Lake Shasta Caverns
Some places that I’d like to visit take some creative sales pitches for the kids. You just never know which ones.
Personally, I think heading underground to see what caves look like is pretty cool. Especially when there is a string of lights already installed and a guide who knows the way out. I wasn’t sure that the boys would think so as well. There are a lot of stairs, it’s dimly lit, and it’s cold. They might very well remember all this from our last trip. I practiced a few lead-ins before informing them where we were headed. “I bet Batman might live in a place like this…” or “we can find some things inside that are more than a thousand years old.” Turns out I needed no help. When I told them we were going to check out some underground caves, they were almost as excited as I was.
Lake Shasta Caverns, located 17 miles north of Redding, Ca., is a great place for the young cave explorer. The first clue that it is kid-friendly is the play area in front of the office. Here you can practice your climbing skills on a six foot climbing wall or hide out in a tree house carved from oak. At the office you can purchase a bag of mining rough and hunt for gems using the mining sluice. Look for quartz, ruby, sapphire, emerald and other gems or fossils. After purchasing tickets for the caverns, head down the hill to the shore of Lake Shasta. Here a boat ferries you for a 15 min. trip to another part of the lake. Then hop onto an air-conditioned bus which goes up another mountain to the beginning of the tour.
Lake Shasta Caverns is a horizontal cave rather than a vertical one. In other words, there is not as much stair climbing as you find in other California caves. The descent at the beginning of the tour is not difficult at all. There are several breaks along the way where your guide alternates between describing the geology of the formations, the history of the cave and of its earliest explorers. The second half of the tour is a bit more strenuous, but an alternate exit is available for those not up to any further ups and downs. Continue along a series of tunnels until you reach the “gallery” room, my personal favorite. This room is large and opens up at least several stories high. Here are “drapery” formations that span a long wall. The curves and interesting formations play with your imagination until you are sure you can see recognizable shapes. Before the tour ends you are asked to pose for a picture at a certain spot. The picture can be purchased for $10 at the end of the tour.
The whole trip lasts about 2 hours. If you are planning a caving tour to Shasta Caverns here are some tips to consider:
* Though I wore flip-flops and did just fine, a walking shoe with tread is advisable. There are places which are damp and can be slippery.
* Those with younger (and slower) climbers may want to stick to the back of the tour. The stairs require a single file line and so the slower kids may end up holding up a long line of people.
* There are many benches available for picnicking. You can bring snacks or lunch and make a half-day trip of it. Benches located under a shaded porch immediately after the tour provide some fabulous views, or use the benches at the front by the play area.
Shasta Caverns provided my family with tickets, however the post is written solely on our family’s experience there.
Two Story Lumberjack Man
Where do you find a two-story lumberjack? I’ll give you a hint…
Its not pounds that he’ll be shedding, ’cause he’s at a restaurant there in ……
Want another hint? You’ll learn why we saw him in my last post.
This post is part of the Delicious Baby Photo Friday. Check out her site for more fabulous travel photos.
Hotel Review: Travelodge in Redding, Ca.
I didn’t expect to find a hotel that boasted “family friendly” in Redding, Ca. Though 90,000 strong, Redding is not a quite a tourist hot-spot. There are certainly things to do with kids, but the valley heat in the summer can be a deterrent when considering a summer vacation. I know of a few places I have wanted to explore in Redding. Even in July, I thought it worth a few days stay on our way up north. When I learned that the Travelodge had a room designed with families in mind, I booked it immediately. The following is my opinion of the pros and cons of the Travelodge on Market Street if you are traveling with a family.
Sleepy Bear Room – The room we stayed in includes two queens in one room and a separate room called the “sleepy bear” room that is joined by a closing door. The sleepy bear room contains a double bed with a bear in a nightcap on the quilt and matching drapery, curtains, lampshade, and a child-sized chair. There are many advantages to having an adjoining room with a door, particularly when you have one child who still naps and others who do not. It also makes it easier to accommodate a child whose bedtime is earlier than others in the family. I found this a cute room with its kid décor, its own air conditioning unit, and even a night light included. I did notice light stains on the quilt and a more noticeable stain on the blanket. The sheets were clean, but the stains gave me pause to inspect everything closely.
Kitchen – A huge advantage to traveling with children is access to a kitchen, especially when staying for a few days. Snacks and meals can be stored and prepared, often saving time and money. This room provided a large refrigerator, microwave and sink. The kitchen, however, was located within the bathroom. This seems of questionable health practices, but I suppose for the limited stay of a hotel it can be overlooked.
Breakfast – I am a big fan of included breakfasts. The more you can take care of at the hotel, the less hassle for everyone. Breakfast is included at the Travelodge, however it is a voucher for a restaurant called Lumberjacks several miles away. I must say, the breakfast at Lumberjacks was tasty. One day the service was terrific, the second day was quite busy and added a full hour to our morning schedule. We opted to skip the third day, as our plans did not take us toward downtown. The quality of food at Lumberjacks was much better than what one often gets at a hotel lobby. If you have plenty of time, it is probably a welcome change from the pastry buffet hotels frequently serve. The hassle of driving downtown, parking, getting seated, ordering, and then eating can alternatively be more of an inconvenience when you have kids.
