Where to Play, Eat, and Stay in Redding, California’s Sunniest City

Things to do in Redding

Helicopter tours with Air Shasta

Air Shasta offers tailor-made helicopter tours highlighting some of Redding’s best attractions. Watching the stunning scenery unfold before you from the air is like opening a new present every few minutes. A tour may include views of iconic attractions such as the Sundial Bridge, the winding Sacramento River, the Shasta Bally mountain, and the famous three Shastas (Mount Shasta, Shasta Dam, and Lake Shasta).

The highlights tour is just one of many options for those eager to see Redding from an aerial perspective. Air Shasta can also create custom tours, such as heli-hiking to the Trinity Alps an hour northwest of Redding.

Air Shasta: 3770 Flight Ave, Redding, CA 96002

E-biking

Downtown Redding created a bike-friendly environment with dedicated bike lanes that provide e-bike access to disadvantaged groups while encouraging tourism. As a result, the Redding bike culture is thriving, all while reducing carbon emissions.

Visitors can take a leisurely guided e-bike tour with Shasta Living Streets along the Sacramento River, up to Shasta Dam, or customize their own tour. To encourage the use of bikes in the area, the Bike Depot, a gathering place with a restaurant, art murals by Mona Caron, and bike maintenance stations, is set to open in 2024.

Shasta Living Streets: 1313 California Street Redding, CA 96001

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area is a massive area that’s part of the National Park Service and has 70 miles of trails, four waterfalls, a visitor’s center, and a lake large enough for sailing. The City of Redding intentionally flooded Whiskeytown in 1962 after completing the Whiskeytown Dam. As a result, Whiskeytown Lake was created.

Popular activities on the pristine lake include fishing, boating, water skiing, and scuba diving to explore the remnants of the town below. Whiskeytown Lake also has a beach for those who prefer to admire the crystal-clear water from afar. The once lush area is starting to grow back after the devastating 2018 Carr fire.

Whiskeytown National Recreation Area: Whiskeytown, CA 96095

Lake Shasta Caverns tour

Above Lake Shasta is the Lake Shasta Caverns, a National Natural Landmark hiding 200 million year old stalagmites and stalactites. The rock formations are infused with crystals that sparkle in the light. The experience includes a 15-minute scenic ride across Lake Shasta, a bus ride up 800 feet to the entrance, and a walk through the caverns.

For the main attraction, visitors head through the tunnel entrance and ascend 621 stairs, gaining 200 feet in elevation to experience 38 different rock formations. The “cathedral” stands out with its floor-to-ceiling rock formations that shimmer in the light. The caverns do not take reservations, but you can reserve the cave for a private event.

Lake Shasta Caverns: 20359 Shasta Caverns Rd, Lakehead, CA 96051

Fly fishing

Forbes and Field & Stream magazines have named Redding one of North America’s top 10 trout-fishing towns because of the large blue-ribbon trout and steelhead in the area. To enhance the success of the fish, only cold water is released from Shasta Dam, which creates ideal fishing conditions.

Spend the day fly fishing on the lower Sacramento River with experts from The Fly Shop. The shop has been offering guided fly fishing tours in the area since 1978. Many guides grew up fly fishing in the area and are experts on the local conditions. As you float down the lower Sacramento River, you’ll pass under the Sundial Bridge, see numerous species of birds, and be surrounded by beautiful views.

The Fly Shop: 4140 Churn Creek Rd, Redding, CA 96002

Wine tasting at New Clairvaux Vineyard Tasting Room

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by New Clairvaux Vineyard (@newclairvauxvineyard)

The grapes grown at the New Clairvaux vineyard date back to a Spanish land grant in 1843. Trappist cistercian monks purchased some of that land and currently live and work on it. They take extreme pride in creating the highest quality grape to honor God.

New Clairvaux created a thriving partnership between the monks and Aimée Sunseri, a fifth-generation winemaker and viticulturist. Together, New Clairvaux won the 2023 coveted Golden Bear Award. Stop into New Clairvaux’s tasting room in downtown Redding and experience their award-winning wine.

New Clairvaux Vineyard Tasting Room: 1355 Butte St, Redding, CA 96001

Old Shasta

Devastated by two fires and the end of the Gold Rush era, Old Shasta remains from what was once a bustling area in the late 1840s and early 1850s. Today, visitors can see the outline of several old brick buildings, a courthouse, a cemetery, and a few stores.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Turtle Bay Exploration Park, located along the Sacramento River, pays homage to the native western pond turtles that inhabited the area through its namesake. The 300-acre family-friendly development includes a museum, botanical gardens, wildlife exhibits, and the Sundial Bridge. The park is designed to promote the natural and cultural history of the area, as well as provide an introduction to the Wintu Native American People.

A visit would not be complete without partaking in one of the behind the scenes wildlife experiences. Guests can meet and feed Timber, a 50-pound beaver. Figuratively speaking, Timber is a people person who’s happy to climb into your lap as you feed him kale and apples. Gucci, an opossum, is also available for a wildlife encounter.

