The smell of outdoor grilling, sunscreen, cotton candy and lawn clippings…ah summer.

Yet here we are, still wondering what to do and where to go. What’s cool? What’s fun? What’s free? Worry no more, sun lovers and water babies—we’ve got you covered, like Granddad’s zinc-lathered nose. Come with us as we show you where to get soaked, roar with the crowd, bring Fido, see fireworks, keep the kids happy, break a sweat and have fun on a dime—all this summer and all in and around the area!

GET SOAKED

Everybody in the pool! Public aquatic centers and swimming pools are a great summer treat. Take advantage of their family passes and fun activities. Roseville Aquatics Complex’s Family Nights run from June 10 through August 2, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30-9 p.m.; children under age 2 are free with a paid adult admission. Johnson Pool in Roseville offers free Family Nights from June 17 to July 31, Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:45-8:15 p.m. For more details, visit roseville.ca.us/parks/parks_n_facilities/facilities/pools.

After work, cool off and play at Nite Slide at SunSplash Waterpark in Roseville. Nite Slide starts June 14 from 5-10:30 p.m. and is the perfect way to end a hot day! For more details, visit golfland.com/roseville.  

If you’re into evening watercraft activities, Sacramento State Aquatic Center hosts Family Water Ski Nights and Family PWC (private water craft) Nights. For full details, visit sacstateaquaticcenter.com. Make sure you check out their kayak and canoe rentals and lessons, too: Lake Natoma is the perfect spot for some serene paddling. Take the boat out on Folsom Lake for wakeboarding, Jet-Skiing, fishing or just general wet and wild fun. For more details, visit parks.ca.gov/?page_id=500.

Paddle up! Grab (or rent) your raft and float down one of the many rivers in our backyard; American River Parkway at the Sunrise Recreation Area is a popular launch spot (rentals available at raftrentals.com). If you want to get a bit further out of town, try Bear River in Grass Valley for some stunning scenery. Is going fast your forte? Then show off those white knuckles and head to Coloma for the “real deal,” with whitewater rafting down the South, North or Middle Forks of the American River. We like Beyond Limits Adventures for their friendly, skilled professional guides and deluxe 12-acre resort, allowing rafters to partake in multi-day trips (rivertrip.com). For more local outfitters, visit coloma.com/recreation/whitewater-rafting.

Placer County Fair

ROAR WITH THE CROWD

Summer fun is enjoying America’s favorite pastime; thankfully, the Sacramento River Cats have every day of the week covered for your baseball enjoyment: Throwback Mondays (throwback uniforms, $.50 popcorn and hot dogs), Family Value Tuesdays ($1 hot dogs and desserts), Free Parking Wednesdays, Thirsty Thursdays, Fireworks Fridays, and Sunday Fundays with pre-game activities for the kids, plus bobblehead giveaways and much more! (Oh, and great baseball.) For the full schedule, visit rivercats.com.

Instead of sweating it out on the tennis court, watch the pros do it for you (with more impressive results). Summer time is Mylan World Team Tennis time: Cheer on our Sacramento Capitals starting July 7 at Capitals Stadium, on the corner of Greenback Lane and Sunrise Boulevard in Citrus Heights. To purchase tickets, visit saccaps.com.

Summer means California State Fair time, which means Cal Expo Horse Racing at Miller Lite Grandstand from July 12- 21. Enjoy the excitement of thoroughbred racing and get free entry with your State Fair ticket. For details, visit calexpo.com/events/cal-expo-horse-racing.

Buck up, buckaroos—the Folsom Pro Rodeo is back in town! Official proceedings run July 4-6, but don’t miss a true symbol of the American West when the Cattle Drive kicks off the rodeo on Tuesday, July 3, followed by three nights of exciting pro rodeo events, including live music, nightly fireworks and interactive children’s activities. Festivities commence with a Stars and Stripes Country Concert on Saturday, June 29. Giddy up! For more info, visit folsomrodeo.com.

The sounds of summer will ring through Sacramento with some great music on offer. Three Stages in Folsom is bringing back that lovin’ feeling with the Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley on June 7; El Dorado Musical Theater’s production of Bye Bye Birdie will run July 12-21, as well as Los Lonely Boys on August 13. Keep an eye on threestages.net for more shows and to purchase tickets.

Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s Summer Concert Series will rock your socks off with Cheap Trick, Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on June 7; Doobie Brothers on June 14; Huey Lewis & The News on July 13, Chicago on August 3, and many more! For show times and to purchase tickets, visit thundervalleyresort.com/entertainment/headliners.

Boz Scaggs will give the low down at Red Lion Woodlake Hotel’s Outdoor Grove on June 13; at Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Wheatland, don’t miss John Mayer (July 24) or Kid Rock (July 31); on August 10, Train will rock your flip-flops off. Sleep Train Arena in Sacramento is bringing big names like Pitbull (June 13), Bruno Mars (July 24) and Taylor Swift (August 27). To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com.

Annual Pups in the Park

Photo by Tia Gemmell

BRING  FIDO

Dogs are social animals too, and thankfully more and more area events are catering to our four-legged friends. At the Sacramento River Cats Bark in the Ballpark event on July 24, baseball fans and pooches can enjoy pre-game festivities and then watch the game together on Home Run Hill. For more details, visit rivercats.com.

On June 8 at William Land Park, Sacramento area pet owners and pups can enjoy a 5K scenic fun walk and raise money for shelter animals at the annual Doggy Dash, which benefits the Sacramento SPCA. As the SPCA puts it: “Walk for the animals, party for the pets!” For more information, visit sspca.org.

Join in a 2K social dog walk for a good cause at the Beary Couture Walk-N-Wag for Ovarian Cancer Awareness, June 9 at William Hughes Dog Park in Roseville. Entrance fee is $20 and includes prizes, trophies, treats and T-shirts! To purchase tickets, visit bearycouture.com.

Sacramento’s McKinley Park will be host to all manner of colorful canines at the 5th Annual Pups in the Park dog walk and costume contest, June 22 at Shepard Garden and Art Center (35th Street and McKinley Boulevard). Bring your pup and strut your stuff for a 1K dog walk around the park! A $20 donation includes entry into the dog costume contest and post-race drinks and snacks. Proceeds benefit Happy Tails Pet Sanctuary, Friends of East Sacramento and Youth Development Network. For tickets and more details, visit happytails.org.

Prime Patios

Dave & Busters (Roseville)

Best for: Sports bar combined with arcade fun for adults and children alike.
What to get: Legendary Goldfingers (don’t worry, you’ll probably run it off in the arcade)
Why we love it: The patio provides a relaxing atmosphere, yet is still accessible to all the feel-like-a-kid-again activities.

Fat’s Asia Bistro (Roseville)

Best for: Consistently well-constructed, delicious dishes.
What to get: Grilled Mahi-Mahi
Why we love it: Owned by the legendary Fat family restaurants, the weekend happy hour served on the patio is a can’t-miss.

Ginger’s (Roseville)

Best for: A Hawaiian escape in the middle of suburbia.
What to get: Sesame Crusted Ahi, seared rare. Aloha!
Why we love it: Hang loose and have a Mai Tai under the thatched umbrellas while listening to live entertainment on the patio.

Hawk’s (Granite Bay)

Best for: Farm-fresh local ingredients and a sophisticated ambiance that have garnered multiple awards and rave-reviews.
What to get: The offerings change often, but try for the Arctic Char—a rarity on local menus.
Why we love it: A slowly savored summer meal on the romantic patio provides the ultimate date-night experience.

Il Fornaio (Roseville)

Best for: A rotating menu that explores authentic dishes from spotlighted regions of Italy.
What to get: Antipasto Della Casa and the authentic, wood-fired pizzas.
Why we love it: A Bellini paired with buffet brunch on the patio provides a perffeto backdrop to people watching in the Galleria’s outdoor Promenade.

Jack’s Urban Eats (Roseville)

Best for: Cafeteria-style, quality California cuisine.
What to get: A make-it-to-order salad.
Why we love it: The wildly popular Sacramento-based eateries addition to The Fountains at Roseville is the perfect place for a low-stress, high-quality patio experience.