Conveniences – Travelodge has an outdoor gated swimming pool, which is a plus for traveling with kids during the summer. (It is located in the center of the parking lot.)
Inconveniences - The hotel is not located in a great part of town. It appears to be surrounded by motels that people use as their primary residence. After learning where I was staying, a Redding local suggested I bring everything from the car into the hotel at night. The guest services personnel say they have never heard of a car break-in at their hotel.
Summary: For what you get, the cost per night is less expensive than other local chain hotels. In exchange, it seems, you find yourself at the “budget” end of town. It also happens to be located close to a great park (Caldwell Park) and a water slide park. If the location is unimportant to you, this is a pretty good deal for a family to come see the sights of Redding.
I received a discount on the room during my stay. The review, however, is based entirely on my own experience there.
Dinosaurs Seen (and not seen) at the Oregon Zoo
Who would have thought that at the Portland Zoo one would spot a triceratops…
or an Allosaurus…
or meet a full-sized T-rex….
Those are a few of the creatures that lurk within the Dinosaur Exhibit at the Portland Zoo. Beware, young kids may end up seeing them like this…
Today’s post is part of Photo Friday hosted by Debbie at Delicious Baby. Check out her site for more delicious photos.
Five Fun Places to See in Redding with Kids
Redding is known to be incredibly hot in the summer. There are weeks when the heat reaches into the hundreds for days on end. It’s no surprise then, that most of the best entertainment in Redding centers around water. There are at least five rivers and four lakes that are in close proximity to Redding. Also nearby is one of the world’s largest concrete dams, Shasta Dam. (Though it didn’t make my “top five” list, I should mention that free tours for the dam run daily.)
1) Turtle Bay Exploration Park
The campus for Turtle Bay is over 300 acres in total. The museum is the cornerstone of the Park. Here you learn about the region and its people through historical artifacts, wildlife exhibits, an animal show that features local critters and birds, and two rotating exhibits. Then exit the museum and cross the Sacramento River along the famous Sundial Bridge, one of the most photographed bridges in the world. The tip of the bridge, which reaches 217 feet high, casts a shadow along the bank of the river. Markers indicate what time it is every fifteen minutes from 11am until 2pm according to the bridge’s shadow. If you continue exploring this side of the river, you will find McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Garden. The botanical garden, including a children’s garden and butterfly sanctuary, is spread over 20 acres. The arboretum extends over 200 acres and links to the Sacramento River Trail, making it a great location for a bike ride.
2) Caldwell Park
In the middle of Caldwell Park is the Redding Aquatic Center. It has the best water play structure for young kids that I have ever seen. This structure sits within a large area of water that is no deeper than two feet. There are enough slides, tunnels, buckets and ropes to entertain a full kindergarten. Play sessions include some morning times, afternoon times, as well as an evening time from 6:45pm – 8:00pm. This makes for a great evening activity to ensure your young one sleeps well. (Open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.) Caldwell Park also includes a playground, nice walkways, a skateboard park, and a beautiful view of the Sacramento River.
3) Shasta Caverns
As far as cave-exploring goes, Shasta Caverns is a nice place for people of all ages. Typically the stair climbing at cave tours can be overwhelming to some kids (and adults!) but I think this cave is a pretty approachable one. Not only are the caves cool (and I do mean that literally and figuratively) but to get to the entrance requires crossing Shasta Lake via a catamaran (about 15 min) and a bus ride up a steep mountain (about 10 min). Three adventures for the price of one! Shasta Caverns are open year round. During the high season (Memorial Day through Labor Day) tours depart every half hour from 9am – 4pm.
photo credit: rickh
4) Whiskeytown Lake
Don’t think you can find a beach in the middle of northern California? Eight miles west of Redding is Whiskeytown Lake. It offers 36 miles of shoreline and many varieties of recreational water fun. You can scuba dive, kayak, row, fish, swim, sail, or waterski around the lake. Be aware, it is a popular destination for locals on the weekends. (Personal watercraft are not allowed here, but can be used at Shasta and Trinity Lakes.) Many of the trails tour historic sections of the park. Gold Rush Era buildings, mines and miner’s ditches can be seen along the way. Ranger guided programs are offered during the summer months, including gold panning and kayak tours. Parking is $8.
5) Kids Kingdom
Kids Kingdom is located within Enterprise Park, run by the city of Redding. This is a popular park for the young crowd, as there are a lot of climbing opportunities here. You’ll find a large wooden play structure including an intercom system, hamster wheels, tiled art, tire pit and more. Kids Kingdom also is located in a large park with an 18-hole disc golf course, basketball courts and a walking trail. There is also a water park, and its free, but I have heard from more than one local that sometimes older kids can get rambunctious here and aren’t mindful of little ones around them.
Today is spotlight Thursday at Trekaroo. Check out their site for more travel highlights.