Turtle Bay Exploration Park: 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, Redding, CA 96001

Redding Garden of Lights

During the holiday season, Turtle Bay’s McConnell Botanical Garden is transformed into a ray of colorful lights designed to delight every inner child. The 10-acre garden has over one million lights, creating a festive experience with dancing lights, holiday music, and hot chocolate. Don’t miss the glowing swings, VIP Igloos, light tunnels, photo pavilion, and fire pits where visitors can make s’mores.

McConnell Botanical Garden: 1125 Arboretum Dr, Redding, CA 96003

Sundial Bridge

The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay Exploration Park is the brainchild of Santigo Calatrava, a world-renowned Spanish architect and engineer who created a working sundial, a free-standing pedestrian bridge over the Sacramento River, and an art installation all in one project. The sundial works for several hours a day most of the year. Moving at one foot per minute, visitors can see the sundial in motion and enjoy art with a purpose.

Sundial Bridge: Sacramento River Trail, Redding, CA 96001

Downtown Redding

Downtown Redding is going through a massive revitalization without any signs of slowing down. The art, shopping, and food scenes are fully displayed as you wander the pedestrian-friendly area. One example of Redding’s commitment to the arts is a new mural project that extends throughout the city, showcasing Redding’s best features and serving as a sense of pride for the community. Visitors might also see a performance at the 999-seat Art Deco Cascade Theatre or stop in for a tour of the beautifully restored theater.

As shopping goes, Redding has an eclectic blend of stores. Whether you are in the mood to go back in time and shop at one of its vintage stores, like Friday’s Vintage Co., or explore the current trends at places like Carousel, there is a healthy mix of boutiques to visit. A day of shopping might also include a stop at Cask and Clever, a family- and women-owned business specializing in charcuterie boards and delicious cheeses; the Shop Around the Corner Books store; or the Juniper Stones Gallery, which offers consciously handpicked crystals, unique gifts, and tools to encourage positivity, healing, and harmony.

Where to eat in Redding

Lost Era

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Lost Era (@thelostera530)

Lost Era is a casual, unique restaurant based in an antique shop that takes a new approach to food and community. The menu consists of one entrée per day that’s thoughtfully planned and locally sourced. The result is mouthwatering food that the community eats together. The food is so delicious that Lost Era is working on a new menu concept for a nearby location.

Lost Era: 1350 Butte St, Redding, CA 96001

Evergreen

Evergreen has a dedicated following of locals enjoying its fresh roasted coffee, delicious food, and light atmosphere. The happening café is packed with those seeking their daily coffee fix of Feast, the in-house roasted coffee beans. Evergreen goes to great lengths to find farmers from around the world who meet its high standards for quality coffee beans, thereby developing strategic farming partnerships that add value to their loyal customers. At night, Evergreen becomes a dinner spot with rotating chefs trying out their newest recipes, taking a seasonal approach to food by working with local farmers to source the freshest ingredients.

Evergreen: 2085 Pine St, Redding, CA 96001

Nello’s Place

Entering Nello’s restaurant is like taking a step back in time. The old-school Italian restaurant serves delicious Italian food that maintains its traditional roots. One must-order dish is the Caesar salad for two. It’s rare to find a restaurant serving a tableside Caesar salad worth writing about, but Nello’s Place knocks it out of the park. The traditional Caesar salad is made with all the classic ingredients, including a raw egg and a dash or two of Tabasco. The menu continues to impress with calamari, pasta, steak, chicken, and fish dishes.

Nello’s Place: 3055 Bechelli Ln, Redding, CA 96002

Theory Coffee Roasters

A mainstay of Redding’s budding coffee culture is the award-winning coffee served at Theory Coffee Roasters. What started as a partnership between two friends roasting coffee as a hobby has quickly turned into a full-time business. At the core of Theory Coffee Roasters is a sense of community. The open space at the back of the coffee shop provides loyal customers with a place to relax with friends or open their laptops. To enhance the space, local artists display their paintings along the walls, and customers can dine on delicate pastries from Eden Bakery.

Theory Coffee Roasters: Various locations

Jack’s Bar and Grill

Jack Young wanted to create a place where hard workers could come after a hard day’s work and eat a substantial meal — specifically one-pound steaks. The barebones menu focuses on steak and potatoes but does offer a couple of non-meat dishes, such as fried prawns and chicken. However, you will not find dessert on the menu. Over the last 80 years, Jack’s Grill has held fast to the motto, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” — and, they are right, the steak is perfectly cooked. For history buffs, Jack’s Bar and Grill has a checkered past, including housing a brothel for a short time, and once being home to several bullet holes in the wall.

