Sacramento, CA

If you’re wondering where to take your husbands and fathers on Sunday, then I would highly reccommend that you check out The Firehouse 1112 Second Street in Old Sacramento. It was originally the home of Engine Company No. 3 in 1853 and was the first of Old Town’s buildings to be restored. Since it’s reopening it has become a popular favorite here in Sacramento. It has receievd numerous awards including the “Award of Excellence” from Wine Spectator Magazine and the “Award of Ultimate Distinction” from Wine Enthusiast.

Anyway, they’ve put together a pretty impressive brunch menu just for Father’s Day. It sounds a little bit pricey ($36.95 for adults and $14.95 for children 12 and under!!) but it also sound like one of the few places where it’s actually WORTH the steep prices. Brunch will begin with a starter buffet of crudités of assorted fresh vegetables, exotic fruits, cheese, salad, and pastries. The adults will then have a choice of five entrées such as Crab Cake Benedict, King Salmon, and Coconut Prawns. Children get to choose between Penne Pasta, Crunchy Chicken Tenders, and Scrambled Eggs with Ham Steak. I thought this was pretty thoughtful since most fancy restaurants don’t really offer a good selection for children–especially not on menus designed for specific days like Father’s Day. They even carry this thoughtfulness on to the dessert course where the children get a special ice cream sundae dessert instead of having to eat one of the fancier desserts (Pistachio-Almond Chocolate Bombe or Strawberry-Key Lime Cheesecake) that children often dislike just from hearing the complicated names.

Brunch will be served from 10AM-2PM on June 17th and reservations are required as it is sure to be a very popular selection for Father’s Day. You can call for more information at 916-442-4772.

If you are unable to get reservations (or if you’re like me and prefer to stay in bed a little later!!) then you can still enjoy the restaurant’s regular menu as a special treat for dad as well. Dinner will be served from 5PM-9Pm and will consist of three courses and a variety of delectable dishes including everything from oysters to foie gras, roasted pheasant to live Maine lobster, and rack of lamb to Atlantic King Salmon. (And their dessert menu isn’t too shabby either!!) Either way, you’re guaranteed to have an excellent gourmet meal and an elegant ambience that is sure to make ANY hardworking dad realize how very special he is!

Sacramento, Sacramento restaurants, Father’s Day Brunch, Father’s Day in Sacramento, The Firehouse, award-winning dining, fine wine, historic Sacramento, Old Sacramento, dining in Old Sacramento, waterfront dining, Wine Spectator, WIne Enthusiast

Since the weather is starting to get to the normal and UNBEARABLE heat that characterizes the typical NorCal summer, I figured it’d be nice to find some sort of relief for all of us. I had thought (along with pretty much everyone I know who lives here) that the water park at Cal Expo had been torn down. However, I recently found out that it’s just under new management now and is no longer being called Waterworld. Instead, it is now being run by Raging Waters. There are now a total of eight thrill rides to choose from including the Shark Attack Complex featuring the tallest and fastest inline water luge in Northern California–The Great White–and the Hurricane Bay Slide in which riders have to navigate through complete darkness. They also have a brand new slide that just opened this year called the Dragon’s Den. In addition, there are other attractions geared more towards children–such as Hook’s Lagoon–so that everyone can have a good time.

The newly rennovated park also now features a variety of activities to make the day more complete. They have sand volleyball pits, horseshoes, and even private cabanas that you can rent for $80-$125 a day if you want somewhere a little bit more private to hang out. The best part though is that they have set out to improve customer satisfaction as well. To that end, they have set up a variety of different sales promotions. To begin with, if you purchase an adult day pass for $29.99 anytime before June 30th, you will automatically receive a free Splash Pass. This will gain you free entry to the park for the rest of the summer–with the exception of a couple of Holidays like the 4th of July and Saturdays before 3:00PM. For ten dollars more, you can get a non-restricted Season Pass. However, you should be aware that prices will be a little bit more during the California State Fair because the park is located at the fairgrounds.

Also, starting this year, the Season Pass is now valid at the other Raging Waters locations in San Jose and San Dimas. The best part though is that they are also now offering a 100% Money Back Guarantee. If you’re not happy with the park, you can get your money back as long as you’re there for no more than an hour. This is pretty nice since it gives you a chance to kind of see what they have to offer (and how busy it is!) and not get penalized if you decide it’s not really your cup of tea.

If you’re not going to be in the area often enough to need a Season Pass, there is an additional discount that you can receive. Stop by the Best Western Expo Inn (located at 1413 Howe Ave) before you go to the park and pick up a flyer next to the Front Desk. On the back, you will find a coupon good for $4.00 off of General Admission. This is extremely worthwhile as the park is located less than a mile from the hotel at 1600 Exposition Blvd. If you’re more into saving time and avoiding lines, you can also purchase your tickets online.

Throughout the summer, the park is open from 10:30AM-6:00PM Monday-Friday and from 10:30AM-7:00PM on Saturdays and Sundays. You can find detailed driving directions here or you can contact the park directly at 916-924-3747.

Raging Waters, Waterworld, Cal Expo, California State Fair, waterpark, amusement park, thrill rides, Sacramento, family fun, Sacramento Fairgrounds, summer fun

…If you’re going to be in twon tomorrow, the Sacramento Zoo is having a California Celebration tomorrow, June 2nd, from 9AM-4PM. They will be celebrating California’s cultural diversity with live entertainment such as the California Middle School Band, the Hmong Women and Men Circle, and Folklorico Aztlan de Sacramento. These performances will take place at the Reptile House Lawn Stage. There will also be special exhibits by Bug Planet, Sacramento Area Beekeepers Association, and Norcal Bats among others. The Zoo will also be celebrating their 80th birthday–a very special occasion as it is also the 80th birthday for their oldest animal on exhibit–Herkimer the Desert Tortoise. They will even be giving him a special veggie cake at 12PM. Be sure to take enough time to just enjoy the many things that the zoo has to offer too. There are over 400 animals on display including Sumatran Tigers, a brand new exhibit of Magellanic Penguins, and the ever popular array of primates =)

The zoo is located at 3930 West Land Park Drive, Sacramento, CA 95822. For more information, call 916-264-5888 or visit saczoo.com. Admission costs are $7.50 for adults and $5.00 for children on the weekends. However, if you take a detour to Best Western Expo Inn (located at 1413 Howe Ave, Sacramento, CA 95825), we have a flyer that doubles as coupon for 50% off for up to six people. If you need directions, you can call us at 916-922-9833. It’s definitely worth the sidetrip–especially if you have a large family like mine

sacramento, zoo, california, cultural, celebration, entertainment, dancing, music, animals