Travelers heading north to Oregon on Highway 5 may think of Redding merely as a refueling pit stop. Others may recognize it as the county seat in the midst of Shasta’s recreation mecca, a region splashed with lakes and more than 200 miles of hiking and biking trails. Perhaps they’ve seen the city’s iconic Sundial Bridge, which stretches across the Sacramento River, one of the nation’s top trout fisheries. But not many people take time to explore Redding’s downtown core. Perhaps there hasn’t been much reason to do so — until now.
These formerly ho-hum blocks of mostly one-story buildings are undergoing a renaissance. There’s change and excitement in the air, and by summer, visitors will find many reasons — both cultural and culinary — to make Redding a vibrant destination, one worth several days to explore.
Downtown Redding has been brightened up by a mural project that has splashed color over many buildings. (Visit Redding)
Downtown Redding has been brightened up considerably in recent years by a mural project that has splashed color over many buildings, making it a pleasure for strolling pedestrians. Miles of new bike lanes have been built as part of the Shasta Living Streets project. Pedal-assisted bike rentals are everywhere. By summer, the Shasta Bike Depot, a full service, cycling-oriented nonprofit, will take it a step farther with a snazzy new complex centered around a courtyard restaurant framed by murals painted by internationally known artist Mona Caran. And an expanded network of trails hugs the Sacramento River and beyond.
Downtown Redding has undergone a renaissance of sorts with new restaurants, coffee houses and cultural attractions opening over the last several years and more on the way. (Visit Redding)
Modeled on iconic public markets around the world, the new Redding Market Center — which will open at 1551 Market St. this summer — will be a multi-story, indoor/outdoor gathering place showcasing artisan foods, craft cocktails, a restaurant, bakery, brewery, entertainment possibilities and fresh produce. Amanda and John Hutchings will open their third Redding outpost of Fall River Brewing here, and Bantam Kitchen will bring its burgers, po’boys and Cajun fare to the market this summer, too.
Miles of new bike lanes have been built in Redding as part of the Shasta Living Streets project, and pedal-assisted bike rentals are everywhere. (Photo: Shasta Living Streets, shastalivingstreets.org)
There are more new, noteworthy developments on the culinary front, too, including The Lost Era, an intriguing eatery-meets-antique shop housed in one of the city’s oldest brick buildings at 1350 Butte St. (It may be the only restaurant in the world where you’ll find an antique rifle in the ladies’ room.)
Owner Josh Mansfield has a bald and fully tattooed head, a long family history in Redding and a mission to rebuild community after COVD and a devastating 2018 wildfire caused extensive damage in the region, including destruction of his home and more than 1,000 others. The over-the-top menu changes daily — Instagram offers peeks at @thelostera530 — and when its gone, it’s gone. Locals and an increasing number of visitors have discovered the place, and Mansfield hopes to move into expanded quarters soon. (Do check out the antiques, while you’re there — and ask him about Lemurians.)
Crowds gather at Redding’s California Place for performances at the two-day Redding Roots Revival music festival. (Visit Redding)
A must-visit establishment for wine aficionados lies just across the street at 1551 Market St. It’s the first satellite tasting room for The Vineyard of New Clairvaux, a historic property in nearby Vina once owned by Leland Stanford. It’s now the home of a Trappist monastery centered around a rebuilt, 500-year-old Spanish abbey reconstructed in part from stones brought to San Francisco by William Randolph Hearst during the Depression. The story is fascinating, the wines award-winning and the tasting room welcomes walk-ins. Find details and tasting room hours at www.newclairvauxvineyard.com.
Into coffee? You’re in luck with two notable downtown roasters. Evergreen Café & Feast Coffee, which is open daily at 2085 Pine St., serves up every kind of coffee libation you can imagine — cappuccino, of course, but also Gibraltars and halvah lattes — along with an enticing breakfast menu. The Mediterranean avocado toast is a standout. Catch an Instagram glimpse @evergreen.rdd.
