Family Fun Activities in Redding

Looking for one more summer getaway? Planning ahead for next year? If you live in California, a stay in the state’s northern town of Redding might just suit you. Redding, a mere two-hour drive north from the state capital, Sacramento, or a longer 3-hour journey east from Eureka, is nestled within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The city offers a variety of activities and is close to other state wonders. I can recommend three activities to fill a short-stay in this little town.

Accomodations

We stayed at the Redding Travelodge, which received AAA’s 3-diamond rating. It is a basic motel with outdoor pool, indoor spa, wireless Internet and friendly staff. Upon check-in you will also receive vouchers for breakfast at the Miner’s Café, just steps from your room. Children can choose from a muffin, Danish or cold cereal. Enough for the under-8 crowd, but your older ones will want to add more to their meal. This isn’t a problem as the prices are quite reasonable. It is also a popular haunt with the locals.

Once you’ve settled in your room, you will want to plan your stay in the area. Your choices depend on whether you are traveling with or without children. Since I was traveling with two kids (9 and 12), our excursions were family-oriented.

Natural Wonder

Since Redding is right within Shasta-Trinity National Forest, you have many choices for small hikes or overnight campouts. Our favorite was the Whiskeytown Lake just off of 299 West from Redding’s Market Street. Look for a turn-off to OakBottom Lake on your left. This will take you to the North end of the lake where you can find camp sites, parking and a sweet beach with clean bathrooms. There is a concession stand there, but this year, apparently, they decided not to open. It’s always better to pack your own picnic for a day at the beach anyway.

This mountain lake is shallow enough several feet out for little ones to play in. However, I would recommend water shoes as the shore and beach are filled with small stones. Swimmers and floaters can enjoy lots of fun going from shore to shore or out to the rope line (which keeps boats out). This inlet is surrounded by Oak Trees, providing easy trails for a light hike to warm you up before a dip in the cool lake. Don’t forget to stop at the parking lot entrance to pay for day use ($5).

Local Wonder

No one’s stay in Redding is complete without a stroll across the Sundial Bridge in Turtle Bay. World-renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed this bridge, his first free-standing bridge in the U.S. This amazing structure stretches across the Sacramento River without touching it or disturbing the local salmon.

The bridge, dedicated in 2004, sits right in the middle of Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The park is an environmental education facility for the public. Locals enjoy classes, but tourists can enjoy a day visit to the park’s museum, gardens and exhibits.

The museum hosts several interactive exhibits, including an amazing underwater fish viewing display. Not quite as impressive as Monterey Bay Aquarium (several hundred miles south of Redding), but equally as educational.

You could spend an entire day at Turtle Bay. But, pack a nice picnic; café prices may not be reasonable enough after paying the $12 (13 and up) and $7 (12 and under) admission to the park.

Local Fun

After spending your cash at the beautiful Turtle Bay Exploration Park, your family deserves some good, clean, cheap fun. Straight down the road from the Arboretum, across Market Street and up Quartzhill Drive you will find the Redding Aquatic Center. This is not just a swimming pool for the local Recreation Center. This is a mini-water park in itself.

For $2, you can spend a day or a few hours hanging out at pool side while your younger ones take ride after ride down the winding water slide. The little tykes can splash and play for hours in the wading pool deep play structure that shoots and sprays and drips water, water, water! (Besides, the 3 and under crowd are free.)

The snack bar offers all the usual. Bathrooms are clean. Life guards are plenty and polite. There is a high dive and low dive over Olympic-size pool for lap swims. Check out their website for more detailed information.

In a state as diverse and wondrous as California, it’s always nice to find new vacation spots that thrill and awe each family member. Redding is one for our books! Search for my other article on Redding’s WaterWorks water park.