Each week, travel writer Katie Morell will detail how to spend 50 hours in a different San Francisco Bay Area city for the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee’s #Perfect50 Hour Series.

Drive 80 miles northeast of San Francisco and you will soon land in Sacramento. The bustling capital city of more than 450,000 residents is alive with activity, evident in its thriving downtown district (dubbed “The Kay” after centrally-located K Street), a fascinating historic neighborhood, tons of culturally significant museums and plenty of parks in which to stretch out and enjoy the outdoors.

Here, we detail the perfect way to spend a 50-hour getaway in Sacramento.

Day 1

8:30 a.m. – Wake up in your artful, crisp room at The Citizen Hotel, A Marriott Autograph Collection property located inside a historic, early-1900s building in the heart of downtown Sacramento. Fire up your Keurig coffeemaker and enjoy a piping hot cup of joe while looking out your window at the busy streets below. When you are ready, put on some comfortable clothes and your favorite sneakers—you will be doing quite a bit of walking today.

9:30 a.m. – Drive a mile west into Old Sacramento, the city’s eight-block historic district. Park on the edge of the Sacramento River, near the entrance to the Delta King, a restored riverboat. Walk on board and settle into a table at The Pilothouse, a tasty American food restaurant. Start with an order of the Delta Queen omelet (ham, pepper, onion, cheese, potatoes and muffin) and then move onto Capital City Brioche French Toast. Wash it down with a gulp of fresh orange juice.

10:30 a.m. – Now its time to explore Old Sacramento. This area attracts 3 million visitors per year and has more than 100 independently run businesses and many restaurants and museums. Enjoy a walking tour, presented by the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation (call ahead to book), rent a bike from Practical Cycle or just walk around. The Sacramento History Museum is a great place to start ($6 for adults, $4 for kids 6-17); dive into a multitude of exhibits showcasing the region’s past.

1:00 p.m. – Hungry for some lunch, leave the museum and walk two blocks south to Railroad Fish & Chips, a casual seafood restaurant located right on the Sacramento River. Order the clam chowder in a bread bowl and the coconut shrimp and chips, then grab a seat outside to enjoy some fresh air while chowing down.

2:00 p.m. – Ready to learn more about the history of Sacramento? If so, walk north a few blocks to the California State Railroad Museum, arguably one of the best museums in the region ($10 for adults, $5 for kids 6-17, free for kids 5 and under). Spend time checking out 21 restored trains and learning about what it was like during California’s Gold Rush.

3:30 p.m. – Drive back to the hotel to rest and catch up on your vacation novel. Then, put on a sweater or jacket and walk four blocks down the street to the Downtown Sacramento Holiday Ice Rink. This is a great meeting spot for locals and visitors and is open through Jan. 18, 2016. For just $8 per person and a $2 skate rental fee, you and your family and twirl like Kristi Yamaguchi (a Bay Area native—helpful in case you find yourself on Jeopardy some day).

6:00 p.m. – Having mastered your triple salchow, return your skates and walk five blocks east to Downtown & Vine, a warm and inviting wine bar. Order a flight and enjoy chatting with the friendly owners and locals.

7:30 p.m. – Say goodbye to your new friends and walk back to The Citizen Hotel. Don’t go up the elevator just yet; instead tuck into Grange Restaurant & Bar, an acclaimed farm-to-table, on-property restaurant (advance reservations are recommended). Start your experience with the grilled yogurt flatbread and salmon tartar and then move on to the pear and endive salad and the red wine risotto. Finish off your meal by savoring the dark chocolate hazelnut bar.

Day 2

9:00 a.m. – Wake up and put on another comfortable outfit. Don your sneakers and bring some sunscreen and a hat this time. Then walk around the block to Temple Coffee Roasters, a Sacramento-based company that serves up delicious coffee. Order some pastries to go and head to your car.

Now drive three miles south to William Land Park (simply “Land Park” to locals), a beautiful expanse of green space and the perfect spot for a breakfast picnic. Grab a picnic table under a tree and dig into your pastries, then spend time throwing a Frisbee and walking around the jogging path. This 166.5-acre park is considered a Sacramento treasure and is a wonderful place to spend a few hours on a nice day.

11:00 a.m. – When you’ve had your fill of Frisbee, walk over to the Sacramento Zoo, a facility that is located within the park. Admission is $11.75 for adults, $11 for seniors and $7.75 for kids 2-11 years old. Take your time looking at the all the animals, then spring $3 per person to feed a giraffe and consider printing out this downloadable map to take a self-guided tour of wildlife art.

1:00 p.m. – Drive back to The Citizen Hotel and park you car—you won’t need it for the rest of the day. By now you will be starving, so walk a block down the road to Mother, a vegetarian restaurant that serves mouth watering chopped salads. Also fantastic are the garlic potatoes, roasted carrots, sesame cold noodle and oven-baked focaccia. Wash it down with some ice tea.

2:00 p.m. – Spend the next few hours exploring downtown Sacramento. Check out stores along The Kay (encompasses L Street to J Street, between 13^th Street and 7^th Street) such as Zuva Boutique, Little Relics and Time Tested Books.

Also downtown is the California State Capitol Museum (a 1.5 mile-walk from Time Tested Books), inside the Capitol Building. Admission is free and public tours are offered hourly between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

4:00 p.m. – Walk back to the hotel and have a rest. Take a short nap and then shower and dress in some fancier clothing for dinner.

5:00 p.m. – Walk out of The Citizen Hotel, make a right and another right on 10^th Street. Walk two blocks and make a left on K Street, then stop at the corner of K Street and 12^thStreet and walk into Ella Dining Room & Bar, an American/French restaurant (reservations are recommended). Start with a helping of Hog Island oysters in the half shell, and then move on to the Shishito peppers and seared scallops. Don’t leave without ordering a helping of the vanilla bean pavlova.

7:00 p.m. – Leave dinner around 7 p.m. and walk around the block to Crest Theatre, a live performance venue that originally opened in 1912. This place features excellent bands, plays and stand up comics. Check the online calendar before you go for the latest show times.

Day 3

10:00 a.m. – Wake up late this morning and run out for some of the best pastries you’ve ever had at Estelle’s Patisserie (buy some macaroons for your friends back home). After getting your fill of truly delicious carbs (don’t leave without having at least two chocolate croissants), check out of your hotel. This is the best way to end your 50-hour getaway in Sacramento.

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