Roaming About

A Life Less Ordinary

Sunny Sacramento

Horse and carriage with "new Sacramento" in the background

Horse and carriage with “new Sacramento” in the background

Mark and I drove across the country and temporarily moved to California to enjoy a warmer winter than last year in New England. So far, we cannot complain. It is not as hot here as in Southern California or Florida (or French Polynesia :-)), but the 70 degree daytime temperatures (20s Celsius) have been very pleasant.

Because it will get colder and rainier soon, we take advantage of the sunny days by going on long walks and hikes with Herk (the cute rescue dog we are currently caring for), even during the week.

Northern California is not new to us – Mark and I met here in November 2004 – but the Sacramento area is. As I have mentioned before, one of the greatest joys of our house and pet sitting lifestyle is the opportunity to explore different areas and fascinating parks. While some places in the US are more spectacular than others (the Rocklin environment is not too special), we always find enough beautiful parks to discover, exciting trails to conquer and interesting cities to visit. California has a lot to offer the outdoor enthusiast and city lover. We are doing our best to experience some of it first-hand!

Downtown Sacramento:

Old Town:

Midtown:

29 Comments

  1. It looks like you are having a great time taking advantage of the area and the weather. If you haven’t already, you might want to check out some of the little towns around Calaveras, Amador, and Tuolumne Counties (like Murphy’s, Angeles Camp, and Sonora). They are pretty and fun to wonder around in.Of course, Mark Twain made Angles Camp famous in his short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Lots of wineries in that area too, if you like that sort of thing.

    • Thanks for the tips, Janis. We have not ventured that far out yet. I have been reading about the sequoias in Calaveras and I’m looking forward to exploring some of the Gold Rush towns as well. Let’s hope the sun keeps showing up during the weekends and that it does not get too cold the coming months! 🙂 Thinking about a winery “hop” on my birthday weekend (Lodi or Shenandoah region), the end of November. Heaps to do and see everywhere. I love it!

  2. We’ve driven through Sacramento heaps of times but have never stopped — it looks like a beautiful city. I’ve always wanted to go camping in Yosemite, but we it’s always been too cold when we were in the area. Do you have any plans to go?

    Stephanie @ SV CAMBRIA</a

    • Parts of Sacramento remind me a bit of Washington DC and some of the neighborhoods made me think of Burlington, VT. I like strolling around town – wide lanes and sidewalks and loads of trees. And who doesn’t like to look at a bright white capitol. 🙂 Mark and I visited Yosemite with my parents over a decade ago, when we first met. We haven’t been back yet, but hope to next year. We just looked into going for my B-Day weekend, actually, but they don’t allow dogs anywhere, except in the campgrounds and, really, it is too freaking cold for that right now. If they are even still open. 🙁

  3. My one and only marathon was four years ago in Sacramento, the California International. Looks like you are getting to explore a great deal of the city. We are going to be in the area the first week of December. If you would be interested in seeing if we might get together for a coffee my email is traveltalesoflife@gmail.com

    • We are only a 25 minute drive away from Sacramento, so it seems to be our “go to” place now when we don’t feel like joining the crowds in nature around here on the weekends. 🙂 We are getting a good feel for the city. A marathon, Sue! You are truly amazing. And, I can’t wait to meet you! Why don’t you come to the area the first week of December and we can make that happen? 🙂 I’ll shoot you an email soon…

  4. Great Country. Wife and I were station there in the 1960s while serving in the air force. We lived east of there in Rough and Ready.

    • That’s great, Scott. Lots to do and see, and quite the history as well… A lot of people in this area seem to serve in the air force.

  5. dconnollyislandgmailcom

    November 14, 2016 at 22:18

    Great photos, Liesbet. Your lifestyle definitely gives me itchy feet!
    Donna
    http://www.retirementreflections.com

  6. Your hikes with Herk the rescue dog, look great. He is pretty cute too. I love how in Northern California one is so surroubded by nature and can easily access walks, rivers, mountains etc. Looks like you got a good spot for the winter. (I assume you are house sitting…)

    Peta

    • Yes, we are house sitting in the area here until January 10th. The weather has been enjoyable, but we see it is changing soon. Not bad for the winter, but we hope to make it further south in January. It is still a tad cold here for our “tropical” bodies. Much better where you are! We love to take the dogs we are sitting for hiking (and camping when it is not too cold) trips! 🙂

  7. Sacramento looks an interesting mix, Liesbet. And, oooh, a meeting with Sue!!!! 🙂 🙂 Thanks for sharing and good luck with the writing.

  8. You guys do have a great thing going there with the long-term house sitting. Enough time to get to know and enjoy an area. Herk looks like a great dog. I’m always glad when people adopt rescue dogs and give them a good life full of love and treats.

    • That’s right, Ellen, but, since we don’t have the next house sit lined up, it is starting to cause a bit of anxiety. We don’t like to plan far ahead of time and something will more than likely come up, but sometimes we wonder, when it is less than two months out… And, we are getting picky, desiring warm weather over the winter. 🙂 Are there any other dogs than rescue dogs? Adopt, don’t shop! 🙂

  9. Looks like a great place to be for a few months. Great pictures, including the memorials to firemen and Vietnam – both movingly done.

    • I am impressed by the memorials in Capitol Park. And, in many other parts in this country. It is one of the reasons why Washington DC is such an amazing and impressive place to visit as well. We are happy here… for a few months. 🙂

  10. Sorry, Liesbet- more chance you’ll come my way 🙂 🙂

  11. It looks like wonderful hiking up there and please give Herk a big hug from us xxx

  12. Liesbet the running a marathon crept onto my bucket list ever so slowly. I spent decades saying i would never do one. Then as I approached 50 I started thinking maybe I should try. It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. So grateful to have had good health and the support of Dave (five time marathoner) and good friends who had run dozens to coach and cheer me through.
    I’ve responded to your email so hoping we find a way to connect.

  13. You ventured out on a great weekend! Too bad we were so busy! Great photos and always amazing to see photos of my hometown by another blogger! If you like snow, Tahoe will have plenty soon! Enjoy the leaf show, this is the peak time until after Thanksgiving, once the winter storms show up!

    • We like looking at snow, but hate the cold! Might get up to Tahoe again this winter… not sure. Love the leaves turning, but… not the colder temps. Did you say winter storm, Terri? 🙂

  14. If you go wine tasting in Lodi, visit Oak Farm. They have a really lovely tasting room and patio. Lots of tasting rooms in Lodi’s old downtown area too.

  15. Brings back very happy memories of visits and family get together’s over the past 30 years . . . .

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