Hotel Accommodations
After careful consideration of the other hotels near our classroom in Old Sacramento, we’ve secured a room block at the Best Western Plus Sutter House for participants as it offered the most amenities for the best price. Sutter House is a very comfortable hotel that includes breakfast, wifi, parking, and a swimming pool. In addition, the hotel is located a short 5 min walk from major restaurants and evening activities. K Street is a hub for trendy restaurants and music! Once cohorts have been established, we will set up an email and Facebook group so that participants can coordinate roommates to help offset the cost.
Although Sutter House is not the closest location to our classroom, we simply could not replicate the combination of amenities and price at a closer establishment. Hotel prices have skyrocketed since Sacramento opened our new basketball arena, so we worked to find the best solution for participants. Sutter House is a short 10 block/0.9 mile walk on flat sidewalk to our classroom. Each morning HP staff will lead a group walk that typically takes 15-20 minutes. Past Summer Scholars have found this to be a pleasant start to their mornings: time to catch up with fellow participants in the crisp morning air, chat about their previous day, and get to know one another better. The walk is leisurely and Summer Scholars take it at their own pace. Other HP staff are also available for car rides every morning and afternoon for those that require them as we understand that sometimes a walk is not always welcome or possible.
We strongly encourage NEH Summer Scholars to stay at the designated hotel with your colleagues as a way to foster community. However there are other hotels and motels in the general vicinity so you are free to choose other accommodations.
Travel Recommendations
Old Sacramento and the host hotel are located less than 12 miles from the Sacramento Airport (SMF), about a 15-20 minute drive. Lyft/Uber (~$20) or Yolo Bus (~$2.25, routes 42A and 42B) are the cheapest and easiest options for getting to and from the Airport. We recommend communicating using the workshop’s Facebook page both before the workshop and during to work out carpools. Please note that all Friday flights should be after 4pm, do not count on an earlier flight.
The Amtrak station is about 2 blocks from Old Sacramento for those wishing to visit San Francisco before or after the workshop. If you fly in and out of the Bay Area, consider Oakland Airport instead of San Francisco Airport. It is located on local public transportation (BART). It is a small and easily accessible airport that often has cheaper flights.