Mas Mexican (Roseville)

Best for: Top-notch tequilas in kitsch-free décor.   
What to get: Grilled fish tacos.
Why we love it: In addition to chips and salsa, enjoy complimentary bean dip while you sip an authentic drink and relive your last Cabo vacay.

Whole Foods Market at the Fountains at Roseville

Best for: Fresh, healthy food on-the-go
What to get: Any of the delectable vegan cupcakes
Why we love it: After perusing this Mecca of all-things organic and healthful, you can chow down on your goodies al fresco.

Zocalo at the Fountains at Roseville

Best for: Date nights
What to get: Blackberry Margarita
Why we love it: An exciting new addition to the Fountains. Its Haute Mexican food pairs well with the drop-dead sexy atmosphere of its expansive, yet intimate outdoor patio.

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For outdoor dining at its best, check out:

Dave & Busters in Roseville
daveandbusters.com

Fat’s Asia Bistro in Roseville
fatsrestaurants.com

Ginger’s in Roseville
gingersrestaurant.com

Hawk’s in Granite Bay
hawksrestaurant.com

Il Fornaio in Roseville
ilfornaio.com

Jack’s Urban Eats in Roseville
jacksurbaneats.com

La Provence in Roseville
laprovenceroseville.com

Mas Mexican in Roseville
masmexicanfood.com

Paul Martin’s American Bistro in Roseville
paulmartinsamericanbistro.com

The Fat Rabbit Public House in Historic Folsom
facebook.com/thefatrabbitpublichouse

Ugly Mug Café in Loomis
uglymugloomis.com

Venita Rhea’s in Rocklin
venitarheas.com

Visconti’s in Folsom
viscontisristorante.com

Whole Foods Market at the Fountains at Roseville
wholefoodsmarket.com

Zocalo at the Fountains at Roseville
zocalosacramento.com

Downtown Tuesday Nights

ON A DIME

Whether you have a crew of kids or not, summer can get expensive when you’re trying to beat the heat and have fun. Luckily, the area has an abundance of free activities for locals to enjoy.

You don’t have to pay to get a little culture; you just have to walk! Art walks are everywhere, and you could get quite a bit of exercise and culture if you plan out your summer right. The Fountains First Friday Street Fair, along Main Street at the Fountains at Roseville, starts June 7; Second Saturdays in Midtown Sacramento and the Third Saturday Art Walk in Downtown Roseville run year-round, and the Auburn Art Walk in Downtown Auburn will take place June 14, August 8 and October 10.

There’s also free music almost everywhere you look. Check out Downtown Tuesday Nights on Vernon Street in Roseville— held every Tuesday from 5-9 p.m. through July—which features live entertainment, a farmers’ market and arts and crafts vendors. Rocklin’s Evening in the Park Summer Concert Series begins June 21 and repeats July 12, July 26 and August 9 at Johnson-Springview Park; and the Fountains at Roseville Summer Concert Series begins June 8 and repeats every Saturday evening from 8-10 p.m. near the community stage through September 28. Don’t miss the exciting new Street Stars Performers at the Fountains at Roseville on non-First Friday nights, June 4-August 23 from 7-9 p.m. You can also celebrate Independence Day in style, for free, with the Capitol Pops Concert Band, starting at noon on July 4 in Royer Park in Roseville.

Don’t forget about farmers’ markets this summer. They’re more than just the hip activity latte-drinkers do; they’re a smart way to save money on your fruit and vegetable shopping. Here’s the skinny on where and when to get great local eats from area farmers’ markets this summer: on Saturdays, head to the Auburn Farmers’ Market (Auburn-Folsom Road at Lincoln Way) from 8 a.m. to noon or to the Rocklin Blue Oaks Market (RC Willey at Blue Oaks Center) from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; Sundays, the Granite Bay Quarry Ponds Town Center Market is bursting with seasonal crops from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesdays, Whole Foods Market at the Fountains is your produce place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and Thursday evenings from 5-8 p.m., June 13 through August 29, shop the market in downtown Lincoln.

