Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding Travel Guide

Turtle Bay Exploration Park, a 300-acre complex in Redding, California, is a vibrant center where art, science, culture, and outdoor adventure meet. The park's story began in the 1980s with a vision to unite Redding's smaller museums into a single entity, materializing in the mid-1990s along the Sacramento River.The park features the Turtle Bay Museum, a space where history, art, and science converge. Exhibits are dedicated to the Wintu people, early settlers, and the construction of the Shasta Dam. Interactive displays bring learning to life, with a replica of the Shasta Caverns and artifacts from the area's pioneering days. The museum also hosts rotating art exhibitions.Outdoors, Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp offers playful exhibits and water features exploring the world of forestry. The McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens showcases native and drought-tolerant plants. The Sundial Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, links the park's north and south campuses and serves as an entrance to Redding's Sacramento River Trail. The bridge functions as a working sundial and is illuminated at night.Turtle Bay offers educational programs and classes for all ages, from nature walks to art workshops. Throughout the year, the park hosts events, from concerts and festivals to holiday celebrations.