo or a note to the museum’s ofrenda.
Sacramento Children’s Museum · Rancho Cordova
Included with museum admissionIndoor
Hours, food & parking
See everything this week →
Good questions

Visiting Sacramento with toddlers: the FAQ

Is Sacramento kid-friendly?

For a family with kids under 6, yes. Our Sacramento guide lists 8 places we checked for little kids, plus 1 free place and 4 picks for babies and toddlers. This page adds 1 easy restaurant near the big stops and free storytimes at 1 library system. This week’s list has 21 dated outings for ages 0–6. See free things to do in Sacramento and this weekend’s list.

Where should we stay with a toddler?

Downtown or Old Sacramento keeps the Railroad Museum, MOSAC and the Crocker close, with Land Park a short drive.

What if it rains?

The Railroad Museum, MOSAC, the Crocker and the Children’s Museum are all indoors. Fairytale Town is weather permitting.

Get the list every Thursday.

One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Sacramento.