Sacramento or Bust

Sacramento Here We COME!

After years of hearing about the trip, and months of fundraising and anticipating, the weekend was finally here!  The annual 4th grade field trip to our state's capitol.  

How odd is it that I've lived in California my whole life and have never been to the capitol?  They just didn't do these kinds of trips when I was a kid.

We left at a not-so-bright (in fact it was very dark) and early 4:30 a.m.  

Driving to the elementary school at that time is a strange thing. 

We boarded a giant tour-bus coach and headed to the airport. 

The kids thought it was fun to board the plane from the outside.  I had them stop for a photo-op.  Madison is here with her pal Fatima.  Fatima's parents couldn't go, so they asked if I would be her chaperone.  She is a delight and we had a great time all together.   Our itinerary was packed from the moment we landed, until check-in at the Hilton at 8:30 p.m., then back up again for 7:00 a.m. breakfast at the hotel.

9:30 a.m.  First stop:  The State Capitol!  It is so gorgeous!!  The weather the whole weekend was spectacular.  We really lucked out.  Governor Schwarzeneggar's secretary even came in to let us in the office and give us a little tour.  

We visited Sutter's Fort, then an 1861 school house, then the Railroad museum.  During the late afternoon 'free time' in Old Sacramento, we walked along the river, did some shopping, got ice cream . . . it was really fun.  Then off to dinner at the mall and "Under the Sea" at the IMAX.

The next day we went up into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains - which were so spectacularly green and gorgeous that I thought I was in Northern England for a moment - and visited the "Gold Fever" era of California history.

Everyone passed right on by this little cabin . . . I happened to glance at the sign and it was the Mormon Cabin!  Set up by the Mormon Battalion who helped establish the area and were major players in the gold rush.  Seriously, which significant part of California was the Mormon Battalion not a part of??

Panning for gold along the American River.  Believe it or not, we found some.  They are just little flakes, but still!

Some of us chaperones were looking pretty spiffy in our hard hats! When going into the Gold Bug mine, you had to wear one if you were over 5' tall.

This is Sutter's Mill.  It was so cool looking!  I could spend a long time taking pictures of it.

After the Mill was a miner's lunch (which was fabulous) at a camp along the river, then off to the Gold Bug mine, then dinner at Hometown Buffet (I think I'm still feeling that one) and back to the airport.

We had a very exhausting, fun-filled weekend that was jam-packed with adventure, learning, and just a plain old good time. 

Madison and Fatima enjoying juice a'la Southwest with a beautiful sunset on the horizon.

We were home at about 9:30 p.m. and everyone had to be at school on time the next morning!

Itinerary (for journaling purposes):

Saturday

4:15 a.m.  Meet at Maple

4:30a.m.  Bus leaves

7:15 a.m. Burbank Airport - flight to Sacramento

8:35a.m.  Arrive in Sacramento

9:30a.m. Tour of State Capitol Building

10:45a.m. Sutter's Fort

12:00p.m. Lunch - Blimpie's

1:00p.m. Schoolhouse Museum

2:15p.m. Railroad Museum

4:00p.m. Free time in Old Town Sacramento

5:00p.m. Dinner - Downtown Plaza food court

6:30p.m. IMAX Theatre - Under the Sea 3D

8:00p.m. Drop off at Hilton for check-in

Sunday

7:30a.m. Breakfast buffet at hotel

8:30a.m. Bus departure

10:00a.m. Marshall Gold Discovery Day

10:30a.m. Gold panning

12:30p.m. Lunch - Earthtrek Meals

2:00p.m. Gold Bug Park and Mine

4:00p.m. Dinner - Hometown Buffet

5:30p.m. Drop off at Aiport

6:50p.m. Flight to Burbank

10:00p.m. Arrival back at Maple