Are your kids bored with the same old outdoor activities? Would you like them to learn something while having fun and not even know it? Take a walk on the wild side, take them to Turtle Bay Exploration Park, just off Interstate 5 at the Lassen Park exit in Redding California. 
There is something exiting to do or see around every corner.
Live birds of prey, including a golden eagle and red-tailed hawk are just a taste of the wildlife to be experienced up close and personal at Turtle Bay. Cockatiels, budgies and eastern rosellas fill the aviary. These feathered friendly flyers love to land on you and nibble at a food-stick that you can purchase for $1.00. How different is that? The Paul Bunyan Camp section offers a wide variety of snakes and tarantulas if you prefer the creepy crawlies and girls of all ages could never resist the butterfly house. The animal show is just…wow! Trained turkey vultures and 2 species of hawk are just a few of the stars to actually fly through the crowd as you sit and ooohhh and aaahhh. Sharon and Amber, the human stars, will make you laugh while they teach you about rivers, forests, conservation, climate change and what all that means for the animals. Believe it or not, the wildlife is just the beginning.
Turtle Bay Museum is sure to inspire the young mind with
34,000 square feet of exhibits to explore. There are two large changing exhibition galleries as well as many permanent, interactive exhibits. The Visible River and walk-thru cavern were a few of my favorites during our self guided tour. It is amazing to learn how much you didn’t know.
Completed in 2004, the Sundial Bridge crosses the Sacramento River and links the Turtle Bay Museum to the McConnell Arboretum & Gardens. Designed by world renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, this pedestrian bridge is sight you must see and cross to appreciate. And yes, it really is a giant sundial!
McConnell Arboretum & Gardens features 20 spectacular acres of varied gardens, including a Pacific Rim garden, one of mediterranean climate and, more fun for me, a butterfly garden. Strolling through this beautiful place full of plants, trees, fountains and the sounds of the river in the distance, makes it easy to forget that the city is but a stones throw away.
Turtle Bay Exploration Park has so much to offer that you may want to go early, I found it very easy to spend most of the day. Admission to the entire park is more than reasonable at $13.00 for adults and $9.00 for kids and seniors. If you only wish to visit the gardens admissions are $7.00 and $5.00. What a great place, educational and entertaining, just what we were looking for!
