With an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, Redding, which sits below the Oregon border in Northern California, has certainly earned its reputation as California’s sunniest city. During the summer, the city is teeming with outdoor adventure and is a great home base for exploring the region. Turtle Bay Exploration Park, a 300-acre cultural center located along the Sacramento River, features a museum with fascinating exhibits that includes wildlife, history, Native American heritage and more. Turtle Bay also has a program to house animals that can no longer survive in the wild with a habitat that includes porcupines, skunks, foxes, birds and other creatures that are able to interact with humans. The iconic Sundial Bridge, the world’s largest working sundial, is for pedestrians only and connects the park with the botanical gardens. Enjoy fly fishing, tubing and kayaking along the Sacramento River. Nearby Whiskeytown Lake, which has several beach areas, offers an array of activities, including sail or pontoon rentals as well as kayaks and paddle boards. Shasta Lake, about 20 minutes from downtown, is another recreational area for boating.
