Sacramento: "The City Of Trees"

My Dad, Sister, and I

Sactown is a uniquely diverse place that has an identity all its own. From the people to the climate and geographic location of the city to its urban layout and history. It's a city that went from the city of plains to the city of trees in record time. We actually hold more trees per capita than the entire city of Paris (in other words, the city of trees beats out the city of light). From the native California Redwoods to regions like Citrus Heights known for thousands of citrus fruit trees, it's a haven of canopy coverage and fresh clean valley air. Growing up A Sacramentoan, (no one actually calls us that), I rarely lived anywhere for more than 2 years. Often I jumped from one municipality to another, which gave me an extraordinary chance to experience and understand Sacramento in a way that not many people I knew were doing. I've met people all throughout the city, and like many others, I spent my fair share of time downtown.

I was a commuter student; from the suburbs to the inner city. And as such, SacRT (Sacramento Regional Transit) was my best friend for a while. Both the bus and the lightrail system acted as my chariot of strange smells and stranger people, but it was a mode of freedom. I didn't need to wait until I was 16 to get my license to be free, and that was a beautiful thing to me. Little did I know that was going to be the beginning of my newfound passion and career path.

The American River Parkway was another form of escape for me, and frankly, I believe its one of Sacramento's biggest treasures. With sandy river banks and biking trails that span over 32 miles, both beginning and ending in beautiful historic Folsom and Old Sacramento. Sites such as the Nimbus Dam are beautiful areas to kayak and explore on one of Sacramento's many sunny days. For a time, I and my family would go to the river every weekend either to Kayak out on the water, picnic by the Aquatic center, or explore the nearby Salmon fish hatchery during spawning season. The possibilities are practically endless. Overall, Sacramento holds a unique charm that captivates both residents and visitors alike. It's my forever home, a place that means so much to me and that I feel really excited to share with others. In its unmatchable vibrant energy and rich tapestry of cultures, I always look forward to the next time I'll be back in the City of Trees.