Come Visit Cali (old sacramento)

The next few posts are going to be shameless plugs at getting you to come out to visit us. 

Just letting you know up front. 

We recently had a great visit with some sweet friends who agreed to let me use them in this advertising series called

and when I say 'California' I really mean 'the Gardners'.

come visit the Gardners.

we miss you!

and California is so much fun.  especially with us!

So, when you come to visit, you will most likely fly into SMF, good ole Sacramento airport, where either Jono, myself, or the whole crew will greet you, depending on the number of seats required in the swagger wagon.

Starting with a little history, we will procede to "Old Sac", the historic part of downtown Sacramento.  Back in the day, Sacramento was the gateway to gold country and little part of that world still remains.  We can see the trains...

say 'hi' to Black Bart and maybe the mounties...

and if you time it right you can see it in all it's 1850's glory at

Gold Rush Days

There's also the train museum and candy and the river.

And that is just the beginning!

Stay tuned for more reasons to come visit us in California...

Sacramento {Gold Rush Days}

Jono and I were able to get down to the "big city" to celebrate his birthday.

The big city is Sacramento. 

It might not qualify for some of you but there are sidewalks there. 

And people walk on them to get places.

And there are buses and tall buildings and more concrete than trees.

And lots of stop lights and confusing one-way streets. 

And after dark, there are still people out walking the streets.

It has a completely different feel than the small mountain community

where we spend most of our days!

While most of the city is very modern, a small area downtown by the river has been preserved as a historic landmark.  For a few days each year (usually around Labor Day), the streets turn to dirt and horses and carriages are the only vehicles allowed through the streets.  It's straight from the 1850s.

Gold Rush Days!

My family lucked out when their visit happened to overlap the festival.

How would you like a ride in the paddy wagon?

There are all sorts of exhibitions: 
gold panning, medicine show, pony express riders, dancers,
AND a wild west shoot out!

Good times in Old Sac!

What is your favorite big city?