Sutter's Fort State Historic Park

A small state museum about California Indian life, with hands-on things for kids, on the same block as Sutter's Fort. Do both in one morning.

Square-slice pizza with a T. rex mascot, which is all a dinosaur kid needs to hear. Lots of vegan options too.

A 1950s-style Midtown diner with glass cases full of cakes and pies made from scratch. Letting a kid pick one slice from that case is harder than it sounds.

East Sacramento's favorite park (everyone just says McKinley), with an adventure playground, a separate tot lot and a rose garden next door. Summer brings a wading pool.

A gluten-free, dairy-free bakery, so the kid with the allergy gets to pick anything in the case for once. Cupcakes, cookies and sandwiches.

A Midtown taproom with Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizza and a real kids' menu, so the brewery stop works for everybody.