Firehouse Aly, Old Sacramento

If you visit Old Sacramento and neglect to walk down Firehouse Alley that parallels Front Street and 2nd Street but is faced by the backs of bars and clubs, you will have missed an important piece of the puzzle that explains Sacramento's allure to young people.

Firehouse Alley is predominately used by workers from the businesses operating along Front Street and 2nd Street in Old Sac. The street transforms at night, however, into a boisterous alley filled with the young and the young at heart as they mill around the enterance to their night clubs and the back patios of bars. Those who are going to cause trouble seem to leave this area alone, luckily, as most people who frequent the bars and clubs are having a good time and there is a significant security presence at either end of the alley during heavy use periods.

As with all Sacramento night-life, Firehouse Alley clears out quickly after the clubs close and there's not much in the way of housing in Old Sac so most people get into their cars and leave the area quiet for the workers to clean up and close down.

I'd highly recommend visiting Old Sac if you are in Sacramento and have a couple of free hours downtown.

Check out Firehouse Alley if you are looking for a good bar-hopping experience one weekend night in Sacramento.