California is among the most popular vacation destinations for Islanders. Most of us have left our hearts in San Francisco and explored Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and maybe the coast towns to the south.

Another destination awaits that's equally interesting, but lesser known unless you happen to have a business or family reason to go there, is California's capital, Sacramento.

This city of nearly half a million residents borders the fertile Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, 90 miles northeast of San Francisco, about a two-hour drive. You can make a day trip of it on your next excursion to the Bay Area, or spend a few days. If you're not up for driving on the Mainland, take the Amtrak train for just $20 one way. Sacramento's flat, gridlike downtown area is easily accessed by foot, bus or light rail. Lifts, ramps and curb cuts enable strollers and wheelchairs to reach major venues.

The California State Capitol Building and surrounding park are at the top of most visitors' lists. However, Sacramento has much more to explore. Discover historic Old Sacramento, with its restored buildings, volunteers attired in period clothing, and museums that provide in-depth detail on the Gold Rush era. Stroll along the American River, or take a scenic boat ride.

Back in town, eateries and shops are plentiful, and at the end of a busy day of touring, the nearby Jelly Belly Visitor Center and Factory will satisfy everyone's sweet tooth.

TOUR CANDY FACTORY, VISIT MUSEUMS IN HISTORIC TOWN

STATE CAPITOL AND PARK

"An edifice should be constructed ... satisfactory of the grandeur of the coming time ... surrounded by grounds ... with a beauty and luxuriousness that no other capitol can boast." — Gov. Leland Stanford, 1863

Erected in 1869, the California State Capitol, with its bas-relief facade and imposing columns, is indeed an impressive sight. The Greek Revival and Roman-Corinthian architectural styles fittingly symbolize the ancient Greek and Roman roots of democracy. Inside the entrance are rows of informative, multicolored displays, one for each of California's 58 counties.

As my mother and I wait for the free guided tour to commence, we peek into the first-floor museum, which depicts how the offices of the governor, secretary of state and treasurer all appeared in the early 1900s. Back then, both gas and electricity supplied power, their lines running dangerously close together. Bureaucratic red tape was literal, as red twine was used to bind certain government documents. Down the hall, "Rumors of a Great Disaster" is an exhibit on the 1906 earthquake, which left nearly half of San Francisco's population homeless.

The tour begins underneath the magnificent cupola, which resembles the inside of a Fabergé egg. Gloria Cedillo is our knowledgeable guide. She asks our group what we would like to see.

"Arnold Schwarzenegger," requests an exchange student from Poland as his classmates giggle. "He is my hero!"

The student's face falls when Gloria relays that the "Governator," as Schwarzenegger is nicknamed for his role in "The Terminator," is away. However, we are allowed to enter the governor's office area, where a painting of Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, keeps watch over officials bustling to and fro.

Upstairs we enter both the Assembly and Senate Chambers. The original wooden desks from 1869 stand in contrast to the huge computerized panel up front that lists what is currently being discussed by the legislature. The general public can attend floor meetings or listen in on committee hearings. Gloria informs us that 5,000 to 7,000 bills are reviewed each session.

A half-hidden gargoyle on the ceiling interrupts the otherwise symmetrical floral design. The architects deliberately placed the figure there to remind those present that the building existed before and will exist after them. The sculpture is a visual hint to the legislators to keep the long-term perspective in mind as they serve their constituents.

The tour ends with a look at the portraits of several past governors, including the late Ronald Reagan. Once outside, a stroll around Capitol Park reveals a World Peace Rose Garden, a Liberty Bell, and several war memorials and seals. Symbolic plants dot the garden, including the state tree, the California Redwood. The grounds are a lovely backdrop for weddings and other festive celebrations.

Across the street, Spataro serves up delectable Italian dishes in a refined setting, while a few blocks away is our hotel, the Hyatt, with its expansive views of the Capitol and Capitol Park. Word has it that the Governator himself stays here when he is in town.

