Redding

The city of Redding is ideally situated to serve as a home base to visit several area natural wonders, including Lassen Volcanic National Park, McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park, and Whiskeytown Lake. But this leafy urban center also harbors surprising gems within its city limits. Discover a buzzing downtown packed with brewpubs and bistros, tour an amazing eco-museum on the Sacramento River, catch a concert at an art deco theater, and explore an extensive trail system. Plus, you can play outside all year long because Redding boasts more than 300 days of sunshine.

Where Is Redding? 

Redding sits in the northern reaches of California's Sacramento Valley, roughly 160 miles north of Sacramento and about 220 miles north of San Francisco, right along Interstate 5. It serves as the largest city in the Shasta Cascade region and a natural gateway to Northern California's mountains and volcanic landscapes, with Mt. Shasta about an hour's drive north, Lassen Volcanic National Park roughly an hour east, and the Oregon border just under two hours away. The Sacramento River runs directly through downtown, and the city sits at an elevation of around 495 feet, tucked between the northern end of the Central Valley and the surrounding foothills of the Cascade and Klamath mountain ranges.

What to Do in Redding

Topping Redding's must-see list is Turtle Bay Exploration Park, a 300-acre venue featuring a glass-and-wood eco-museum, arboretum, and seasonal butterfly garden that blend seamlessly with the Sacramento River's ecosystem. Exhibits designed for all ages let you look into a golden eagle's eyes, get close-up with a porcupine, and walk into an aviary filled with Australian lorikeets, one of the world's most colorful birds (don't be surprised if they land on your head).

Outside the museum, traipse across the 710-foot-long Sundial Bridge, part engineering marvel and part art installation. Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the pedestrian bridge's 218-foot-high "mast" casts a shadow during daylight hours, creating an artistic timekeeping device. After dark, the bridge's translucent glass floor glows a cool aquamarine.

Time your trip so you can catch a show at the 1935 Cascade Theatre, an art deco marvel. The 950-seat performing arts venue hosts musicians like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jim Messina. After the show, cross the street to Vintage Public House for a nightcap and dessert.

MORE: 5 Great Outdoor Adventures Near Redding

Family Fun in Redding

Traveling with energetic kids? Let them bounce around at Rare Air Trampoline Park or climb the walls at Shasta Rock Club. Or take them on a California history field-trip to Shasta State Historic Park. In the 1850s, this was the queen city of California’s northern mining district, with hotels, stores, and saloons in the largest row of brick buildings north of San Francisco.

The whole family can explore Redding by bike. With more than 200 miles of trails within a 15-mile radius, Redding has earned its nickname as "Trails Capital of California." The city's showpiece is the 17.5-mile-long Sacramento River Trail, a scenic, paved path that winds for miles along the riverbank, welcoming walkers, cyclists, runners, and wheelchair users alike, all free of charge. The trail's centerpiece is the aforementioned Sundial Bridge; from there, the trail connects to Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Caldwell Park, and the McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, with routes stretching all the way to Keswick Dam for quieter canyon views, and a chance to spot deer, river otters, and eagles.  (Bring your own wheels or rent them at Redding Sports Ltd or Pedego Electric Bikes.) The colder months bring a whole different set of family-friendly outdoor winter activities, from skiing and snowboarding to snowshoeing, sledding, and snowmobiling.

MORE: Explore Mt. Shasta’s Spiritual Side

Where to Eat in Redding

Redding's up-and-coming restaurant scene has lured top chefs from across the country. Sample the city's culinary prowess under the lofty ceiling at Mosaic Restaurant. Located on the Turtle Bay campus, this chic spot serves a modern bistro-style menu three meals a day (dinner entrées include Chilean sea bass, seared duck breast, and pancetta-wrapped salmon). On warm evenings, dine under the tree-shaded patio, then take an evening walk across the Sundial Bridge.

In Redding's revitalized downtown, Market Street Blade & Barrel specializes in American steakhouse classics: New York strip, French onion soup, and beef carpaccio. With views overlooking the Sacramento River, DeVine serves classic Italian cuisine from various regions; another Italian option is the landmark Nello's Place. 

Coffee, Breweries, and Wine Tasting in Redding

While you're sampling Redding's culinary culture, check out its award-winning beverages, too. Caffeinate your morning at Theory Coffee Roasters, which has earned high honors as one of North America's most acclaimed coffee roasters. 

Sip artisan suds at Fall River Brewing Company, a top competitor at the Great American Beer Festival, and Final Draft Brewing Company, where signature brews are paired with a tempting menu of pub food. 

Wine lovers will need to check out the downtown Redding tasting room of New Clairvaux Vineyard, a historic winery located about an hour away and run by a community of Trappist-Cistercian monks and a fifth-generation winemaker. Named 2023’s “Golden State Winery of the Year” in the California State Fair's Commercial Wine Competition, the Vina vineyard produces several varieties of rosés as well as wines made with more unusual varietals such as Trebbiano, Assyrtiko, and sparkling Bollicine.

MORE: Dunsmuir

Where to Stay in Redding

Choose among the quirky, the charming, and the tried-and-true for your overnight stay. Reserve a room with a picture-perfect view of the Sacramento River at the hilltop Hilton Garden Inn Redding, or sleep in nostalgic 1960s style at Thunderbird Lodge, a modern roadside hotel in downtown Redding. The pet-friendly Americana Modern Hotel offers sleek rooms in the midst of Redding's bustling central district. For an eco-chic stay, book a room at the LEED-certified Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge, which offers easy access to Turtle Bay Exploration Park, the Cascade Theater, and downtown restaurants.

Wellness in Redding

After a day of adventure, relax at Capturing the Essence Salt Cave, a unique Redding wellness destination across from the Redding Public Market. The family can experience halotherapy (dry salt therapy) in a Himalayan salt-designed cave, along with vibroacoustic therapy, infrared sauna, and massage, plus browse the health-conscious retail shop featuring unique wellness products and natural gifts. For a different kind of reset, head to Rose Mountain Sanctuary, where couples massages, holistic gua sha facials, and Japanese head spa treatments come paired with panoramic views of the Sacramento River, making it easy to unwind with the same scenery you spent the day exploring.

Dog-Friendly Redding

Few places in California are as dog-friendly as Redding. The city offers not only dozens of pet-welcoming restaurants and hotels, but also hosts annual events that celebrate four-legged companions. The Doggie Dash 5K Fun Run & Community Fair invites families and their pups to race together, with prizes for the best-dressed pets. Meanwhile, NorCal Golden Palooza draws golden retriever enthusiasts from across the region for parades, costume contests, and canine camaraderie.

Things to Do Near Redding

Unsurprisingly, there is a lot to do in the great outdoors that surrounds Redding. Make the city your base camp while you set out to discover nearby Whiskeytown National Recreation Area where you can visit three waterfalls, including Whiskeytown Falls, Crystal Creek Falls, and Brandy Creek Falls, as well as hike scenic trails as well as have some fun on the water on its namesake crystal-clear lake.

Water sports, camping, and fishing rule the day at Shasta Lake, while mountain bikers flock to Swasey Recreational Area. Lassen Volcanic National Park—less than an hour’s drive away—offers the chance to walk amidst boiling mudpots on a raised boardwalk, and MacArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park also offers a singular experience: the 129-foot Burney Falls, nicknamed the eighth wonder of the world. 

If those waterfalls aren’t enough, from Redding you can head out on a chasing waterfalls road trip which will lead you to five of the state’s most impressive falls. 

For more ideas, check out How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Shasta Cascade and this Shasta Cascade Road Trip.