Location:
Sacramento, the state capital, is located in the central valley of California, approximately 80 miles (129 km) east of San Francisco, 80 miles west of Lake Tahoe, and 380 (612 km) north of Los Angeles.
Commercial Air Travel:
Most major airlines have daily flights to and from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) (http://www.sacairports.org/int/). Ground transportation is available outside the terminals – the Super Shuttle ride to the hotel is about $14 per person, and taxi fare is about $37 (as of May). Travel time to the downtown area from the airport is about 15 minutes, depending on traffic. The next nearest commercial airport to Sacramento is San Francisco (SFO).
Weather:
September is still very much summer in Sacramento. The highest recorded temperature for September was 108 F (42 C), and the lowest was 43 F (6 C). The average high is 86 F (30 C), with the average low 53 F (12 C). September is normally fairly dry, with only about .37” of rain falling during the entire month. It can sometimes feel a little chilly in the evenings if the Delta Breeze kicks in. This occasional breeze comes off of the waterways which feed the San Francisco Bay, and can be fairly strong. Generally, a light jacket or sweater is all that’s needed to keep warm when you’re outside. View the current forecast from the National Weather Service. (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sto&smap=1&textField1=38.58167&textField2=-121.49333)
Conference Location:
The conference events will center around the host hotel, the Hyatt Regency. This is where the morning sessions will take place, as well as the afternoon courses and the hospitality suite. If you want to get out and explore, many of the places mentioned in this site are within walking distance of the hotel. Here is a map of the downtown area. (documents/downtown_map.pdf)
Public Transportation:
If you want to explore places beyond walking distance, public transportation is available from the K St. Mall in the form of the Light Rail Trains. The trains can take you to points south, north, and east. A single ticket is $2.00, and an all-day pass is $5.00. The trains typically run from about 5 AM to 11:30 PM. Bus service is also available. See the Sacramento Regional Transit website for more information. (http://www.sacrt.com/)
Security:
Local law enforcement is handled by the Sacramento Police Department (within the City limits), the Sacramento Sheriff’s Department (suburban areas), or the California Highway Patrol (highways and State buildings). If you dial 911 on your cell phone, you’ll likely get the CHP, who will direct your call to the correct agency. The non-emergency number for the Sacramento Police Department is 916-264-5471.
Tax:
The sales tax on most items is 7.75%. The hotel tax is 12%.
Things To Do:
There is a wealth of things to do in Sacramento. Depending on your interests, you could easily spend another week here and still have a long list of places to see. For help with your trip planning, view our Visitor Guides (visitor_guides.aspx).
We hope your stay here will be a pleasant and informative one. If there is anything you need, or you have questions about the Sacramento area, please contact one of the conference committee members. They’ll be happy to help.