THE OLD TOWN

Heading straight from the Capitol toward the American River, my family and I travel back in time to the mid-1800s. This is the age of the Gold Rush, the Pony Express and the Wild West. Historic Old Sacramento contains more than 200 stores and restaurants housed in restored and replicated buildings. As we traipse on the wooden sidewalks, horses clop by pulling stagecoaches through the cobblestone streets. A steam train toots along while riverboats cruise the adjacent American River near the flaxen Tower Bridge.

Festivities occur all year round, including an old-fashioned Easter in April, a Jazz Jubilee in May, Wild West "shoot-outs" in September, and a gingerbread house contest in December. Homesick for Hawai'i? There are even "Aloha Fridays" in July and August.

Museums are sprinkled throughout the area: the California Military Museum, Discovery Museum History Center, Wells Fargo History Museum, Old Sacramento Interpretive Center and the Schoolhouse Museum. The most popular by far, though, is the California State Railroad Museum. Here, a gleaming black-and-gold engine dominates the lobby. Further along, life-size dioramas show how the transcontinental railroad was constructed in the 1800s. Interactive exhibits highlight the societal and commercial importance of trains, and what it was like to work and travel on the railroads.

There are more than 20 actual railroad cars and locomotives on site, and to the delight of clambering children, several can be boarded. In the roundhouse, restored locomotives loom near the turntable, conjuring up images of how it felt to rely on the powerful yet romantic "Iron Horse" as the main means of long-distance transport.

Upstairs, the "Small Wonders" section contains one of the most renowned collections of model trains in North America, while kids and the young-at-heart can play with toy trains in the children's activity area. The last stop is the live model train display, where visitors can toggle the controls. Miniature cars sandwiched between engines and cabooses weave their way through lighted towns and across intricate landscapes, as in our minds we travel back to what it was like to live in the early 20th century.

FLAVORS AND COLORS

Jelly Belly Lane in Fairfield, less than an hour's drive south of Sacramento, is home to the famous flavored jelly beans. The free 40-minute guided tours provide a comprehensive overview of the candy-making process through videos and views of the manufacturing floor.

As we meander along the elevated walkway, vats spin, sugar dissolves and tantalizing aromas emanate. Millions of Jelly Bellies shuffle along conveyor belts while bins are filled with varying hues of beans. Mounted on the wall are creative Jelly Belly mosaics, including one of the late President Ronald Reagan. Reagan was perhaps the most famous connoisseur of Jelly Bellies, and his sweet tooth catapulted the candy to fame in the 1980s.

Today's most popular flavor? Licorice, to the surprise of many. The 50 standard flavors encompass classics like cream soda, green apple, and tangerine. "Recipes" include mango pineapple salsa (mango, crushed pineapple and jalapeno) and s'mores (cinnamon toast, chocolate pudding and toasted marshmallow). There are now sugar-free beans, sours, smoothie blends and mint flavors. Sport beans are the Jelly Belly equivalent of energy drinks. New creations are continually being tested (e.g., buttered toast) and innovative suggestions are welcomed. For example, the Harry Potter series of books inspired Bertie Bott's Beans, which include such mouth-watering flavors as dirt, earthworm and rotten egg.

The store is a sugar lover's dream, for the factory manufactures not only Jelly Bellies, but also an assortment of gummies and chocolates. In fact, more than 150 types of candy are created on the premises.

After the tour, visitors crowd the free sample bar. My husband braves Bertie Bott' earwax and vomit, while I taste the roasted garlic. Hmmm. How about something else instead? At four calories a bean, we can afford to linger, trying favorites like cotton candy, root beer and strawberry daiquiri.

There is only so much sugar we can ingest, however, so a stop at the Jelly Belly Café is on the itinerary. Here, even the hamburgers and pizzas are shaped like large jelly beans. Upon leaving, everyone is gifted with samples of Jelly Bellies.

It's a sweet ending to an engaging vacation touring Sacramento and her environs. As the Governator would say, "I'll be back."

Monica Quock Chan is a Honolulu-based freelance writer. She has lived in Europe and Asia, and traveled to more than 50 countries.

Reach Monica Quock Chan at (Unknown address).