The Abridged version:
- Cassidy Myers-Sims has lived in the Sacramento region her whole life. Folsom is its best suburb, she says.
- Her guide to a great day in the city includes morning coffee at Sociology, stopping at local shops in the Folsom Historic District, outdoor exploration and dinner in Palladio at Broadstone shopping center.
- Look for a bright red Volkswagen bus: it marks Folsom’s first brewery since the 1880s.
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.
As a lifelong Sacramento-area resident who’s lived in Folsom for the past decade, I’m ready to declare something controversial.
Folsom punches above its weight and should be considered the best suburb in the Sacramento region. And before you come after me with the proverbial pitchforks, U.S. News and World Report recently named Folsom the best place to live in all of California. No wonder it’s one of the fastest-growing cities in the state.
So what makes Folsom worth this bold claim? Let’s start with the obvious.
Folsom’s “Distinctive by Nature” slogan is an apt one, considering the city’s many outdoor features, including Folsom Lake, the American River, Lake Natoma, more than 50 miles of nature trails and renowned mountain biking trails in the Gold Country foothills.
The town’s historical roots are also impressive. Between the city’s place in Gold Rush lore, its standing as the Western Terminus of the Pony Express and the Folsom Powerhouse facilitating the world’s first long-distance transmission of electricity in 1895, there’s no shortage of compelling heritage. And may I interest you in a pop culture connection in the form of one Johnny Cash?
Okay, with the city’s credentials out of the way, let me tell you exactly how to spend a perfect day in the city I’m lucky to call home.
Morning
As any parent of a toddler will understand, there’s nothing to even start thinking about until at least one cup of coffee has been consumed. Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co. offers a warm, welcoming space and a delightfully unique cup of Yemeni coffee. The pistachio latte, rose milk cake and Adeni shai are worth the hype.
With your liquid motivation on board, breakfast is the next move. Sociology, located a short drive away in Folsom Historic District, is a fan favorite for good reason. Its bacon (or mushroom) breakfast tacos are genuinely unmatched. Scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, cabbage, onion and the house “cypher sauce” for a little heat — all held together admirably by a perfectly warmed corn tortilla. Sociology’s coffee drinks always hit the spot (the teddy graham latte is my go-to), and its rotating seasonal offerings are just as creative as they are delicious. But there’s a hidden gem that isn’t talked about enough: Sociology’s chocolate chip cookie.
My daughter and I consider ourselves chocolate chip cookie connoisseurs — I’m fully aware this is a more appropriate title for a 3.5-year-old than a 30-something mom, but I digress. We take our self-appointed title very seriously, which is why we implore you to grab one (if there are any left) to save for a post-lunch treat.
Afternoon
After being properly caffeinated and adequately fed, use your early afternoon to stroll the Folsom Historic District. If it’s a Saturday, the Historic Folsom Farmers Market is always a good idea. The setting is perfect, and weekly vendors cover all the bases, from seasonal produce to beautiful flower bouquets to freshly baked treats (shoutout to Remedios by Tutti, who also has an incredible chocolate chip cookie). If you’re lucky, you might catch Folsom’s most famous pig, Winnie, eating the trail of walnuts her owner leaves behind.
After you’ve strolled the market, check out Swoon Studio Co. The space is half boutique selling goods made by independent creatives, and half community-building creative center with classes and project-making sessions of all kinds. When you walk in, chances are good that you’ll find owner Erin Lane on her sewing machine making some handmade swoon-worthy keepsakes.
Walk up a block or two to Sutter Street, where the 19th century facades are living reminders of Folsom’s Gold Rush roots. Nowhere is that Old West vibe more apparent than the Folsom Hotel Saloon — established in 1885 — where you should absolutely stop for a quick drink, or return later in the night for live music.
Some other Sutter Street shops worth checking out before afternoon fades to evening: Ruby’s Book Store for a cute Folsom postcard to remember the day, Full Sol Market if you’re looking for a dreamy houseplant or succulent to add to the family, Fat Elephant Records to grab a new (old) vinyl and BrainyZoo Toys for fun, unique gifts to bring home for the littles.
With the shopping itch thoroughly scratched, lunch is a great idea. Karen’s Bakery has everything from sandwiches on house-baked bread to a rotating quiche of the day to a cold case full of delicious salads. It’s the kind of place where the most popular items sell out long before closing time.
Further up Sutter Street, Plank Craft Kitchen does California comfort food so well, it earns the “comfort” title without a single biscuit anywhere to be found. Nothing captures that spirit more than the ahi tuna poke nachos. If you’re in the mood for something a little heartier, try the animal burger, Plank’s upscale riff on In-N-Out’s animal style burger.
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Walk off the food coma with a post-lunch stroll across Folsom’s picturesque Rainbow Bridge. Once across, traverse the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, watch the kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders soaking in the sun from across the water and wander down to the edge to dip your feet in beautiful Lake Natoma.
If you’d rather trade water views for stately oak groves and grassy meadows, pick up the Johnny Cash Trail to get your post-lunch steps in. Jump in anywhere along the 2.5-mile public art trail, which runs along the Folsom State Prison property. It’s a great way to pay homage to the Man in Black on a perfect spring day.
Evening
Folsom has no shortage of great breweries to pick from if hoppy hour is your jam for a pre-dinner drink. But two in particular are worth mentioning.
Red Bus Brewing is somewhat of a pioneer in the world of local craft beer, as it claimed the honor of being Folsom’s first brewery since the 1880s (!!) when it opened in 2018. This spot sits in an unassuming building just off the main drag, but the quick jaunt down a side street is well worth it. You’ll know you’ve found the right place when you see the bright red Volkswagen bus parked out front.
Out of Bounds also has an excellent selection of beers rivaled only by its fun indoor-outdoor setting. The bocce court and outdoor live music on the weekends make it an easy place to spend a full evening.
Whistle adequately wet, it’s time to consider what’s on the menu for dinner. Palladio at Broadstone is an open-air center dotted with eateries, shops, and outdoor lounging areas. You could spend a whole evening at Palladio and never run out of great options.
If you’re in the mood for margaritas and street tacos, Mas Taco Bar is your pick. For a more upscale meal and a nice glass of wine, Back Bistro’s elevated ambiance and prix fixe dinner-for-two menus are the way to go.
At Iron Horse Tavern, grab an innovative cocktail at their beautiful copper-topped bar, enjoy Korean fried chicken at one of the leather high-back booths and cap it all off with their famous beignets next to the fire pit on the spacious patio.Â
Looking to find a little more fun to end the night? Head back to the Folsom Historic District for an after-dinner old fashioned or a frosty Guinness at Fat Rabbit Public House and thank me later. And a piece of chocolate at Snooks Candies & Chocolate Factory on the way out is mandatory.
So after the full rundown, what’s the verdict? Are the pitchforks still out over my bold proclamation? Maybe, but I’m confident that spending a day like this will make it hard to argue with the premise.
Folsom isn’t just a great place to spend a day. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family, or use as a stopping point on the way to or from Tahoe. And it’s somewhere I hope you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.
Cassidy Myers-Sims is a freelance writer based in Folsom.