Redding is a deceptively small town with deceptively big-city amenities. There are very few places left in California where you can have a good old-fashioned steak dinner that will knock the socks off of any Ruth's Chris, pop downtown for a street dance, then sidle over to enjoy the art of a world class architect. An active arts community insures plenty to see and do throughout the year, whether it is a visit to Sundial Bridge or a concert at the downtown Crest Theater. The residents are very proud of the area, and in all of our visits here, we have never met anyone who was less than helpful whether we needed directions, advice, or help finding a quiet place to spend an afternoon. Redding's proximity to the Cascade mountain range provides spectacular views even when stuck in traffic. Shasta Lake, snuggled in the foothills within sight of Mount Shasta, is a weekend warriors dream for fishing, swimming and camping, and is an easy few minutes drive from town. Travelers who aren't able to spend time in the area will still appreciate an hour or two rest at this pristine lake.
The once thriving downtown area is a bit sleepy now, but for the more adventurous, a drive down highway 273, which parrellels I-5's north-south route, will reveal some great off-the-beaten path stops, including old-fashioned drive-ins, hole in the wall antique and thrift stores, even a book lover's book store the puts it's city cousins to shame. At the south end of the highway, in Anderson, California, sits the Jolly Giant Flea Market. You can't miss it--it is big. And green. Very, very green. The flea market hasn't gone the way of it's SoCal bretheren - you can still find collectibles and honest to goodness junk mixed in with the dollar store deals, beautiful rugs, pirated designer gear, and computer parts. Admission is a nominal fifty cents, and a fun stop even if you aren't searching for anything in particular.
${QuickSuggestions} Redding is unofficially divided into two sections: The old part of town, including the downtown area, parks, and civic and convention center, are on the west side of I-5, while the newer part of town, with nearly any corporate and big box store or restaurant you might be looking for, on the east side. The I-5 freeway creates an easy to navigate north-south corridor, while state highway 44 takes you on an easily navigable east-west route. Most of the hotels and motels are in the vicinity of Hilltop Drive, right off the I-5 Cypress Avenue exit. Good deals can be had here by booking through "opaque" travel sites. There are still a few places to stay downtown, but they are on the run down side. A good option to avoid a corporate stay is the Thunderbird Motel. This family run establishment is well-kept, and within walking distance of a good Mexican restaurant and a well-hidden watering hole. ${BestWay} The Redding Area Bus Authority, known locally as RABA, runs a comprehensive and convenient route throughout town. Their rates, hours and stops are posted on their web site at http://www.ci.redding.ca.us/raba/rabahome.htm. However, odds are that if you end up here, it will be by car, as the area is serviced by only one airline (United) that flies to and from the San Francisco bay area on a limited schedule. A car is a must if you plan on visiting the sites outside the city limits.