Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding Travel Guide

Turtle Bay Exploration Park, a 300-acre complex in Redding, California, is more than just a park; it's a dynamic center where art, science, history, and nature converge. Situated along the banks of the Sacramento River, Turtle Bay tells the story of the region and its people through a variety of engaging exhibits and experiences.The park's origins trace back to the 1980s with the vision of merging Redding's local museums into a unified entity. This vision materialized in the mid-1990s on 60 acres of land provided by the city, blossoming into the Turtle Bay Exploration Park we know today. Key milestones include the opening of Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp in 1997, the Visitor Center in 2000, and the Turtle Bay Museum in 2002.At the heart of Turtle Bay is the Turtle Bay Museum, which hosts permanent and changing exhibits related to the area's natural and cultural history, art, and science. Visitors can explore an underground aquarium, a Native American bark house, and hands-on science displays. Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp offers an educational exploration center modeled after an old-time logging camp, complete with displays of northern California forests and local wildlife.Across the Sacramento River, the McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens showcase 20 acres of Mediterranean climate display gardens, a children's garden, and unique water features. The iconic Sundial Bridge, a 700-foot-long footbridge designed by Santiago Calatrava, connects the north and south campuses of Turtle Bay and serves as an entrance to Redding's Sacramento River Trail.Whether you're walking across the Sundial Bridge, exploring the museum's exhibits, or enjoying the botanical gardens, Turtle Bay offers a multifaceted experience that celebrates Northern California's unique heritage and natural beauty.