Redding sits at the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, where Interstate 5 begins its long climb toward the Oregon border. It is not a glamorous destination, but it is the natural base for exploring some of the state's most dramatic landscape: Mount Shasta to the north, Lassen Volcanic National Park to the east, Shasta Dam and Whiskeytown Lake nearby, and the wild Trinity Alps to the west. The city claims more miles of trail per capita than almost anywhere in the United States.
The Sundial Bridge — a glass-decked cantilever crossing designed by Santiago Calatrava that opened in 2004 and actually functions as the world's largest working sundial — is the city's landmark and the centrepiece of Turtle Bay Exploration Park, which combines botanical gardens, a museum and riverside trails. The Sacramento River Trail winds through riparian woodland along both banks.
Summers are searingly hot — Redding regularly tops 40°C, with 43°C days not unheard of — so spring and autumn are the best times to visit. If you are driving I-5 between San Francisco and Portland, it is worth stopping for a night rather than pushing through.