{"id":243600,"date":"2026-03-30T17:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/243600\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T17:00:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T17:00:13","slug":"folsom-california-travel-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/243600\/","title":{"rendered":"Folsom California travel tips"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Sacramento suburb that shares its name with a notorious prison might not top most glossy travel influencers\u2019 must-visit destinations. But it\u2019s their loss.<\/p>\n

Folsom is one of California\u2019s fastest-growing cities. After the city annexed 3,500 new acres in 2004 and expanded residential construction, its population has risen by an estimated 45% to around 92,000 residents.<\/p>\n

Amid the population boom, Folsom buzzes with a new vibrancy, as its historic Gold Rush-era downtown is thriving and its surrounding lakes and trails offer plenty of outdoor recreation \u2014 and the secret\u2019s getting out.<\/p>\n

Here are some ways we\u2019d build a delightful day trip to Folsom.<\/p>\n

Start your morning in Folsom\u2019s charming historic downtown at Sociology Coffee Bar<\/a>, where you\u2019ll find creative craft coffee drinks like the iced Teddy Graham, made with bourbon vanilla, espresso, iced coffee, chocolate bitters and oat milk. And don\u2019t forget to fuel up for an active day. Whether you\u2019re in the mood for a hearty steak or loco moco-loaded breakfast burrito, a house breakfast sandwich or linguica-stuffed panito, or something lighter like a housemade tropical-flavored pop tart, you can leave happily sated and caffeinated.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Folsom State Prison, built in 1880, is California’s second-oldest, after San Quentin. It’s also where Johnny Cash performed in 1968, cementing his connection to local lore. (Photo courtesy of Visit Folsom)\u00a0<\/p>\n

From there, it\u2019s time to take advantage of the warm weather to soak up some sun \u2014 and the outdoor adventures on offer are myriad. For a mellow stroll, head for the Johnny Cash Trail<\/a>. The musician\u2019s two live performances in 1968 at the local maximum-security Folsom State Prison \u2014 and his song \u201cFolsom Prison Blues\u201d \u2014 canonized Cash into community lore. Completed in 2017, this bike and pedestrian path covers 2.75 miles between Folsom\u2019s historic downtown and Folsom Lake. There\u2019s also a trail that connects to the Folsom Prison Museum, but it closed in 2025<\/a>. A project to add art honoring Cash along the trail is in the works.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re up for more water-based exploration, two large lakes in town mean that access to water sports is abundant. At Folsom Lake<\/a>, a 10,000-acre reservoir with about 75 miles of shoreline, you can head to the Granite Bay<\/a> or Folsom Lake Marina<\/a> boat launches and rent a motorized boat to go for a cruise or to take the family tubing \u2014 you know, that time-honored sport that involves tying on a towable tube and driving erratically at high speeds to send the kids flying and splashing.<\/p>\n

\"WaterfrontWaterfront cycling and dog-friendly trails are abundant at the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area. (Photo courtesy of Visit Folsom)\u00a0<\/p>\n

At Lake Natoma, home to the Sacramento State Aquatic Center<\/a>, motorboats are more restricted, so sports like rowing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing proliferate. Near Lake Natoma, you\u2019ll also find Black Miners Bar<\/a>, named after a historic African American gold mining community of about 500 to 600 people who lived along the American River in the 1850s. It has a boat launch with calm water for kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming, as well as picnic facilities. Lake Natoma is also where Spotted Dog Yoga & SUP runs stand-up paddleboard yoga classes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If hiking\u2019s your thing, the state trail network at Folsom State Recreation Area<\/a> provides abundant territory to explore on foot. It\u2019s one of the relatively rare state parks that\u2019s fully dog-friendly, so you can bring your pup hiking, too. Or, if you think you and your canine companion have what it takes to be a racing duo, you can even participate in the Good Dog-Dirty Dog 5K and 10K run<\/a>, held in August each year on the trails around Folsom Lake. It\u2019s a chaotic, happy, slobbery experience, with participation bandanas, water play areas and abundant treats for proud four-legged finishers.<\/p>\n

