Hey, hope you’re having an awesome day and welcome to my YouTube channel! I’m Jason Walter, a realtor here in Sacramento, California. In this video, I’m going to share my top ten reasons why I love Sacramento. If you’re thinking about relocating here, this video is for you. Before we get started, make sure to subscribe to my channel and hit the bell to be notified when I post new videos. Go ahead and subscribe right now!
I grew up here in Sacramento and have lived here for over 30 years. In the past two years, I’ve helped more people relocate to the Sacramento area than ever before. Let’s dive into my top 10 reasons why you should move to Sacramento and why I love it.
1. The American River Bike Trail
The American River Bike Trail, or the American River Parkway, is often called the jewel of Sacramento. It’s a paved bike trail that runs from Old Sacramento, next to downtown Sacramento, all the way to Folsom Lake. If you’re driving, it’s a 38-mile journey, but on the bike trail, it’s 32 miles without any cars or streetlights. It’s a beautiful part of Sacramento, especially if you’re a cyclist or a runner.
2. Sports Teams
Sacramento is home to several sports teams. We have the Sacramento Republic, a professional soccer team that recently announced they’ll be joining the MLS and building a new stadium in the Sacramento Railyards. We also have the Sacramento River Cats, a minor league baseball team and three-time champions, who won the championship this year. Our professional NBA basketball team, the Sacramento Kings, play in a nearly new stadium in downtown Sacramento built in 2016 for over half a billion dollars.
3. The Great Outdoors
Sacramento is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts. We have two rivers: the Sacramento River and the American River. People enjoy fishing, kayaking, rafting, stand-up paddleboarding, and even wakeboarding on the Sacramento River. Folsom Lake, about 20 minutes east of Sacramento, is also great for wakeboarding and swimming. There’s also kayaking, trail running, and fishing available. If you’re into cycling, there‘s plenty of options including the American River Bike Trail and numerous roads in the foothills east of Sacramento.
4. Proximity to Rivers and Lakes
I’ve already mentioned the American River, the Sacramento River, and Folsom Lake. In addition, Lake Natoma, about 15 minutes east of Sacramento, is popular for rowing, swimming, and stand-up paddleboarding.
5. Sacramento International Airport
This might sound funny, but we have the world’s easiest international airport. There are barely any lines or cars, making it really easy to get in and out. The Sacramento International Airport is also a major Southwest Airlines hub and will soon offer direct flights from Sacramento to Hawaii.
6. Activities for Kids
There are plenty of activities for kids in Sacramento. Fairytale Town, located in Land Park, has 26 playsets based on fairy tales and nursery rhymes. The Sacramento Train Museum and the River Train, both located in Old Sacramento, are popular with families, especially during the holidays for the Polar Express event. Apple Hill, about half an hour east of Sacramento, features apple orchards, pumpkin patches, Christmas tree farms, and food vendors. Our favorite is Rainbow Farms in Apple Hill, known for their fresh apple cider donuts. Sacramento also has many parks and the Sacramento Zoo, also located in Land Park.
7. Affordability
Sacramento is affordable compared to other major cities in California. The average home price in Sacramento is around $400,000. In contrast, San Francisco’s average home price is around $1.3 million, San Jose’s is about $1 million, and Walnut Creek’s is around $800,000. Many people are moving from the Bay Area to Sacramento because of the affordability. I’ve helped many people relocate from the Bay Area and even Texas in the last couple of years.
8. Central Location
Sacramento’s central location is another big advantage. Within a three-hour drive, you can get to Napa for wine-tasting (only about an hour and a half away) or do wine tasting in Lodi or Amador County (both about an hour away). You can also reach Lake Tahoe for outdoor activities like snow skiing in the winter, San Francisco (about an hour and a half away), Carmel and Monterey (about three hours away), Santa Cruz, and Yosemite National Park, all within about three hours.
9. Farm-to-Fork Capital
Sacramento is known as the Farm-to-Fork Capital. We have many farmers’ markets and excellent restaurants. Our favorite is Kru, a sushi restaurant in the Midtown area of Sacramento. If you enjoy gardening, Sacramento’s amazing soil makes it easy to grow fruit trees and vegetables.
10. Great Weather
Sacramento enjoys great weather with low humidity and no snow. We get about 20 inches of rain per year in the winter, but no snow. Summers can get hot, with average highs around 93 degrees and lows around 60 degrees, but the humidity is low. In winter, highs are around 55 degrees and lows around 40 degrees. Spring and fall are particularly pleasant, with highs around 75 degrees and lows around 55 degrees.