Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a 300-acre, mostly outdoor cultural center located in

Redding, California Redding is a city in and the county seat of Shasta County, California, and the economic and cultural capital of the Shasta Cascade region of Northern California. Redding lies along the Sacramento River, north of Sacramento, California, Sacrame ...

. Situated along the banks of the

Sacramento River The Sacramento River () is the principal river of Northern California in the United States and is the largest river in California. Rising in the Klamath Mountains, the river flows south for before reaching the Sacramento–San Joaquin River D ...

, the park features the Turtle Bay Museum, as well as the

Sundial Bridge The Sundial Bridge (also known as the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay) is a cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge for bicycles and pedestrians that spans the Sacramento River in Redding, California, United States and forms a large sundial. It was de ...

, a 700-foot long, 23-foot wide footbridge designed by architect

Santiago Calatrava Santiago Calatrava Valls (born 28 July 1951) is a Spaniards, Spanish-Swiss people, Swiss architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter, particularly known for his bridges supported by single leaning pylons, and his railway stations, stad ...

. The park has indoor and outdoor animal exhibits, gardens, and playgrounds for children. The museum conducts educational programs and exhibitions on the

Wintu The Wintu (also Northern Wintun) are Native Americans who live in what is now Northern California. They are part of a loose association of peoples known collectively as the Wintun (or Wintuan). There are three major groups that make up the Wi ...

people, including a full-size shelter.

McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

The McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, also known as the Redding Arboretum, opened on May 30, 2005, and covers , including of undeveloped

arboretum An arboretum (: arboreta) is a botanical collection composed exclusively of trees and shrubs of a variety of species. Originally mostly created as a section in a larger garden or park for specimens of mostly non-local species, many modern arbor ...

and of

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

that span the

. Its principal gardens include the Mediterranean Climate Gardens (

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

Basin,

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

, southern and western

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

, and

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

west of the

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada ( ) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...

), and other gardens including a children's garden, butterfly garden, and specialty gardens.

Turtle Bay Museum

Turtle Bay Museum contains permanent and changing exhibits related to the area's natural history, cultural history, art and science. Exhibits include a tank for viewing fish underwater, a recreation of a Native American bark house, hands-on science displays and art creations.

Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp

Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp is an education exploration center modeled after an old-time forest camp. The Mill Building houses displays of northern California forests and local wildlife, including live animals. Outdoor exhibits focus on the timber and logging industries in California and the railroads. Other amenities include outdoor play equipment, a water feature, an amphitheater that hosts a seasonal animal show, and a seasonal aviary and butterfly house.

Gallery

Turtle Bay Visitor Center.jpg, Visitor center Monolith by Buster Simpson (14952090831).jpg, Monolith by Buster Simpson McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens - Redding, California - DSC02935.JPG, McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens - Redding, California - DSC03018.JPG,

References

External links