Miles of new bike lanes have been built in Redding, including downtown, as part of the Shasta Living Streets project. (Photo: Shasta Living Streets, shastalivingstreets.org) NOTE: For use only in travel stories about Redding, California, its bike trails and downtown revitalization
And Theory Coffee Roasters, which is open daily at 1250 California St., supplements its coffee drinks with fresh bakery items including croissants, kouign amman and other buttery, sweet and savory options. Instagram offers sneak peeks of this one, too, @theorycoffeeroasters/
Picture-perfect sushi, anyone? Redding’s RAW sushi bar opened in 2022 and serves up share-plate dishes that are almost too pretty to eat. It’s open daily for lunch and dinner at 2167 Hilltop Drive; https://reddingraw.com.
With your dining and sipping needs planned out, it’s time to head outside for some classic Redding attractions starting with the Sundial Bridge, of course. It’s the icon of Redding, a gorgeous pedestrian span over theSacramento River designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava with a 217-foot tall gnomon. Yes, you can tell time with it, but it’s also a great spot to watch fishing boats, kayaks and tubers float by.
Redding sits astride the Sacramento River in the heart of Shasta’s recreational region. (Getty Images)
The botanical gardens on the far side of the bridge are beautiful and worth exploring. On the near side, the paved Sacramento River Bike Trail runs 17.4 miles to Shasta Dam. The bridge turns 20 this year, with big celebrations planned in early July.
The museum and interpretive center ($16-$20) at Turtle Bay Exploration Park, adjacent to the bridge, provide insight on the natural history of the river and the region. Find details on the museum and grounds, which are open Wednesday-Sunday, at www.turtlebay.org. There’s convenient lodging adjacent to the bridge at the Redding Sheraton Hotel, as well as hotels and revamped mid-century motor inns, like the Americana Modern, which opened in 2019 following major renovations, just a few blocks away.
A Great Egret explores the watery sights of Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding. (Getty Images)
You shouldn’t go to Redding without setting eyes on the “Three Shastas” — Shasta Dam, Shasta Lake and Mount Shasta. At 602 feet high and 3,460 feet long, Shasta Dam is a wonder to behold. Tours inside the dam and power plant are not available, but you can walk or bike across the top from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. And the Shasta Dam Visitor Center offers guided walks on weekdays from May 7 through Labor Day by reservation.
The dam holds back Shasta Lake, California’s largest reservoir and the biggest houseboating destination in the state, with multiple marinas providing everything from pontoon boats to vessels sleeping 10 and more (most of them dog-friendly, by the way).
The Shasta Dam forms Lake Shasta, a recreational playground for boating and watersports. (Visit Redding)
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Towering 14,180-foot Mount Shasta, an always-looming presence in the background, is about an hour away but worth the trip. Start in Shasta City, a center for climbing outfitters — and New Age purveyors of crystals and such tied to spiritual aspects of the mountain. (Be sure to inquire about the Lemurians, mythical beings some believe live inside the mountain). Depending on the weather, you can drive more than halfway up for incredible views and snow hikes even in midsummer.
There’s a fourth Shasta attraction you won’t want to miss. Lake Shasta Caverns is a place of underground magic. Guided visits ($16-$42) start with a boat cruise across the lake, followed by a bus ride to the limestone cavern entrance 900 feet above the water. It’s pretty spectacular inside, decorated with stone draperies, stalagtites and stalagmites dotted with crystals. Find details at www.lakeshastacaverns.com.
A visit to Lake Shasta Caverns starts with a catamaran cruise across the lake, then a bus ride to the cavern entrance 800 feet above the water. (Visit Redding)
Whiskeytown Lake is a popular spring and summer destination for hiking, swimming, boating and waterfalls. And then there’s the river itself, a magnet for avid anglers. Your source for lessons and excursions is Redding’s The Fly Shop, famous in its own right for four decades. It’s open daily at 4140 Churn Creek Road in Redding; www.theflyshop.com.
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