And if you\u2019re looking to explore the area on two wheels instead, Folsom Lake is also the start (or end) of the American River Parkway<\/a>, a greenbelt that runs for 32 miles and includes the paved Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail all the way to downtown Sacramento. The bike ride alone can be its own day trip, but if you have the time \u2014 or especially if you have a shuttle to take you and your bike back from Sacramento \u2014 it\u2019s a delightful way to see some of the other parks and communities along the American River, as well as the many bird species<\/a> that inhabit the greenbelt.<\/p>\n

\"AA great egret catches a fish on Lake Natoma. (Getty Images\/iStockphoto)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Other activities on offer in town include visiting the Folsom History Museum<\/a>, which has a temporary exhibition on the history of the Folsom Rodeo running through Jan 2027 and a permanent exhibition on Folsom\u2019s innovations in industries like gold mining, railroads and agriculture. Or check out the Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary<\/a>, where bears, miniature donkeys, macaques, a skink, birds and more live.<\/p>\n

\"AA crab-eating macaque perches near a toy at the Folsom Zoo Sanctuary. (Courtesy Folsom Zoo Sanctuary)\u00a0<\/p>\n

After a BYO picnic somewhere along the way, you\u2019re probably ready for some rest and relaxation. You\u2019ll find both at Urban Baths Folsom<\/a>, a contemporary coed bath house (swimsuits required) with a water circuit featuring a hot tub, steam room, sauna and cold plunge facilities ($45 for 2 hours). By the time you\u2019re done, you\u2019ll be ultra-relaxed \u2014 and ready for some dinner and maybe a drink.<\/p>\n

\"VisitorsVisitors soak in the hot tub at Urban Baths Folsom, a contemporary bath house that also has a steam room and cold plunge. (Photo courtesy of Marcella J. Photography)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking for British-style pub fare? Visit the Fat Rabbit Public House<\/a>. California comfort food? Plank Craft Kitchen + Bar<\/a>. Seafood and wine? Scott\u2019s Seafood Roundhouse<\/a> at Willamette Wineworks<\/a>. Italian? Bella Maci<\/a>. Locals also give high ratings to Burma Light<\/a> for Burmese food and Belly Barbecue<\/a> for Southern fare.<\/p>\n

\"DowntownHistoric downtown Folsom’s retail hub is centered on Sutter Street. (Photo courtesy of Visit Folsom)\u00a0<\/p>\n

After eating your fill of delicious food, head to Sutter Street, the main drag of historic downtown Folsom, where you can mosey around independent shops like Ruby\u2019s Books<\/a>, a thoughtfully curated bookstore whose adorable logo is inspired by the owners\u2019 golden retriever, Ruby. If the kids are in tow (but also maybe if not), make a pit stop at BrainyZoo Toys<\/a>, stocked with good-for-the-brain and fun activities for all ages, including puzzles, DIY science and craft kits, and stuffies galore. Or peruse the vinyl offerings at Fat Elephant Records<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And on your way out, check the large downtown plaza, which hosts regular musical performances and community activities, particularly during the winter holiday season, when the space is home to a pop-up ice rink.<\/p>\n

For more travel coverage in the Bay Area and beyond, follow us on Flipboard.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A Sacramento suburb that shares its name with a notorious prison might not top most glossy travel influencers\u2019…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":243601,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[184,7,967,109220,181,971,32123,1727,2944,121,123,122,420,2422],"class_list":["post-243600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sacramento","tag-bay-area","tag-california","tag-entertainment","tag-gold-country-travel","tag-latest-headlines","tag-lifestyle","tag-northern-california-travel","tag-outdoors","tag-photos-and-videos","tag-sacramento","tag-sacramento-headlines","tag-sacramento-news","tag-things-to-do","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243600","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=243600"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/243600\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/243601"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=243600"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=243600"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=243600"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}