Bicycling -- One good thing about a town that's as flat as a tortilla: It's perfect for exploring on a bike. One of the best places to ride is Old Sacramento, along the paved 32-mile American River Parkway, through town. If you didn't bring your own wheels, the friendly guys at City Bicycle Works, 2419 K St., at 24th Street (tel. 916/447-2453; www.citybicycleworks.com), will rent you one for $5 to $10 an hour or $20 to $40 a day.

River Rafting -- Sacramento lies at the confluence of the American and Sacramento rivers, and rafting on the clear blue water of the American is popular, especially on warm weekends. Several Sacramento-area outfitters, such as American River Raft Rentals, 11257 S. Bridge St. (at Sunrise Ave.), Rancho Cordova (tel. 888/338-RAFT [7238] or 916/635-6400; www.raftrentals.com), rent rafts for 4 to 15 persons, along with life jackets and paddles for $12 to $24 per person. Their shuttles drop you upstream and meet you 3 to 4 hours later at a predetermined point downstream.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.