Redding
Dazzles with Expanded Horizons
Redding, California --
To plan your Redding vacation, contact the Shasta Cascade Wonderland
Association at www.shastacascade.org
Dazzling Redding, the gateway to 600,000-year-old volcanic peaks and the
spectacular pedestrian-friendly Sundial Bridge is a destination who's time
has come. The largest city between Sacramento and Eugene, Oregon spent more
than 10 years and $60 million creating Turtle Bay Exploration
Park with its "gotta-see-it-to-believe-it" bridge which tells time by
casting shadows. A spire marks the hours of the day on the summer
solstice, its shadow moving about a foot each minute.
The beguiling
bridge "that invites people to linger by the river, to open their eyes to
the water and the sky," according famed architect Santiago Calatrava,
captivates curious travelers passing by on Interstate 5 Highway. For those
living 700 miles south in the Los Angeles basin, however, it's a race
against the clock to get to Redding on a weekend trip, with barely enough
time to see the Sundial Bridge—until now. Thanks to Horizon Air's affordable
daily flights from LAX to Redding
Municipal Airport, Southern Californians suddenly
have access to this Northern California paradise with a bridge some predict
will become the next great icon, second only to San Francisco's Golden Gate
Bridge.
The unique $23 million Sacramento River bridge and
new McConnell
Arboretum delightfully showcase what tourists love most about a city
surrounded by untouched forests, “sleeping” volcanoes and massive Shasta Dam.
Its natural beauty floods the senses with intoxicating fragrances, sights and sounds,
making Redding the perfect home base for exploring the Shasta Cascade
'Wonderland' with
family, friends or by yourself.
While
Shasta Cascade region actually encompasses thousands of miles of roads, more
than 10 of its spectacular attractions are within a two-hour drive of
Redding. A boat ride to California's largest caves, hike past bubbling
mud pots of a massive volcano and a trip down a 43-story elevator
to view the largest manmade waterfall in the world are several you won't
want to miss. It's possible
to see most of them in a weekend but preferable to take your time to explore. Once
you hop in a rental car and drive along America's Scenic Byway surrounded by
breath-taking forests, snow-capped mountains and pristine streams, you know
you'll be back. The magic of this wonderland is unforgettable—and addictive.
Grab it!
Horizon
Air offers roundtrip flights (based on availability) from the LAX to
Redding for around $238. You have to book ahead to get this rate so don't
hesitate. The new service began in the Spring 2005 and is extremely popular.
http://horizonair.alaskaair.com
FOR
MORE INFORMATION:
Redding Convention and
Visitors Bureau, 777 Auditorium Drive Redding, CA 96001. Phone: 800-874-7562
www.visitredding.org
Shasta Cascade,
contact California Welcome Center, Anderson,
1699 Highway 273, Anderson, CA 96007. Telephone: 530-365-1180
www.shastacascade.org
ATTRACTIONS:
Sundial Bridge—The
Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay Exposition Park crosses the Sacramento River in
the heart of Redding, California. The bridge links the
north and south campuses of Turtle Bay Exploration Park and serves as a new
downtown entrance for Redding's extensive Sacramento River Trail system.
Grand opening: July 4, 2004. Architect: Santiago Calatrava. Construction: A 217-foot-tall spire anchors
14 cables that bear the bridge's weight, ultimately transferring 3 million
pounds of pressure to a single 14-inch ball bearing set atop foundation
piers anchored 45 feet deep. Design: A single pylon is tall enough to
cantilever 80 percent of the bridge from the north bank of the river.
Nonskid, green glass decking allows soft light to fall on the river below.
Pedestrian traffic and bicycles are permitted on the bridge. Location: 840
Auditorium Drive Redding, CA 96001. Directions: From 1-5, take State 44 west
1 mile to Auditorium Dr. and go north a block to the park. Cost: Admission is free.
Turtle Bay
Exploration Park— Turtle
Bay Exploration Park is a 300-acre exploration park on the Sacramento River.
Turtle Bay tells the story of the region and its people through wildlife
exhibits, gardens, trails, a museum and more. Attractions include McConnell
Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, Turtle Bay
Museum, Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp, Historical Railroad Exhibits, Monolith,
Butterfly House and Café at Turtle Bay. Address: Turtle Bay
Exploration Park, 840 Auditorium Drive Redding, CA 96001 Call:
1-800-TURTLEBAY (1-800-887-8532) or 530-243-8850.turtlebay.org
McConnell Arboretum—The
newest addition to Turtle Bay Exploration Park extends over 200 acres and is
comprised of 20 acres of Mediterranean climate display gardens, a children's
garden, a medicinal garden, and two beautiful and unique water features.
Address: Turtle Bay Exploration Park, 840 Auditorium Drive Redding, CA
96001 Call: 1-800-TURTLEBAY (1-800-887-8532) or 530-243-8850. turtlebay.org
Lassen Volcanic National Park—with
a volcano that last erupted in 1915, you can still see bubbling mud pots and
hissing steam vents on the trail to the summit. The two hour moderate trek
provides views of a turbulent and fiery past. The park encompasses 165
square miles of the 2,000 square miles of the Lassen National Forest. Mt.
Lassen last erupted in 1915. Park attractions include 50 lakes, Lassen Peak
(10,457 feet), hot sulphur springs, beautiful waterfalls, and numerous signs
of geothermal activity. Park facilities include six campgrounds, picnic
areas and cross country skiing. Location: 50 miles (approx.) east of Redding
on Highway 44. Automobiles are charged $10 for a 7-day pass with tent
camping fees ranging from $10 to 30 per night for individuals and small
groups. For reservations call (877) 444-6777.
