Since my best friend Deirdre lives in Sacramento, I’ve visited this city at least 20 times over the dozen years.  It’s become a little home away from home.  Last weekend, though, I managed to play Joe Tourist and do some sightseeing.  How is it possible I’ve been here so many times and have yet to visit California’s state capitol?

My friend Cris asked that EXACT same question when he was showing me around the city.  The building is spit-shined within an inch of its life, everything is polished, pretty and manicured.  Smiling state troopers (yes, an oxymoron, I know) walk around and mingle with visitors.  And the weird thing?  The general public has amazing access to traipse around the capitol.  Oh sure, there’s the occasional velvet rope, but, for the most part, you’re allowed to visit most anywhere.

Huge portraits of former Governors hang throughout the building.  However, if you’re looking for Ah-nuld, you won’t see any visual evidence he was there.  His portrait is suspiciously MIA.

Pleasant security guards hold down the fort when you walk in to the balconies of the State Senate and Legislature.  Both guards generously offered to take our respective pictures for posterity.

The area around the capitol was a hubbub of activity.  The grounds are so exquisitely maintained, I was bummed we didn’t bring a picnic lunch.  We spotted a half dozen photographers taking engagement picture on the grounds.  And there were two weddings going on simultaneously.   Many of the nearby streets had been shut down for a massive three-on-three basketball tournament.

I think this trip inspired me to visit more state capitols throughout our fair country.  But I doubt any of ‘em will be as impressive as the state of California.