Active Pursuits in Sacramento

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.