A Lazy Sacramento Summer Day Guide
Sacramento summers are hot, so I think the best summer days here are the ones that start early and don’t try too hard.
You get outside before the heat really settles in. You grab something iced. You find shade. You eat something good. And then, ideally, you go home before the day starts asking too much of you.
That is my kind of summer day.
A good place to start is a farmers market. If it is Saturday, the Midtown Farmers Market is a great option. It is big, lively, and full of the things that make Sacramento feel like Sacramento: fresh fruit, flowers, vegetables, local food, dogs, strollers, and people buying beautiful produce with very optimistic dinner plans.
If Sunday works better, there is also the farmers market under the freeway near W and X Streets. That one has more of a classic farmers market feeling to me. A little less “Saturday outing” and a little more “let’s get good produce and go home happy.”
And if you have weekdays off, Sacramento has farmers markets throughout the week too, which is one of those local perks we probably do not appreciate enough. Not every city makes it this easy to buy peaches on a random Wednesday. (Check out VisitSacramento.com for a current list of Sacramento’s Farmers Markets.)
After the market, get an iced coffee. I’m not going to pretend there is only one correct answer here because Sacramento has so many great locally owned coffee shops. Balance Coffee Shop, Old Soul, Temple, and Seasons Coffee Roasters are all good options depending on where you are and what kind of morning you want.
Old Soul has that iconic patio and good food. Temple is a Sacramento classic. Seasons is the cutest coffee shop in Sacramento,. Balance is a great neighborhood stop. But really, the rule is simple: go somewhere local, order something cold, and sit for a minute.
Then comes the most important part of the day: shade.
Bring a blanket. Bring a book. Bring a friend. Bring the fruit you just bought and call it a picnic. This does not need to be complicated. In fact, I would argue that the whole point is for it not to be complicated.
Land Park is great if you want a long, slow walk under big trees and a little break from the middle of the city. McKinley Park is perfect for people-watching, sitting in the grass, and pretending you are going to read more than three pages of your book before getting distracted.
You could even start the day with Yoga in the Park, by Yoga Moves Us, at McKinley if you are feeling motivated. But this is a lazy summer day guide, so no pressure. Stretching on a blanket while holding an iced coffee also counts.
At some point, you will need an early dinner. I love an early dinner in the summer. It feels relaxed and practical, which is one of my favorite combinations.
Aiona has been my favorite choice lately, especially if you want something a little more special without making the day feel too formal. Paragary’s is a Sacramento classic, especially if you want a patio. The Golden Bear is casual and easy in the best way. Zócalo is great if chips, salsa, and a cold drink sound like exactly what you need.
The goal is not to pack the day with plans. The goal is to make the day feel good. A little local, a little social, a little quiet, a little delicious.
Then go home.
Take a shower. Put on soft clothes. Cut up whatever fruit you bought at the market. Watch a comfort movie (Here’s our list of 10 of our favorite relaxing movies). Sit outside for a little bit if the evening cools down. Then go to bed early like a responsible summer grandma.
And yes, a massage at Sacramento Massage Studio also counts as a summer activity. I don’t make the rules. I just strongly support them. LOL
A lazy Sacramento summer day does not need to be fancy. It can be a farmers market, an iced coffee, a shady park, an early dinner, and a quiet night at home.
Honestly, that sounds pretty perfect to me.
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