On this episode of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson dives into the best of Sacramento’s food, culture, and outdoor scene with three expert insiders.

First up, Johnson is joined by Benjy Egel, the food and drinks writer for The Sacramento Bee. Egel explains how the area’s agricultural abundance helps fuel its thriving farm-to-fork dining scene. “So much of the U.S.’s produce comes from the Sacramento region and the Central Valley as a whole, and so we have this wealth of tomatoes and asparagus and even caviar here in the region,” says Egel. He then dives into where to grab some local good eats, from neighborhood favorites in Little Saigon to Michelin-starred joints in Midtown.

Next, Johnson is joined by Ashley Shult Langdon, author of Mildly Scenic, a trail guide to Sacramento's Lower American River. The outdoor enthusiast and longtime Sacramentan describes what aspects of the river continue to surprise and delight. “Just within a 10-minute walk from the city, you can feel like you're out in the wilderness,” says Langdon. Langdon gets into her favorite spots and the family activities that visitors can enjoy along the lower half of the American River.   

Last, Johnson talks arts and culture with Hillary Louise Johnson of Sactown Magazine. The seasoned writer discusses Sacramento’s growing creative landscape. “There's such a density of public art [in Midtown], in part because Sacramento's pretty mural-crazy,” says Johnson. She then goes on a culture-fueled walking tour throughout the city’s artsy neighborhoods with stops for coffee and shopping along the way.