If you’re like many visitors, you want to stay in a central location just a short jaunt from the attractions on your “must experience” list. Fortunately, central Sacramento is chock-full of dog-welcoming choices. If downtown is where you want to be, check out the Kimpton Sawyer, in the rapidly developing DoCo district and walking distance to Old Sacramento. Nearby, the newer Hyatt Centric also welcomes dogs accompanied by their peeps.
Sacramento’s downtown grid makes it easy to explore on foot with your dog. From either hotel you can walk to the waterfront boardwalk of Old Sacramento, where wooden sidewalks line restored Gold Rush-era buildings along the Sacramento River. The railyard district just north of downtown has been transformed into a gathering spot with open plazas and wide sidewalks — great for a morning stroll before the valley heat kicks in.
Just a few blocks away in Midtown, the Hyatt Regency, Sheraton Grand, Residence Inn, and Citizen Hotel are all near the state Capitol and convention center as well as beautiful Capitol Park. A pawsome plus: the neighborhood is packed with pet-friendly patio restaurants and taprooms.
Capitol Park itself is worth a dedicated visit — 40 acres of towering valley oaks, redwoods, and camellias right in the center of the city. Leashed dogs are welcome on the paved paths that loop through the gardens, and the mature tree canopy provides welcome shade on warm Sacramento afternoons. Midtown’s tree-lined streets between J and R extend the shaded walking, with coffee shops and brunch spots spilling onto sidewalk patios along the way.
Moving just a bit away, the recently reopened Westin Sacramento, just off Interstate 5 south of downtown, is a top DogTrekker choice. It’s situated on a large riverfront lawn with fire pits and out-the-door access to a riverfront bike trail. The hotel restaurant, Scott’s on the River, has a waterfront patio restaurant considered one of the loveliest in town.
That riverfront trail connects to the American River Parkway, a 23-mile greenway that follows the American River from its confluence with the Sacramento River all the way east to Folsom Lake. The paved Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail runs the full length and is one of the best multi-use paths in Northern California — flat, scenic, and ideal for a long walk or run with your dog. Along the way you’ll pass sandy river beaches, grassy picnic areas, and stands of cottonwood and live oak teeming with herons and hawks.
North of downtown in the busy Point West area near Arden Fair Mall, Doubletree by Hilton and Hilton Sacramento warmly welcome canine guests. The Point West location puts you close to the American River Parkway access points at Howe Avenue and Watt Avenue, so you can be on the trail in minutes — a real advantage if morning riverside walks are your thing.
