Sacramento, California: A Desolate and Eerie Capital City. Here's our rating of the empty capital city.
Views: 1.5/5
Although Sacramento may not be a city that is known for its breathtaking views, it has its own unique charm and beauty. While the downtown area may not be densely populated with skyscrapers, the city's historic architecture and landmarks, such as the state Capitol building and the Tower Bridge, are worth exploring. However, if you're looking for stunning views, you'll find them outside the city limits. The Sacramento River, farmland, and wineries that surround the city offer picturesque scenery that is perfect for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and kayaking.

City safeness/ upkeep: 1/5
Walking around Sacramento during the day can be an unusual experience, as there are hardly any people out and about. You may see a few locals on bikes and some tourists here and there, but for the capital of California, the lack of activity may be surprising. Unfortunately, the city has a visible homeless problem, and it's not uncommon to see more homeless people than tourists or locals at some point during the day.
Another notable aspect of the city is the abundance of abandoned buildings. From businesses to apartments, there are "for lease" signs everywhere, which is not a good sign for tourists. This also explains the lack of people on the streets.
Lastly, it's worth noting the amount of shattered car glass in the street gutters, which can be a troubling sight. Unfortunately, the stories about car break-ins in cities like Sacramento and San Francisco seem to be true.

Food: 3/5
Sacramento is a farm-to-fork city, which means that the food is fresh and locally sourced. During my stay, I had the pleasure of dining at two great restaurants. The first was the Grange, a Michelin-recommended restaurant located inside the Citizen Hotel. The food was delicious, and the wine recommendation from our waiter was spot-on. While the food might be obtainable elsewhere, the Grange's two-story wine cellar is definitely worth checking out.
The second restaurant we visited was Frank Fat's, a Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated Chinese restaurant that was popular for good reason. The menu had some unique items, and the brandy-fried beef was a standout dish. We definitely ate enough to keep us full for a couple of days after!

Wine: 3.75/5
During our trip, we visited Scribner Bend Winery in Clarksburg and had a fantastic experience. The staff was very welcoming, and the wines were excellent. It's a great place to relax and enjoy a glass of wine. We ended up buying four bottles and will likely be ordering more in the coming weeks!


Return Factor: 0/5
During our two-day stay, we spent more time in our hotel room than we should have. Despite our efforts to find activities, we found that the city was lacking in things to do. It's unfortunate that a city like this has fallen on hard times with a lack of business and tourism. As Californians, it's sad to see. We've never felt this way about a city before, but it's unlikely that we will be returning.

Overall Rating: 0.75/5
During my trip, I had a great experience dining at two restaurants in Sacramento: the Michelin-recommended Grange and Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated Frank Fat's. I also visited Scribner Bend Winery in Clarksburg and had a fantastic experience. However, I found that the city of Sacramento was lacking in things to do, which was unfortunate given its farm-to-fork reputation. It was sad to see a city like this struggle with a lack of business and tourism. As a result, I am unlikely to return to Sacramento in the future.
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