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GROUP TOURS
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TURTLE BAY EXPLORATION PARK
840 Auditorium Drive
Redding, CA 96001
530-243-8850 / 800-887-8532
www.TurtleBay.org
Contact:
Virginia Germann, Director of Marketing and Communications
530-242-3140
vgermann@turtlebay.org
Directions:
From Interstate 5, take Exit 678 to Weaverville/Hwy 44 west.
From Hwy 44 west, take Exit 1 to Auditorium Drive. At the top of the off-ramp,
turn right. Stay right and follow signs to Turtle Bay. The Sundial Bridge parking lot is after the bend in the road.
Group Fees:
Group/Bus Tours, no lunch, $8 per person.
Opportunity to rent space at Turtle Bay Museum for special dinner, call for
pricing information.
Takes approximately three hours, not including lunch to tour the entire facility.
It is recommended that buses drop visitors from either the bus drop-off area in front of the visitor center, or from parking lot just south of the entrance to the bridge and café driveway. It is quite difficult for a bus to turn around near the café.
The park is open year-round. The bridge and café are currently the only fee-free areas within the park.
Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay
6:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m., seven days a week.
For security reasons, the bridge closes at night; otherwise, it is never closed to the public, even during special events. The bridge is part of the Nationally designated Sacramento River Trail system which runs in a loop approximately 12 miles from the bridge and back. Once you experience the beauty of the bridge during the day, plan to return for an evening stroll across the illuminated glass surface of the bridge…absolutely breathtaking.
A self-guided tour of the bridge can take 30 minutes to an hour.
Guided tours of the bridge (groups only) are available by contacting the Redding Visitors Bureau
(530-225-4103) and generally take one hour to complete.
Café at Turtle Bay
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Daily. Closed Tuesdays November through February.
For large groups, it is best to call ahead: 530-242-3181.
The café can fax its menu so that you do not have to wait long for your meals when you arrive.
Special seating either inside or outside can also be arranged for large groups.
McConnell Arboretum and Gardens
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Closed Tuesdays November through February.
Part of the fee area within the park.
20 acres of Mediterranean climate display gardens, including Californian,
South African, Pacific Rim, Australian, Chilean, and the Mediterranean basin.
The garden is also host to a butterfly garden, children's garden to enthrall the littlest
gardeners, a medicinal garden featuring an apothecary's shop of traditional herbs, and two
beautiful and unique water features. Unlike other gardens, McConnell Arboretum and Gardens
offers insight about plants with thoughtful emphasis on making selections in harmony with the
climate. A walk through the gardens can take between 30 minutes to an hour. Dogs on a leash are
welcome.
Turtle Bay Museum
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Closed Tuesdays November through February.
The heart of the Turtle Bay experience, containing permanent, interactive exhibits and two large special exhibition galleries. The experiences here-underwater fish viewing, walking through historic re-creations, experimenting with scientific equipment, viewing the art-are also springboards for the authentic outdoor experiences on the rest of the campus. The exhibits feature a mix of richly layered interpretative material, multimedia exhibits, science experiments, self-guided exploration, and play features.
A self-guided tour of the museum takes anywhere from 45 minutes to three
hours, depending on how much time the viewer spends at each exhibit.
Contact the Redding Visitors Bureau (530-225-4103) for information on a guide (groups only) for this tour.
Butterfly Exhibit (now also featuring birds in a separate exhibit!)
May 1 to September 30, Turtle Bay Exploration Park is home to California's largest North American butterfly house! The exhibit allows visitors to view hundreds of live butterflies in a beautiful, enclosed garden.
Due to the warmth and humidity inside the butterfly house, plan to view this exhibit first thing in the morning.
A self-guided tour of the butter fly house should take about 30 minutes.
The Turtle Bay Museum Visitor Center
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Closed Tuesdays November through February.
Inside the Visitor Center, watch an informative video inside the theatre, or browse the
store for keepsakes to remind you of your trip to Turtle Bay,
including the Sundial Bridge, Santiago Calatrava, Frank Lloyd Wright (there is a Frank Lloyd
Wright church in Redding), and turtle jewelry and souvenirs.
SHASTA DAM TOUR
16349 Shasta Dam Blvd
Shasta Lake City, CA 96019-8400
530-275-4463
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/ncao/shasta/tour.html
Contact: Sherry Harral
530-275-4463
sharral@mp.usbr.gov
Directions: From Interstate 5 (i-5) take the "Shasta Dam Blvd." Exit #685 and drive west
about 6 miles on Shasta Dam Boulevard (also called "Highway 151")
Note: Interstate 5 Exit #685 is located about 8 miles north of Redding, California
It takes approximately 25 minutes to drive to the Visitor Center from Redding.
Group Fees: Group tours are available for civic organizations, schools, and other organized groups. For information and scheduling please contact Sherry Harral.
Tours leave promptly. Plan on arriving at least 25 minutes prior to tour time to give yourself plenty of time to walk out on the dam (to the second tower) for your tour.
Please leave behind the following restricted items on your tour of the dam: cell phones, pagers, cameras, purses or bags of any kind, and weapons of any kind (including pocket knives).
Personal Note: During times of very high water releases through the spillway, the area near the bottom of the spillway can become extremely loud with both high and low frequencies. A small pair of foam or rubber ear plugs may be a good idea to be safe. Or wait until water releases are reduced. Check with your tour guide about the policy regarding the use of hearing protection.
Be sure to leave time to check out the informational visitor center, which features short movies about the dam as well as photos and exhibits. The visitor center is surrounded by a nice big lawn, making it the perfect area for a picnic in the shade!
Hours:
WINTER TOUR TIMES 2005
After Labor Day Weekend
Starting times for the Shasta Dam tours are....