Jack’s Bar and Grill: 1743 California St, Redding, CA 96001

Branch House

Just inside Turtle Bay Exploration Park is Branch House, a grab-and-go coffee and light-bite restaurant during the day and a dinner spot at night. Branch House is excellent for those looking to grab a croissant or coffee while visiting the Sundial Bridge and Turtle Bay Exploration Park. At night, head back for dinner or enjoy Wine Down Wednesdays with live music, discounted wine and charcuterie boards, and a few additional menu options. If you opt for the grilled cheese (and you should), ask them to hold the kiddie toys.

Branch House: 844 Sundial Bridge Drive, Redding, CA 96001

Dill’s Deli & BBQ

Walking into Dill’s Deli, you will immediately notice that this is a popular no-frills local sandwich shop. Dill’s Deli & BBQ focuses on quality smoked barbeque and sandwiches. A few specialty sandwiches are the Dave Tappan, a hot pastrami sandwich complimented with Swiss cheese and served on a jalapeño focaccia bread; the Dirty Pig; and the Pig Vicious. Dill’s Deli also serves barbeque, including ribs, tri-tip, and barbeque chicken, as well as make-your-own deli concoctions. If you’re heading out on a hike or a fly fishing trip, Dill’s Deli & BBQ is the perfect place to pick up a sandwich to eat later in the day. If you are ordering to go, consider calling ahead to avoid the wait.

Dill’s Deli: 2167 5132 Caterpillar Rd, Redding, CA 96003

RAW

The idea behind RAW was to create a space where guests could enjoy quality sushi sourced from Japan and provide non-sushi options for those who prefer their food cooked. Instead of deterring non-sushi eaters, RAW does the opposite — it embraces them by offering dishes like chicken wings, pho, prime rib, and chicken and pork belly fettuccine. For sushi eaters, give the RAW roll a try. RAW’s visual focal point is the large bar along one of the walls of the restaurant. The 170-seat restaurant is open for lunch and dinner.

RAW: 2167 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA 96002

Damburger

Damburger is not just a restaurant but an institution. Starting in 1938, young Bud Pennington had the bright idea of selling smash burgers out of a tent at the Shasta Dam construction site. Based on its popularity, Damburger eventually moved to a brick-and-mortar location in downtown Redding. It’s been serving burgers (beef and now vegetarian), hotdogs, and french fries for over 80 years and remains extremely popular with locals. For those with a big appetite, opt for the triple burger with the works.

Damburger: 1320 Placer St, Redding, CA 96001

Mosaic Restaurant

Mosaic is a contemporary American restaurant at the Sheraton Hotel at the Sundial Bridge. Mosaic offers classic dishes like ribeye, carbonara, and pizza from the stone oven. The steak portions are on the small side, so you might want to start with the Brussels sprouts. On Monday nights, Mosaic has live music in the bar area and a small art gallery near the back of the restaurant. Mosaic also offers a small breakfast menu.

Mosaic: 826 Sundial Bridge Drive, Redding, CA 96001

Redding Market Place

The Redding Market Place will open in 2024 and is set to feature several restaurants, bars and breweries, and shops to explore. Once open, the Redding Market Place is anticipated to become a gathering place in downtown Redding for residents and locals to grab a bite to eat, have a drink, and relax with friends.

Where to Stay in Redding

Sheraton Redding Hotel

The Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge, Redding’s first four-star hotel, is one of the nicest hotels in town and is conveniently located next to the Sundial Bridge, the Sacramento River, and the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. It’s also less than a five-minute drive to downtown Redding. The LEED-certified hotel is committed to sustainability.

A stay at the Sheraton is an ideal home base while exploring Redding. The Sheraton also has a pool, spa, gym, fitness center, and on-site restaurant, Mosaic, which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pro tip: opt for a room with a view of the Turtle Bay Exploration Park.

Sheraton: 820 Sundial Bridge Drive, Redding, CA 96001

Evergreen

Evergreen has a little-known secret — above its buzzing coffee house are two suites available for guests to rent while in Redding. Locals know about the suites, but travelers may inadvertently overlook this option. Make your reservations early, especially in summer when the suites are consistently fully booked. An added benefit to staying at Evergreen is the ability to walk downstairs for a cup of Feast coffee or stay awhile like the locals and enjoy one of the delicious menu items like avocado toast or a waffle.

Evergreen: 2085 Pine St, Redding, CA 96001

Getting to and around Redding

Visitors can fly directly into Redding from cities such as Seattle, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The short flight and the small, one-gate regional airport makes getting to Redding a breeze. For those who prefer a road trip, Redding is about a four-hour drive north of San Francisco, a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Sacramento, and a three-and-a-half-hour drive northwest of Reno. Interstate 5 runs right through Redding, making it a natural stopover.

To get the most out of a visit while you’re there, you’ll want to rent a car to get out and explore the sprawling area. However, if you plan to spend most of your time in and around downtown Redding, you can take advantage of the bike share program and rent one of the electric bikes stationed throughout town.