Capitol Park Loop

My first hike wasn't really hike...ey? hikish?  I am used to thinking of hikes as mountainous or at the very least, involving some sort of elevation change.  And not involving black top.  This hike is in the book, however, and therefore it is goin' in the blog. 

My group and I were going to Downtown Sacramento for a birthday lunch (my birthday and someone else's, so I - yay! - wasn't on the spot by myself).  Since we were so close, I decided to take the opportunity to trek over to Capitol Park and explore since I had noticed it in the book.  **full disclosure: I'd been there before.  But hey, who says you can't re-live experiences, right?**

The hike wound up turning into an entire days outing.  We parked in a public parking lot (since street parking is never a sure thing, and usually only available for a couple hours at a time at best) a few blocks up from where we planned to eat, paid, and started walking.  If you go anywhere in downtown, be ready to walk, even if a hike isn't  in your plans.  

We ate at a great Greek place called Petra, which is on 16th between K and L Streets.  Revealing itself like a mirage out of the desert sands, the restaurant was practically invisible until we arrived at the front doors.  And with the heat of the day, it was tempting to believe we had discovered an oasis of sorts.  As we breathed in a sigh of relief (and an air conditioned lungful), we grabbed one of the menus and stood to place our orders with the somewhat severe-looking man behind the counter.  

After getting our fountain drinks (they have diet Dr. Pepper, and that's definitely no mirage - I checked) we took over one of the several tables as our own.  Our food soon arrived and we all dug in to our gyros - beef/lamb combo for me - and daily specials (chicken and pita with fries).  Their gyros are the best I have ever had.  By putting fries in the sandwich, Petra has executed an act of genius.  

As we were finishing up our meal our friend, the man at the counter, brought out a plate of two (TWO!) baklava desserts (and one even had chocolate!!).  "I heard it was someone's birthday, and so this is for you," he said in his thick Greek accent.  Where the stern look had been there was now a smile, and where before had stood a man with little more to say than "What would you like?" was a man who opened up his life story to us.  

Before we left, we had learned that the man was born and raised in Crete (he told us as he pointed to a Crete-shaped metal plaque hung on the wall) where his extended family still lives, and that he is headed back for a month's stay in July.  Our conversation was punctuated by new customers and requests for help from the kitchen, but wove in and out for a quarter of an hour.  Then, with plates clean and a new appetite for hiking, we bid our new friend goodbye and left for the park.  

One block south and another block west, we arrived at our destination (and thankfully, the trees).  The first area we chose to explore was the rose garden, which can be found on the eastern side of the park, and is often the site of small (and beautiful) weddings.  Our favorite part of the garden that day however, was the fountain.  With its cool water splashing out, it helped to cool us just a bit.  Then we were promptly chased away by bees.  

They're very territorial about their flowers.

It was then on to the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial.  The memorial is enclosed by four rounded walls making an incomplete circle with reliefs on the inside of each one.  Each scene depicts a different part of war, including prisoners of war and medics.  

When we could no longer stand the heat radiating off of the dark metal of the monument, we moved along through the trees westward toward the Capitol building.  We studied the many different trees along the way.  Virtually no two were alike and almost all were labeled with their common and scientific names.  Upon closer inspection we noticed another line on the tree labels: Tree Tour and a number.  Turns out, there is an organization that offers these tree tours in different locations around the city, including several neighborhoods and parks, as well as CSU Sacramento.  

Finally, we arrived at the Capitol Building.  Again needing fresh air conditioning, we entered the building, maneuvering through the security guards and metal detectors with ease and pleasant conversation (yeah, really!).  Walking down a corridor toward the rotunda, we saw displays for each county in the state along the walls.  Finally, we arrived in the rotunda and quickly decided it was too crowded and shuffled off into one of the halls.  Instead of taking one of the many, many guided tours, we set out on our own to explore.  We spent a good hour meandering around, taking old elevators to the top floor and walking down the stairs, peering into nooks here and there.  

Staring up at the ceiling

A mosaic in a hallway echoes the state seal

Filled with art, interesting Greek and Roman style architecture and flourishes from many eras since the building's construction, the Capitol building is just plain beautiful at every turn.  There is a statue of Columbus appealing to Queen Isabella in the rotunda (not sure of the connection to California, but it is beautiful) and many details tucked away that you can find if you pay attention.  

A Tiffany's style stained glass covers a light in a hallway...somewhere

Eventually we found our way into the gallery overlooking the state senate.  We sat and listened in on one of the tours we had forgone for a little while.  We continued on our way and a few minutes later we were out in the sunshine again.  

Athena, Greek goddess of wisdom, looks down on the state senate floor

State senate floor

This time, we walked around the building, staying on the southern side.  We walked up the sidewalk and once on the other side, we rested in the last bit of shade before leaving the park.  We watched birds (and squirrels from a distance) as they picked at some old birdseed someone had left for them.  

Finally we trekked up the main walkway, navigated around the rose garden (the bees were still there), and crossed the street to walk up Capitol Avenue.  There we found an interesting - and large - sculpture.  Over six feet tall on both sides, it consisted of two concrete walls that had what looked like blue and gray paint splattered all over it.  An opening in the side of the sculpture allows a person to walk inside, between the two walls.  Once inside, a person is confronted on their right by a giant gold ball on a pedestal and a concrete hallway to the left.  

Just...what the huh?

Try as I might, I couldn't make sense of the paint splatters and resigned myself to the idea that it was simply Pollock-esque chaos.  As my group began walking off without me, I quickly snapped a photo and caught up.  It was just too hot to keep puzzling any longer.  I found later, though, there was something to see after all.  

Oh! I see....something.



As we reached our car, we decided that some frozen yogurt would finish the day off nicely.  On the way out of town, we stopped at Big Spoon and grabbed a delicious frozen treat and headed for home.  

To see a map of this hike, click here