SeeCalifornia.com

Photo: California Automobile Museum features special exhibits and rare collections of American cars & vehicles.

It’s everyone’s favorite day of the year to visit and be in Sacramento. Sacramento is Museum City and with so many museums to see, you may go into overload on one special day of the year, Sacramento Museum Day. Last year in 2011, the Museum Day attendance broke 115,000 visitors to 28 Sacramento area museums offering free admission all day on Saturday. This 14th annual event is presented by the Sacramento Association of Museums (SAM) and takes place Saturday February 4, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All participating museums close at 5 p.m. with the last guests admitted at 4 p.m. (sacmuseums.org)

New for 2012: The Center for Contemporary Art, located at 1519 19th Street in Sacramento; and Sacramento Children’s Museum located at 2701 Prospect Park Drive in Rancho Cordova. Both locations will be open free to the public during Museum Day. Two regular destinations, Sacramento Zoo and Fairytale Town, located in William Land Park will offer half-priced admission during Museum Day.

Tip: Plan to spend quality time at 2 or 3 museums to maximize your enjoyment. You simply can’t do it all. Plan for crowds, as well. Bring a great attitude and you’ll have fun! Shuttle buses will not be operating this year. However, several museums are in walking distance of each other. Pick up a Museum Day Guide at any participating Museum for a map to help you plan your day.

PARTICIPATING MUSEUMS for SACRAMENTO MUSEUM DAY 2012:

• Aerospace Museum of California
• California Automobile Museum
• California Foundry History Museum
• The California Museum
• California State Capitol Museum
• California State Indian Museum
• California State Military Museum
• California State Railroad Museum
• Center for Contemporary Art
• Crocker Art Museum
• Discovery Museum Science and Space Center
• The Don and June Salvatori California Pharmacy Museum
• Fairytale Town (not free–half price)
• Folsom History Museum
• Governor’s Mansion State Historic Park
• Heidrick Ag History Center (Woodland)
• Leland Stanford Mansion State Historic Park
• Museum of Medical History
• Old Sacramento Schoolhouse Museum
• Old Sacramento State Historic Park
• Sacramento Children’s Museum
• Sacramento Zoo (not free–half price)
• Sacramento Historic City Cemetery
• Sacramento History Museum
• Sojourner Truth Multicultural Arts Museum
• Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park
• Wells Fargo History Museum (Old Sacramento and Downtown locations).