Activities to Do With Kids in Redding, California

The small city of Redding, California offers a number of family-friendly attractions. The Northern California climate lends itself to year-round outdoor activities, although summers can be extremely hot. And visitors will find downhill skiing just an hour away at Mt. Shasta. Shasta, a historic gold-mining town, is five minutes from Redding, while Shasta Dam, the second largest dam in the country, is 10 minutes farther.

  1. Waterpark

    • The tropical-themed Waterworks Park, open Memorial Day to Labor Day, is particularly welcome in the heat of summer since Redding's average temperature in July and August is 100 degrees. The kiddie water playground features shallow water, fountains and sprays and small slides. Thrill rides include the Awesome Avalanche where you drop off a "cliff," the Corkscrew Flash Flood Slide, with three separate flumes, and the whitewater Raging River Tube Ride. The whole family can enjoy the Lazy River ride.

    Lake

    • For natural-water thrills, head to Lake Shasta, where you can water-ski, wake-board, wake-skate, knee-board, parasail or just swim. The average summer water temperature is 77 degrees. The lake, one of California's largest reservoirs, offers 370 miles of shoreline, with picnicking along the shore. Lake Shasta is surrounded by family-friendly flat biking and hiking trails. Anglers can catch trout, salmon, catfish, crappie and bass.

    Cave Tours

    • Shasta Caverns, 17 miles north of Redding, offers a two-hour guided tour. The family-friendly tour includes a bus and boat ride, along with an hour-long cavern tour. Tours run year-round. On the catamaran ride, learn about the geography of the area. You can spot wildlife such as bald eagles, ospreys, mountain lions, bobcats, black bears and deer on the ride to the cave. In the cave, you might see the rare spotted Shasta salamander, which is on the threatened species list.

    Exploration Park

    • Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which focuses on people and their environment, has indoor and outdoor attractions. Explore the interactive exhibits in Turtle Bay Museum where you can experiment with scientific equipment and watch fish underwater. In Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp, see animals and make a leaf rubbing. McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens has a hands-on children's garden and 20 acres of Mediterranean display gardens. Rent bikes (kids' sizes as well) and bike the paved Sacramento River Trail.

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