The Abridged version:
- Elk Grove native Natachi Mez returned to her hometown in 2020. In this guide, she walks readers through a great day of eating, outdoor exploration and more.
- Start your day with a stroll in The Preserve at District56, stop by A Seat at the Table Books and pop into Elevate Gymnastics Academy before dinner.
- For food, pick up a breakfast sandwich at Tule Coffeehouse, sushi at Ebisu and white chocolate almond cookies at The Cookie Jar.
You can have a lovely day in any neighborhood or suburb across the Sacramento region, as we explore in this series. Want to tell us what a beautiful day in your neighborhood looks like? Email abridged@kvie.org with your recommendations.
Elk Grove has been my home for most of my life.
I attended primary and secondary school in its celebrated school district. I left for college, and then again for a job in Seattle in 2020. What was supposed to be a short trip home as COVID-19’s whispers grew louder and louder turned into moving back home without realizing it.
Even as a resident, I find myself surprised by the speed of Elk Grove’s development. Sometimes I return from a trip and it feels like a new shopping plaza was born overnight.
In the “chaotic evil” version of this guide, I lead you to neighborhood marvels such as Walmart No. 1 and Walmart No. 2, or even Walmart No. 3. I guide you to the three Chipotle Mexican Grills within a six-minute drive of my house, and then maybe take you for a second lunch at either In-N-Out Burger No. 1 or In-N-Out Burger No. 2, or some of the other chains and franchises that seem to always be in bloom.
But in this version, I celebrate the joy of going on a run in my neighborhood, and my uncle and auntie rolling down their car window to greet me and cheer me on. I celebrate Elk Grove’s abundance of public amenities, opportunities to find respite outdoors, eat delicious and high-quality food, have engaging experiences at any age, be in a diverse community and experience some of the city’s independently-owned treasures.
Morning
For me, a great day starts with journaling, followed by a morning run. Elk Grove has an impressive, extensive network of parks and trails to support my morning movement.
One of Elk Grove’s 90+ parks is The Preserve at District56, 28 acres dedicated to habitat restoration, wildlife and recreation for all ages. The trails offer a 1.2-mile loop. The fitness court is outfitted with bars for pull ups and dips, as well as rings, and equipment for squats, core and lunges — perfect for bodyweight exercises.
Beyond fitness, you can grab a bench overlooking the pond, which is well-attended by ducks and geese, the water reflecting the sky and the trees that dot the landscape. A great place for children, The Preserve’s playground includes a large green mound for climbing, as well as places for kids to slide, swing, spin and make music.
District56 is also home to the Elk Grove Aquatics Center, which offers swimming and fitness year-round through the Elk Grove Piranhas Swim Team, including the masters swimming program for adults. If swimming in the winter isn’t appealing, the heated pool might make it more enticing.
For a facilitated indoor workout experience, Switch Fitness’ Inferno Hot Pilates class is altogether humbling, empowering and invigorating. The studio also offers barre, yoga and strength and conditioning classes. Switch Fitness also engages the fitness community through monthly challenges and special pop-up events like Vinyasa in the Vineyard, soundbaths and meditations.
For strength training with the guidance of coaches, there’s Go Fit Studio, a family-owned gym offering personal and small group training. The founders are twin siblings who grew up in Elk Grove and transformed their passion for fitness into a business. When training at Go Fit Studio, I appreciate the attention to both form and feeling.
Whether doing lat pulldowns or weighted reverse lunges, co-owner Chinyere Ezinne (known to all as Coach Chi) often invites mind-body awareness by asking me,”where do you feel it?” Go Fit Studio feels personable and down to earth, while at the same time elevating me toward new levels of strength.
Now that the body is warmed up, time to warm up the mind. For a morning caffeine boost, try Haru, a café offering espresso, Vietnamese coffee, pour-over and matcha. If you hear someone vigorously slurping their straw past the appropriate sipping point, it might be me trying not to waste a single drop of their sea salt hōjicha, a roasted green tea with milk that’s topped with sea salt cream, producing a decadent salty-sweet richness.
Tule Coffeehouse is also worth a visit. True to its name, the café looks like a house, and the cozy, wooden interiors feel like a living room. Tule has ample space to work, study or socialize both indoors and outdoors, with visitors having access to either of two different “yards.” Tule also has satisfying breakfast sandwiches with eggs, a house aioli, arugula and choice of protein on a brioche bun.
Afternoon
Continue your Elk Grove chapter at an independent bookstore dedicated to inclusivity, freedom of speech, representation and community. A Seat at the Table Books features thoughtfully-selected staff picks, and its calendar is storied, with events from book clubs to storytimes, guest lectures, writing workshops, open mics, “crafternoons,” sewing meet-ups and author talks. Whether you’re looking for your next read or your next hobby, you can grab a seat at the table.
