The 40-acre park surrounding the State Capitol, containing one of the most diverse tree collections of any urban park in California. The plantings were begun in the 1870s with specimens gathered from each of the 50 states and several foreign nations — there are Southern magnolias, giant sequoias, Japanese cherries, and a towering Canary Island date palm that dominates the southeast corner.
The park also holds the California Veterans Memorial, several peace-related monuments, and the site of the original 1869 Capitol building (now replaced). The camellia collection along the eastern border is spectacular in February and March, when Sacramento's mild winters push them into early bloom. The park is a pleasant cut-through at any time of year and a good place to eat lunch bought from one of the surrounding food trucks.