4 Ways a College Tour Weekend in Sacramento Works for the Whole Family #JoyofTravel #ad

This post is sponsored in part by Holiday Inn Hotels.  All opinions are 100% our own.

It blows my mind that I have a senior in high school.  My oldest daughter turns 17 next week and we are knee-deep in SAT’s, college applications, and college tours.  In a few short months we’ll have the information in our hands that will likely shape her future as a college student and adult out on her own.  While terrifying, the process has brought our whole family together and we’ve been spending a lot of time together while we can.

A few weeks ago we took a trip to California’s capitol city of Sacramento for a family trip that included a tour and visit of nearby UC Davis.  Near and dear to the hearts of my husband and I, the campus is where we met and began our relationship 24 years ago.  Just one of the many college visits we’ll do between now and March, we stayed just a few miles down the road in downtown Sacramento to enjoy a lot of what the area has to offer.  Now my younger kids are 9 and 14, so this trip was for all of us to enjoy in one way or another and here are the 4 reasons this weekend worked out so well for all of us.

1. A Great Hotel
Just of Highway 5 at the J Street exit we pulled into the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza hotel for two nights.  Just blocks away from the state capitol building, a short drive to museums and shopping malls, we literally were a 5 minute walk to Old Sacramento outside the hotel doors!  After a 2 hour drive, we were looking for that welcoming and relaxed nature we’re used to from the Holiday Inn hotels and it’s exactly what we received.  After the friendly staff checked us in, we headed straight to our adjoining rooms.

Our rooms were bright and airy with plenty of space for the 5 of us.  Our two rooms were connected by a living area that made for a comfortable weekend.  All of our familiar favorites lined the counter and refrigerator as they know how to treat their guests!  The inviting beds had us stretched out and ready for a quick nap and recharge.

2.  Attractions for Everyone
With a beautiful rooftop pool area and plenty of free wi-fi, all 3 kids could be happy just hanging out at the hotel, but with the history around the city there was plenty to explore nearby.

Although it’s currently under renovation, a section of Sutter’s Fort was open for a tour as was the California State Indian Museum just next door.  Our nine-year old is in 4th grade and it’s the year they study California History so this visit combined some great learning experiences for her as well.  The Indian Museum had great displays and included a scavenger hunt for a fun prize at the end.  Sutter’s Fort had been on my husband’s to-do list as well and he happily strolled about the outdoor park enjoying the Gold Rush era displays.

Macy’s department store is just outside the doors of the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza and that was perfect for the teens who needed some shopping time.  Also we took some time to watch The Martian at the Century theater that is also just steps away in what was once Downtown Plaza/K Street Mall.  The area is transforming into the new Sacramento Kings arena next year, we can’t wait.The Aerospace Museum of California at McClellan offered a neat collection of military and civilian aircraft, exhibits, and engines on display.  Also for science and math buffs there’s a family-focused area with tons of mind over matter puzzles to keep you busy.3.  Great Food Selections
In the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, The Cyprus Grille offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and children 12 and under eat free with a paying adult!  We enjoyed lazy mornings and then just jumping into the elevator to arrive at breakfast each morning.  The kid’s meal is pretty substantial and the options for the rest of us were delicious and filling.Outside the hotel we’re were withing walking distance to great restaurants in Old Sacramento and just a short drive away we could be at any fast food joint you can imagine, the kids enjoyed Dairy Queen and In and Out Burger of course.  Having spent a long time in the area during our college years, we sought out old haunts like Cattlemens steak house and Woodstock’s pizza in Davis and made sure those were priorities.

4.  Down Time for Everyone
Because my job keeps me on a busy itinerary, the kids and my husband often need to let me know when it’s time to take a break!  With our separate bedrooms and the living area we had at the Holiday Inn hotel, we had plenty of space to spread out and relax.  Three televisions, three beds, a couch and four chairs, and two desks was enough space for everyone to take a break in the way they needed to during the afternoon whether it be napping, working, or watching college football.  We even had three showers amongst the rooms so everyone had their space to freshen up and get ready in the mornings.

For me, I don’t wind down until I return from a trip, so my time to recharge was strolling through Old Sacramento and taking in some wine tasting and a great sunset near the Delta King.  The walking, peering into the shops,  and people watching was entertaining, relaxing, and gave us some exercise to boot!

As we all get a little bit older and the kids’ and parents’ similarities change and depart from one another, it was great to have a weekend together that fit everyone’s needs.  We heard little complaining and many more cheers of joy because overall we utilized these 4 ways a college tour weekend in Sacramento works for the whole family on this roadtrip.  Ultimately we looked at both University of California Davis and Sacramento State University and got a feel of what it would be like to attend college in those two areas.  Who knows what the future will bring, stay tuned!