Northern California Dreamin'

I wasn’t expecting much in terms of hotel "creature comforts" when I pulled off U.S. Highway I5 after an exhausting drive – in relentless rain -- from Sacramento. I steeled myself for the worst, but was pleasantly surprised by the Red Lion Inn at 1830 Hilltop Drive in Redding, California.

The staff was friendly and efficient. There was a large bowl of Washington State apples sitting on the front desk, complimentary for us guests. The computer-card room key also opened the various lobby doors in this sprawling, two-story motel complex -- a nice touch for women who may be traveling alone, as I was. There is ample parking. The spacious room (which I got at the government rate of $76 per night) featured updated furnishings, was absolutely clean, and had a coffeemaker in the large bathroom with your choice of caffeinated or decaf – also complimentary. There was a full-sized ironing board with an iron hanging on the wall in a discreet closet next to the bathroom. Of course, there was the usual cable TV and clock radio – both in working condition (I haven’t been so lucky in other motels). The only negative to the accommodations was the fact that all the bathrooms in this hotel have showers only – no bathtubs to soak in after a long drive on I5. However, the shower stall was amazingly roomy, clean and FREE OF MOLD! (I haven’t been so lucky in other motels).

Even though it was the off-season, I saw a number of families with kids among the other guests. The Red Lion is kid-friendly – there are video-game machines, as well as vending machines, in the hallways, which (as noted above) can only be accessed by guests with room keys. (Yes, it’s possible for a non-guest to walk around the front desk in the main lobby and make his/her way to a hallway – but not without being seen by staff at the front desk. I was impressed by the security in this hotel, considering that Redding is a small tow.)

There is a restaurant off the main lobby – again, I wasn’t expecting much, considering it was off-season. Prices on the menu seemed moderate. I ordered the Alaskan halibut – the meal was excellent! As good as any you could find in San Francisco. The restaurant was tastefully decorated, and the staff was friendly and accommodating.

One other thing: after checking out and driving down to San Jose, I discovered that I had left my favorite nightgown at the Red Lion. I phoned the Red Lion front desk. Their housekeeping staff had indeed found it after I had checked out. The front desk very kindly mailed it to my home address in Virginia. And it was there when I arrived home from California. Thank you, Red Lion!

Although I was in Redding, CA, on business, this town is nestled at the foot of some impressive mountain ranges. Located at the very northern tip of the Sacramento Valley, 55 miles from Mount Shasta (14,162 feet), Redding is justly billed as "the gateway to Northern California’s natural wonders." I regret that I didn’t have time to visit nearby Lassen Peak and Manzanita Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, which is just 50 miles East of Redding on Highway 44.

After returning home, I learned from an ex-Californian that Lassen Volcanic Park is nicknamed "The Forgotten National Park" because it simply doesn’t get as much press as Yellowstone or Yosemite. However, it’s got the geothermal oddities of Yellowstone and (I understand) the scenic beauty of both its sister parks.

What Lassen Park has that Yellowstone and Yosemite don’t have is (1) mobs of tourists and (2) an active volcano, Lassen Peak – in fact, it has one of only two active volcanoes in the continental United States (the other, of course, is Mt. St. Helens). The last major eruption at Lassen Peak was in 1915 (smaller, sporadic eruptions finally petered out in 1921). The park boasts 106,000 acres of wilderness and old-growth forests, eight camp grounds, and 150 miles of hiking trails (including 17 miles of the "Pacific Coast Trail." Not being a serious hiker myself, I can only guess that it’s a particularly scenic trail). My next trip to Northern California will definitely include a visit to Lassen Park.