Rocklin Brewfest

FESTIVALS AND FAIRS

Summer is becoming brewfest time in the Sacramento area, and 2013 is no exception. The first keg gets tapped on June 8 at two great events: the Fifth Annual Auburn Brewfest at the Gold Country Fairgrounds in Farrell Wrenn Park (auburnbrewfest.com) and the Fifth Annual Rocklin Brewfest, presented by the South Placer Rotary at Johnson-Springview Park (facebook.com/rocklinbrewfest).

If your summers involve more wine than beer then the annual Grape Days of Summer is the event for you. Held along the Placer County Wine Trail (Auburn, Lincoln, Loomis and Newcastle) August 3-4, it offers wine tasting and food from a huge variety of participating local wineries. For more info, visit placerwine.com.

“I love the smell of cotton candy in the morning…” It’s state and county fair time folks, so get ready for more baby animals and deep-fried food than you can handle. Here’s the rundown: The California State Fair starts July 12 and runs through July 28 at Cal Expo; county-fair wise, you can get your Ferris wheel on at the El Dorado County Fair from June 13-16 at the El Dorado Fairgrounds in Placerville (eldoradocountyfair.org); head to the Amador County Fairgrounds in Plymouth from July 25-28 for the Amador County Fair (amadorcountyfair.com); and from August 7-11, the Nevada County Fair will liven up the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley (nevadacountyfair.com). For even more food on a stick, visit cdfa.ca.gov/fairs_&_expositions.

Train ride at the Fountains at Roseville

KEEP THE KIDS HAPPY

When the kids are happy, the family’s happy, right? And happy families make for a happy summer. The Sacramento River Cats get into the swing of summer with their River Cats Baseball Camps, running June 27-28 and August 1-2, featuring instruction from River Cats players and coaches. An exciting chance for kids to obtain hands-on instruction from future MLB stars! For more details, visit rivercats.com.

The Sacramento State Aquatic Center Summer Youth Camps kick off in June for children ages 7-17, with instruction in everything from sailing and windsurfing to wakeboarding, whitewater rafting and much more. For more details, visit sacstateaquaticcenter.com.

In Roseville, the Maidu Museum & Historic Site is offering multiple programs for nature lovers and history buffs. “Nuts About Nature,” “Hands on Archaeology” and archery classes are just a small sampling. For more info, visit roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum. At the Roseville Utility Exploration Center, kids can take part in programs like “Radical Recyclers,” “Wild Child Outdoor Photo Camp,” and “Water Warriors.” For the complete rundown, visit roseville.ca.us/explore.

Learning how to care for animals is a rewarding process for children, whether or not your family has pets. Placer SPCA’s Humane Kids Camp is a fun-filled way for kids to learn more about dogs, cats and other furry friends. Attendees will enjoy animal-related craft projects, hands-on activities, and learn about proper animal care. Sessions begin June 10 and run through July, catering to children ages 8-9 and 10-12. To register, visit placerspca.org/kids.htm.

Things get pretty hands on at Sutter’s Fort this summer with their Hands on History days: War in California! (includes black powder weapon demonstrations and scavenger hunts) will take place June 15; Mining the Miners: Sutter’s Fort and the Gold Rush will take center stage July 20, and Tools, Talent and Technology: Jobs at Sutter’s Fort will take place August 17. A chance to experience history as it was! For more details, visit suttersfort.org.

Camp Discovery at the Discovery Museum Science & Space Center, combines innovative science projects, creativity challenges, outdoor games and, of course, fun! The curriculum revolves around central themes including space, nature and general science; what’s more, all science activities are based on recommendations from the National Science Education Standards and the California State Guidelines for Science Education, and are taught by experienced, professional staff educators. For dates and more details, visit thediscovery.org.

Fairytale Town offers up a magical summer for kids and families, starting with their Annual Puppet Festival running Thursdays through Sundays, until June 30. And don’t miss a chance to bring the kids to the Family Campout on June 21 at 5:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. on June 22. The overnight adventure will feature a theater performance, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, bedtime stories and a sing-along; in the morning, wake up to a continental breakfast! For more information, visit fairytaletown.org.

