With a special “Family Fun Day” and crowd-pleasing favorites such as the always popular steam-powered excursion train rides on the Sacramento Southern Railroad and the coveted second season of the intriguing underground tours, Old Sacramento bursts into spring full steam ahead on Saturday, April 2.  With so much to do, guests to Old Sacramento are encouraged to spend the day exploring old favorites and unearthing new discoveries.  Check it out:

“Pick Me! Family Fun Day” at the California State Railroad Museum - April 2 ONLY
In celebration of the new and visually exciting “Pick Me! Fruit Crate Art & the California Dream” exhibit, the California State Railroad Museum invites the community to a special “Family Fun Day” on Saturday, April 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Free with admission to North America’s most popular train museum, guests will be treated to fun-filled activities such as hand-car rides inside the Museum, a produce-inspired scavenger hunt, kid-friendly Museum programs, create-your-own fruit labels, “California Grown” activity books, games puzzles and giveaways and more! For Museum admission information, go to www.csrmf.org.

Steam-Powered Excursion Train Rides - Start April 2
The California State Railroad Museum’s popular excursion railroad--the Sacramento Southern Railroad--officially returns to operation for the 28th consecutive season on Saturday, April 2, and will continue on weekends through September.  Weekend excursion trains depart every hour on-the-hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and online tickets will soon be available at www.csrmf.org. Guests are treated to a six-mile, 40-minute roundtrip excursion along the levees of the Sacramento River. The train features a combination of vintage closed coaches with comfortable seats, and open-air “gondolas” with bench style seating.

Old Sacramento Underground Tours - Start April 2
After a very successful inaugural year with more than 10,000 underground tour tickets sold in 2010, Old Sacramento Underground tours will resume for a second season on Saturday, April 2, and continue through November. While tour dates will be expanded in the summer months, the initial underground tour schedule as of April 2 is as follows:  on Saturdays and Sundays, tours depart every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through the month of May.  Starting in June and continuing through August, tours will be available Thursdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. departing every 30 minutes.  Tour times change again in September and interested guests are encouraged to check the website for updated tour times and information.

Tours of the underground last approximately one hour in length and check-in is located at the Sacramento History Museum, 101 I Street in Old Sacramento.  Underground visitors will need to be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces in areas that have low ceilings and in occasional small spaces.  Coordinated by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (HOSF) and in partnership with the City of Sacramento, California State Parks, Old Sacramento Business Association and participating merchants and businesses, advance tickets for underground tours are available now for online purchase at www.historicoldsac.org.  

With so much to do beginning on April 2, it's all in a day's play in Old Sacramento!

Note:  Traci Rockefeller Cusack represents various organizations and businesses in Sacramento including the Capital District State Museums and Historic Parks.