The Sundial is one of the main attractions in Redding and is directly next to the Sheraton Hotel. There you can see the Sacramento River and take a nice stroll! There is also a coffee shop that is one of Alexa's favorites located at the entrance to the bridge.
May be closed when you are here, there is some maintenance happening. If it is open it’s a nice short trip!
Shasta Lake is a recreational lake and one of the main reservoirs in the Redding area. This lake does not allow non-motorized watercraft (ex. paddle boards, kayaks) but is still a beautiful area to check out! We recommend taking a tour of Shasta Dam (or doing a self-tour) if you are interested in history!
If you are looking to go to a beach or lounge on the lake on a paddle board or kayak then you will want to visit Whiskeytown Lake! This lake is another reservoir with an interesting history. Go to the visitor center or take a trip to one of the various marinas around the lake to enjoy the beach! The area surrounding the lake has many beautiful hikes that are worth checking out. If you plan to hike please make sure you bring plenty of water and sunscreen as it can get very hot in the sun! Whiskeytown also offers kayak rentals or guided tours (https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/274349)
Castle Crags is an one of our favorite hikes to do! It is about 2 miles long with a 2,000 ft elevation gain so come prepared with plenty of water and food. On the way up you will drive past Shasta Lake and will head towards the beautiful Shasta-Trinity Forest. If you go and make it to the top you will be greeted with a breathtaking view and the opportunity to see the peak of Mount Shasta! If you are not interested in a hike at that level then there are plenty of other hikes in the area that are well worth the trip!
North of Redding there are various hikes in this area!
If you decide to check out one of the state parks we HIGHLY recommend checking out Lassen Volcanic National Park! About 1 hour east of Redding, there are many ways to enjoy this park. You can visit Manzanita Lake for a relaxing picnic around the water, or take a drive through the park to see the breathtaking views. If you are interested in hiking we have done Bumpass Hell and Brokeoff Mountain. Bumpass Hell is a shorter trek that brings you to a group of sulfur springs that are out of this world. If you are not interested in a hard hike we recommend taking an hour or so to check this out! There will likely be crowds but you should have no problem navigating the trail with the extra people. Brokeoff Mountain is a much longer, harder hike but is well worth it if you want to see breathtaking views and have about a half of a day available. There are many other hikes in the park so check out the website!