Soil Born Farms, a 55-acre ranch located along the American River Parkway in Rancho Cordova, offers kids and teens a chance to explore farm, field and forest with their exciting summer day camps, held June 17 through August 9, and available for a wide variety of age groups. And don’t let your kids miss out on Kids & Teens in the Kitchen: Farm Pizza Party on June 29, where kids and teens can learn to cook using fresh, seasonal ingredients and enjoy the fruits of their labor! For more info, visit soilborn.org.

Style’s Favorite Frozen Treats

Cool off this summer with some of our favorite local frozen treats.

OMG! Yogurt for froyo cookies (choose your cookie, choose your yogurt, choose your topping), locations in Rocklin and Roseville, omgrocklin.com

Treats for artisan ice creams and seasonal sorbets, Nevada City, treatsnevadacity.com

Miabella Gelato for traditional gelato, Roseville, miabellagelato.com

Gunther’s Ice Cream for a taste of Sacramento’s history, Sacramento, gunthersicecream.com

Little Bliss Cakery for cupcakes, candy and ice cream, Granite Bay, littleblisscakery.com

Summer Playlist

Start out with three fantastic and unique versions of the same George Gershwin song “Summertime,” and see where the day takes you...

1. “Summertime”—Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
2. “Summertime”—The Zombies
3. “Summertime”—Janis Joplin with Big Brother & The Holding Company
4. “Summer in the City”—The Lovin’ Spoonful
5. “Panama”—Van Halen
6. “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark”—Fall Out Boy
7. “Party in the USA”—Miley Cyrus
8. “Cruel Summer”—Bananarama
9. “Summertime”—DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince
10. “Springsteen”—Eric Church

Fireworks at the Fourth of July Family Celebration

Photos courtesy of Cordova Community Council

SKIES  AGLOW

Summertime is Fourth of July time, and that’s when the night sky will erupt in sound and color with fantastic fireworks displays. Cal Expo is always at the top of the list for their huge display, starting at 9:30 p.m. on July 4 (part of their Independence Day Celebration, which begins at 6 p.m.); free admission and parking is $10. For more details, visit calexpo.com/events/sacramento-independence-day-celebration.

After every Friday and Saturday night River Cats home game at Raley Field, the hugely popular fireworks show will illuminate the night sky. Bring a group and enjoy the show all summer long!  

There’s loads of local displays too, so you can have your choice of aerial explosions: Roseville’s Fourth of July fireworks display follows a day of festivities at Royer Park and takes place at the Placer County Fairgrounds at 9:30 p.m., and at Auburn Family 4th celebrations at the Gold County Fairgrounds, festivities will begin at 3 p.m. and feature music by Foxtrot Mary, with fireworks at 9:40 p.m. For more details, visit auburnfamily4th.com.

The Folsom Pro Rodeo—running July 4-6—will have fireworks each night, as well as a spectacular July 4 display. For more details, visit folsomrodeo.com.

False Ravine Trail in Roseville

BREAK  A  SWEAT

Celebrate America’s independence with a scenic 5K run/walk or 10K run through Lake Natoma’s bike trails at the 5th Annual Folsom Firecracker on July 4. The 10K kicks off at 8 a.m. and the 5K at 8:15 a.m. To register, visit folsomfirecracker.com.

Active ladies, you need more mud in your life. Live out your childhood and play in the mud (with permission) at Muddy Mama on August 17 at the Placer County Fairgrounds. It’s go hard or go home—5 kilometers, 10 obstacles, lots of mud. It’s for women only, and it’s for charity. (Mud is good for the skin, fyi.) For more details, visit placercountyfair.org.

Leisure-wise and trail-wise, both Miner’s and False Ravine Trails in Roseville are roughly three miles one way and a perfect little oasis in the suburbs for a bit of summer exercise any time of day. Or, venture out onto the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, aka the American River Bike Trail. Take it all the way from Beal’s Point at Folsom Lake to downtown Sacramento (or vice versa), or pick it up anywhere along the way. Idle time on your hands? There’s no excuse for summer boredom with so many hiking and biking trails at our toes!

HAVE A FAVORITE SUMMER ACTIVITY THAT WE MISSED?
Leave it in the comments below for others to enjoy!