One can get hungry from exercising the mind. For lunch, find your way to Hidden Dumpling House, a restaurant which first started in Elk Grove before expanding into Midtown Sacramento and Land Park. When I go, I almost always get the steamed beef and onion dumplings, which are juicy and full of flavor.
Another favorite of mine is Fish & Things. I often opt for a build-your-own poke bowl for a fresh and filling meal. I also love their sweet-savory Spam musubi, which includes tamago and furikake. The salmon plates are also worth trying: The fish has a great sear while remaining moist, and is accompanied by rice, edamame and a tangy ponzu sauce. The dish is simple, satisfying and well loved by my parents, who don’t really do the raw fish thing. For a Guy Fieri-celebrated option, try the brisket tacos at StreetZlan, a smokehouse taqueria that also offers barbecue plates.
At this point in the day, maybe your sweet tooth is begging to be considered and it’s time for a bakery run. The Cookie Jar is open daily. My favorite cookie is their white chocolate almond, but I’m also a fan of their frosted sugar and coconut crispies. It’s hard to go wrong. You can count on finding their chocolate chip cookies every day, in company with specials that change daily.
Ginelle’s Bakery is a great option for Filipino treats. Their Spanish rolls (also known as señorita bread), glazed and served warm, are sweet and soft yet crisp, with just the right hint of salt. They also have pandesal, empanadas and various types of ensaymadas, from plain to ube.
Evening
For a quiet moment to welcome in the evening and enjoy the outdoors again, visit the Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. The drive down Hood Franklin Road will give you a taste of Elk Grove’s rural reaches. Established in 1994 and home to over 200 species of both local and migratory wildlife, this refuge also serves as a flood detention basin.
The part of the refuge open to the public isn’t large, but it is quiet, feels remote and is great for an evening walk, a meditative sit or bird-watching. Part of a network of National Wildlife Refuges across the country, a visit here is a way to stay local while engaging with birds that have migrated from all over the globe. Do take precautions for ticks, as they’re found in the area.
As peaceful as the wildlife refuge can be, sometimes it’s good to turn things upside down. Change your perspective — literally — at Elevate Gymnastics Academy. Whether you’re introducing kids to the world of gymnastics or living out your own dreams as an adult, there’s the opportunity to train, practice and learn from knowledgeable coaches. Elevate Gymnastics Academy’s adult gymnastics sessions have given my dream of one day doing a backflip a launching pad.
When you’re in the mood to cook but not really, Swish54 is a Japanese hot pot spot to try. Begin by choosing your soup base, with offerings like miso, sukiyaki, tonkotsu and more. Select your choice of thinly sliced meats, fish or veggies, which will be accompanied by noodles, rice, and tofu, then cook to your heart’s content once your broth is hot. I love the sweet nuttiness of the goma sesame sauce that’s available on the side as well. The Kobe fries, crisp waffle fries topped with tender Kobe beef and a variety of creamy sauces, is also a great addition to the meal.
When you’re craving sushi, check out Ebisu for delicious nigiri and a great selection of rolls. I always get the grilled calamari, which I recommend to open up your meal with a charred, smoky depth.
For an upscale dining option, there’s Interlude Kitchen & Bar, sister restaurant to Prelude Kitchen & Bar in Downtown Sacramento. With interiors of wood and stone, comfortable seating and the smoky aroma of the wood grill, Interlude feels both elegant and airy, cozy yet elevated. The Umpqua Valley lamb T-bones were tender and succulent, and paired well with creamy polenta.
For a standout burger, visit Sheldon Inn Restaurant & Bar. I personally think it can hang amongst Benjy Egel’s well-researched list of best burgers of Sacramento. The aioli, bourbon bacon jam and juiciness of the burger make it satisfying, complex and simply delicious. You can also get their burgers at the adjacent Adkins Family Vineyards, where the wine tasting with chocolate pairings is another experience to try.
To bookend a great day, wander into Ever After Wine, a wine bar with literary decor and a special story of its own. The co-owners met in middle school, attended Sacramento State together, reconnected through wine and decided to open up Ever After Wine together. In addition to offering tastings, bottles and wine flights, Ever After Wine regularly hosts book clubs, R&B nights and live music. The menu also features charcuterie, flatbreads and torched burrata.
Ending note
When I returned to Elk Grove unexpectedly in 2020, I returned to family. I returned to fresh air in a season where the indoors was fraught with risk. As I continue to live here, Elk Grove continues to introduce me to features that weren’t here when I was growing up.
Whether you visit today or next year, I encourage you to recognize what is in bloom in this fast-changing area. Experience the new fruits of this city as well as the old, and as a region with a deep relationship with the rural, perhaps consider what you might plant here too.
