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Last updated 5/31/05

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Spectrum Top 20 Diversions for Sacramento Seniors

Spectrum staff

Whether you’re retired with spare time on your hands, or still working but old enough to enjoy senior discounts, Sacramento has endless entertainment options geared towards seniors on a budget. Below are 20 fun activities — in no particular order — that offer the best bang for your entertainment buck. Happy recreating!

1 Catch a Steam Train. Who says train rides are just for kids? A scenic, six-mile train excursion departs from the Public Market in Old Sacramento, just two blocks south of the Railroad Museum on Front Street. The relaxing ride takes about 40 minutes and runs every weekend from April through September. www.csrmf.org. ($6 senior rate)

2 Step and Sip. Mission Oaks Senior Center, at 4701 Gibbons Drive, holds a dance and tea for seniors every Tuesday and Friday from 1:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. Sway to live music and enjoy finger food. (916) 972-0336 for more information. ($5 admission)

3 Tour a Local Winery. Just off of Florin Road sits the area’s oldest family owned and operated winery. Coif a glass of the Frasinetti Merlot or Chianti at the vineyard. Once you’ve wet your whistle, migrate over to the on-site restaurant located in a renovated cellar. The winery is open to the public 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (916) 383-2444, www.frasinetti.com. (Wine tasting is free)

4 Bingo! Line up your chips at the Hart Senior Center, located at 27th and J Street, and win up to $50 per card. The Center holds the event three Tuesday’s each month. (916) 264-5462. (50 cents per card)

5 Play the Slots. Take the hassle out of traveling and take a trip to Reno with the Sacramento Senior Citizens Club. Just $25 gets you a roundtrip bus ride, plus an $8 credit for gambling and a $3 food voucher. The lively trip includes a bingo game on the ride up to the casinos and a stop for donuts and coffee along the way. For more information, call the Hart Senior Center at (916) 264-5462.

6 Check out a Model-T. On June 18th, the Towe Auto Museum is holding their Annual River City Roundup Car & Art Show. The event, to be held inside the museum, includes a judged classic car competition. On display will be pre-WWII era classics, as well as modern low-riders. (916) 442-6802, www.toweautomuseum.org. ($5 admission, $12.50 with lunch)

7 Take a trip to the 19th Century. On June 11, the clocks at Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park will be turned back to June 1846, when word reached the Fort of the Bear Flag Revolt, an uprising against Mexican rule in California. Costumed re-enactors will perform activities during the special event. Sutter Fort was established by Swiss immigrant John Sutter in 1839. His 48,000-acre estate was the first non-Indian settlement in the Central Valley. (916) 445-4422. ($6 admission)

8 Star Gaze. The Sacramento City College Observatory opens to the public on the first Friday of each month September to June. Catch a comet before the season’s up. (916) 558-2423. (Free)

9 See the Silver Screen in 3-D. Beginning June 8, the IMAX Theater in downtown Sacramento, is offering a summer senior special. All movies, including the riveting “Sharks” documentary, will be discounted to $7, while the concession will feature 1940s pricing. (916) 443-IMAX (4629).

10 Hear Outdoor Music. Friday Night Concerts in The Park will liven up Cesar Chavez Plaza from 5 pm to 9 p.m. This season will feature artists representing various music genres, including rock, pop, blues, folk, and jazz. (916) 442-8575. (Free)

11 Have a Day at The Races. Don a wide brimmed hat and place your bets at the Cal-Expo Horse Races. The Expo is open year-round Wednesday through Saturday. (877) CAL EXPO. ($3 admission)

12 Reel In A Big One. Prolific fishing holes abound along the American River and Sacramento River. Contact the State Department of Fish and Game ((916) 653-7664) and Sacramento Department of Parks and Recreation ((916) 653-6995) about fishing licenses.

13 Root for the Home Team. The River Cats are on a winning streak. Catch them before the season’s over at Raley Field, just across the river. You can’t beat the stadium’s garlic fries, either. Visit www.rivercats.com for this season’s schedule.

14 Fill Up On Flapjacks. Stop into the IHOP on Madison Avenue Wednesday evenings after 4 p.m. with a friend, and get one meal for free. The restaurant offers a two for one deal for seniors four nights each month. (916) 338-0373.

15 Meditate on Macbeth. Shakespeare’s work is presented each summer at the William A. Carroll Amphitheatre, outdoors in William Land Park. The box office can be reached at (916) 558-2228. ($10 for seniors)

16 Go to Summer Camp. The City of Sacramento sponsors an annual overnight camp for over-50 adults August 22 to 26 at Camp Sacramento. Participants stay in furnished cabins and spend their days biking, horseback riding and kayaking. Evenings end around the campfire. (916) 277-6046 ($220-$285 for the session)

17 Find Your Inner Beethoven. The Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra performs throughout the spring and fall. Check www.sacramentophilharmonic.org for the current schedule. ($12 admission)

18 Hit a Kingpin. Capitol Bowl, at 900 W. Capitol, is a great place to tie on your bowling shoes and practice your form. Check out the new state of the art glowing lanes and a hopping restaurant/bar. (916) 371-5631, www.capitolbowl.com

19 Mingle with Monkeys. Weekends are crowded, but The Sacramento Zoo is a relaxing, quiet sanctuary on weekday afternoons. Be sure to visit the golden-bellied mangabey. (916) 264-5888, www.saczoo.com.

20 Read the Spectrum. What other publication gives you a lively mix of news, features and entertaining columns for and about seniors? We’re biased, but we think it’s a great read.