:hi: Welcome, nice trip! Please Google up Davis, it's a great little College town, Cheaper and Prettier than Emeryville or Sacramento( most Underwhelming Big City in North America), great Old SP Station and a neat Bakery right beside the Station for a Start the Day Right Breakfast! You would catch the Zephyr in the Morning after a nights sleep and be ready for the Beautiful Scenery thru the Sierras between Sacramento and Reno!
As was said, it's NOT recommended to take the Inland Route on a Bus and the San Joaquin Train between LAX and the Bay Area!! The Starlight is the Way to Roll!
Would you explain a bit more your animus regarding Sacramento?
Do you not think Old Town Sacramento is worthy of a visit, in particular the State Railroad Museum, one of the finest such facilities in the nation?
The Sutter Fort is not a recreated Disneyland but the actual site where Sutter had his mill and learned of the discovery of gold, with terrific historical displays and hands-on activities for adults and children.
The State Capitol grounds are the envy of most states, and the Capitol itself is certainly more in keeping with the ideas of democracy and self government than the overbuilt, over-wrought monument to excess that is called the Texas State Capitol!
The Crocker Art Museum ranks among the finest regional art facilities in the US and not only has beautiful architecture but is in a prime park locale befitting an arts building.
Sacramento has one of the finest and longest bike and jogging paths in the nation, more than 30 miles along the Sacramento and American rivers.
It has a well-regarded light-rail and bus system.
The airport is convenient, easy to navigate and well-run.
And I don't even live there!!