California Official Visitor's Guide 2022 - 150

gold country
SACRAMENTO
265 " THE PRICKLY
PEAR is like a magical oasis
in the middle of downtown.
It's more than a plant store;
it's an entire experience.
You can come and just relax
in the garden and try the
kombucha on tap. The best
day to visit is Sunday when
you'll get to meet our three
Nigerian dwarf goats. "
266 Bahraini loves to
go to the " underrated "
CALIFORNIA STATE
LIBRARY, which is home to
more than 4 million titles.
" The circulation room has
big, beautiful windows-it
feels almost enchanted, " she
says. " The library is open
to the public and you can
explore the building's three
stories on your own, or you
can take a docent-led tour to
learn more about its history. "
267 " The Sunshine Roll
(shrimp tempura, spicy tuna,
and green apple) at KRU is
incredible, " she says. " My
husband and I have taken
countless guests here, and
they all agree it's the best
roll they've ever had. The
restaurant is JapaneseCalifornia
fusion and they
focus on local sourcing and
sustainability. The ambience
is sexy and playful, and the
bartenders are really fun. "
ASK A LOCAL Mona Bahraini
Raised in Arizona, Mona Bahraini grew up
surrounded by cacti. When she relocated to
Sacramento, she brought along her love for
desert flora, building a collection of more than
300 succulents she housed in a 500-square-foot
apartment.
Bahraini's passion evolved into a business-first
as an Instagram page to showcase her plants, then
as " pot and sip " experiences with mason jars and
wine. Today, Bahraini owns The Prickly Pear, a
succulent nursery and community space.
Bahraini loves showing visitors around her
adopted hometown. For the self-described plant
nerd, one of Sacramento's draws is its natural
beauty. " The vegetation is out of this world-there
are trees everywhere, " she says. " Plus, there are
tons of mom-and-pop shops and cool restaurants.
I think of the city as kind of a hidden gem. " Take
Bahraini's advice and visit these Sacramento spots.
150 | VISITCALIFORNIA.COM
268 Southside Park's
SOUTH restaurant is one
of Bahraini's favorites for its
Southern comfort food with
a modern twist. " They have a
great brunch but we usually
California State Library
Bottle and Barlow
go there for dinner-and
every single time we get
the Hot Chicken Sandwich, "
she says. " It's a classic fried
chicken sandwich, but with
Green Goddess dressing.
It's incredible. "
269 " The owner of
BOTTLE AND BARLOW
wanted to blend a
barbershop with a bar, so he
created a mix of the two. You
can order a drink or get your
hair cut. They make amazing
cocktails-both alcoholic
and nonalcoholic-and it's
very hip, welcoming, and not
pretentious at all. Plus, they
play great music late into the
night. My favorite drink is the
Cucumber Gimlet. "
270 " My husband is a
huge coffee fan-he drinks
it all day long-and we think
THE MILL is the best spot
in town. It's very warm and
welcoming with an adorable
space. They roast their own
coffee that you can pair
with house-made seasonal
syrups. The hand-held
waffles with powdered sugar
and honey butter are also
really popular and tasty. My
husband always orders their
cold brew. "
Kru
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