Shasta Dam—on
the Sacramento River near Redding, California, is the second largest dam in
mass in the United States (Grand Coulee on the Columbia River in Washington
State is the largest). Shasta Dam is a curved concrete gravity-type dam with 6.5
million cubic yards of concrete weighing 15 million tons. The dam is 602
feet high. Construction of
the dam started in 1938 and ended in 1945. The spillway is 487 feet
long--the largest manmade waterfall in the world (three times the height of
Niagara Falls). Tours are offered daily. Cameras and
videotaping are prohibited on the tour and guests are asked to leave all
personal items in their car. The tour
lasts 45 minutes, taking visitors down a 174-foot or 43-story elevator out to the spillway
area. Inside views of the power plant are included. The Visitor Center is
open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact the Shasta Dam Visitor Center at
530-275-4463.
Shasta Lake—Shasta
Lake has the largest commercial houseboat fleet in the world, with more than
400 available for rent.
View the three Shastas—Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake, and Mt. Shasta—from a
houseboat on spectacular Shasta Lake. Over 370 miles of shoreline await your
exploration. Majestic mountains and towering evergreens make for memorable
vacations and vacation pictures. Shasta Marina Resort Call Toll Free
1-800-959-3359 www.shastalake.net or Houseboats.com. Phone: 877-HOUSEBOAT
(877-468-7326)
Shasta State Historic Park—six
miles west of Redding on Highway 299, the park features a museum with
relics from the 1840s gold rush era, including one of the finest
collections of early California paintings.
Located in Shasta City, the northern gold
mining district of the California Gold Rush, ruins, cottages, cemeteries and
well-preserved red brick buildings of
this 1800s community include a general store and a courthouse, complete
with a jail where three men were hanged from the gallows. The County
Courthouse is restored to its 1861 appearance, the year it was converted to
Shasta County Courthouse. Today the building is filled with historical
exhibits, and an unparalleled collection of historic California Artwork that
make it the central figure of Shasta State Historic Park. Courthouse Museum
is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sundays, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Recorded Message:
530-243-8194.
Whiskeytown Lake—Whiskeytown Lake
provides 36 miles of shoreline and 3,200 surface acres of water, and is
excellent for most water-related activities including swimming, boating,
water skiing, fishing and scuba diving. Personal Watercraft are prohibited
on Whiskeytown Lake but are still allowed on Shasta and Trinity Lakes.
Whiskeytown Lake has become a popular area for kayaking, long distance
swimming and rowing. Ranger guided programs are offered during the summer
months and include free kayak tours! Operated by the National
Park Service, there’s great hiking in forests that include extensive
trails, sandy beaches, marinas, camping and boating. Auto fee is $5 per
day. Mailing address: Whiskeytown NRA, 14412 Kennedy Memorial Drive,
Whiskeytown, CA 96095. Telephone (Headquarters): 530 242-3400 / Visitor
Information (Daily 10am - 4pm) Telephone: 530 246-1225.
Lake
Shasta Caverns—
Take a cruise across Shasta Lake, then ride a scenic bus through Grey-Rock
Mountain forest to the Cavern Entrance for a guided tour. See
spectacular limestone formations inside caves filled with living,
calcite crystal formations. Cost: $20 (approx.) Location: 1.5 miles east of
I-5 at O'Brien/Lake Shasta Caverns Rd. exit. Open daily. Phone: 800-795-CAVE lakeshastacaverns.com
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park—With
910 acres of forest and five miles of hiking trails, the park's centerpiece is the 129-foot Burney Falls,
where water flows at 100 million gallons every day. The park is within the
Cascade Range and Modoc Plateau natural region, created by volcanic activity
as well as erosion from weather and streams. This volcanic region is
surrounded by mountain peaks and is covered by black volcanic rock, or
basalt. Created over a million years ago, the layered, porous basalt retains
rainwater and snow melt, which forms a large underground reservoir. Burney
Falls was named after pioneer settler Samuel Burney who lived in the area in
the 1850s. The McArthurs were pioneer settlers who arrived in the late
1800s. Descendants were responsible for saving the waterfall and nearby land
from development. The
park is northeast of Redding, six miles north of Highway 299 on Highway 89
near Burney. Cost: Fee charged for entry. Telephone: 530-335-2777.
GREAT FOOD:
Buz's Crab Seafood
Market, Restaurant & Deli, one of America's top rated diners, includes
fresh fish entrees with quality you'd expect at the finest
restaurants. The big surprise at Buz's Crab is the bill. Enjoy a casual,
unpretentious atmosphere and pay much less than upscale restaurants serving
comparable selections. We tried the fresh Salmon and it was the best we've
ever had! Buz's
Crab Stand, Seafood Market & Deli. Crab, lobster, and wild Pacific salmon
are the highlights of this all-seafood restaurant. Lunch and dinner are
served daily. Location: 2159 East St., Redding, CA. Telephone: 530-243-2120.
www.buzscrab.com
ACCOMMODATIONS: Oxford Suites features two room suites with two televisions, a small living room, sofa,
table and chairs, high speed internet access and a food preparation area
with a refrigerator and microwave oven. Expect a neat, comfortable bed, strong shower head and ice machines
outside your door. Cocktail receptions daily include two free alcoholic
beverages, plus a light breakfast buffet with fruits, cereal and usually
something hot. Coffee and tea are available all day in a self serve area. Oxford Suites also offers movie rentals
in a small gift shop, a functional exercise room with treadmills and
several weight training machines, plus an outdoor heated pool and
separate spa. A few yards away at the perimeter of the hotel property
are Marie Callenders and Logan's Roadhouse Steaks, Ribs and Spirits.
Oxford Suites, 1967 Hilltop Dr., Redding, CA Telephone: 530-221-0100 /
800-762-0133 www.oxfordsuites.com
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