9:00am, 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm
7 days a week
Tour takes one hour
(Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day)
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
(530) 275-4463
More Shasta Dam tour info at USBR.gov
SUMMER TOUR TIMES 2005
Starting times for the Shasta Dam tours are....
9:00am, 10:15am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm
7 days a week
Tour takes one hour
United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR)
(530) 275-4463
More Shasta Dam tour info at USBR.gov
The Tour
The friendly and knowledgeable tour guide staff at Shasta Dam offer FREE dam tours for all ages.
Tours are offered 7 days a week, year round and include an elevator ride down inside the damwhere guides will discuss the history, purpose and construction of this huge project.
After the short walk through the dam, the tour heads over to the powerhouse for a chance to view the states largest hydroelectric generating station. Tours take approximately 1 hour, and there is a maximum of 40 people allowed on each tour.
LAKE SHASTA CAVERNS
20359 Shasta Caverns Road
O'Brien, CA 96070
530-238-2341 / fax 530-238-2396
www.LakeShastaCaverns.com
Contact: Stacey Bachand, Assistant General Manager
530-238-2341 - Ask for Stacey
shascav@aol.com
Directions: On Interstate 5, travel approximately 15 miles north of Redding to Exit 695
O'Brien/Shasta Caverns Road turnoff.
Drive 1.5 miles east to the gift shop.
It takes approximately 30 minutes to drive to the gift shop from Redding.
Group Fees: 10 - 19 people = $17 per adult and $10 for children ages 3 - 10.
20+ people = $16 per adult and $9 for children ages 3 - 10.
It is recommended that you contact Stacey a minimum of two weeks in advance during the busy summer months.
The caverns are open year-round, closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day and during extreme inclement weather.
For older groups the "best" time to visit the caverns is during the month of June, while the lake level is still high. This allows for less walking from the catamaran to the bus.
Tours are guided, and are approximately two hours long from port to port.
The caverns tour contains a total of 650 stairs. These stairs are both up and down and occur periodically throughout the tour. There is a half-way point where visitors can rest and watch a video.
Hours:
Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every half hour.
April, May, and September 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. hourly.
Winter departures are 10:00, 12:00, and 2:00.
The Tour:
The tag line for Lake Shasta Caverns is "Three Adventures in One!" Here's why:
To visit the caverns, you must take a 15 minute catamaran cruise across the McCloud River arm of beautiful Shasta Lake. You will be surrounded by majestic mountain scenery on your way to the caverns, so be sure to bring your camera!
Next, a scenic bus ride will take you more than 800 feet above the Lake's surface and through part of the Grey-Rock Mountain forest on your way to the caverns. You just might catch a glimpse of a Columbian Black-Tail Deer, a Ring Tail Cat, or even a Black Bear! Also watch for Bald Eagles or Osprey diving to the lake to catch a trout for lunch.
After a warm welcome to the caverns, a brief history of the area is explained. Upon entering the caverns you will know why they are known as one of the nations most stunningly decorated caverns…multi-colored fluted columns…magnificent stone draperies in symmetrical folds…stalactite and stalagmite formations studded with brilliant crystals…miniature waterfalls and other unusual and graceful forms. These caves have been forming over tens of thousands of years, and geologists consider them one of the most beautiful caves in the nation.
Dinner Cruises (CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE!)
www.ShastaLakeDinnerCruises.com
April and May - Saturday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Memorial Day through Labor Day - Friday and Saturday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Group Fees: 10 - 19 people = $54.95 plus tax and gratuity (or $68.82).
20+ people = $65.00 inclusive or $60.00 inclusive if only one menu is chosen.
This new and highly anticipated feature of the caverns will take guests on a relaxing two-hour, fully catered cruise on Shasta Lake.
Adult admission includes food, beverage, dessert, and a two hour cruise.
Reservations are appreciated and suggested, especially for large bus tour groups.
On special request, staff can shuttle a disabled or handicapped person to and from the cruise boat.
Cruises will depart weather permitting. If adverse weather conditions such as high winds with rain, or lightning and thunder storms occur, the cruise will be cancelled. Customers will receive gift certificates.
Tickets are refundable for cancellations up to 7 days prior to departure, a $10.00 fee will apply. Cancellations made 48 hours to 7 days prior to departure will result in mailing a gift certificate for future reservations. A cancellation made less than 48 hours prior to departure will result in NO REFUND.
New Adventures
Lake Shasta Caverns also offers two large gift shops, picnic areas, hiking trails, and a "Rock Box" and "Fossil Dig" playground for the kids.
MCARTHUR-BURNEY FALLS MEMORIAL STATE PARK
24898 Highway 89
Burney, CA 96013
530-335-2777
Contact: Ranger Andy Urlie
Directions: From Interstate 5, take Exit 680 Hwy 299E/Lake Boulevard.
Stay right on the off-ramp and turn right onto Hwy 299E.
Travel approximately 60 miles to Hwy 89, a large four-way stop light.
Travel north on Hwy 89 about 5 miles to the park entrance.
It takes approximately one hour to drive to the park from Redding.
Fee is $50 for small buses, 24 people or less and $100 for a large bus, 25 people or more.
This is a very old State Park, and roads within the park were built before buses; therefore, do not attempt to maneuver a bus past the parking lot area near the falls, other than to drive to the lake.
Parking is limited throughout the summer months. During this time, the park literally allows one car in when another car leaves. Call in advance to make your reservation on the park calendar (do not use the park reservation line, call Ranger Andy at the number above).
The park is open year-round and a fee is always taken at the entrance. Obviously, the best time to visit would be the shoulder months before and after the summer busy season.
Burney Falls General Store
Serves hamburgers and soft-serve ice cream cones.
Also acts as a gift shop.
Fun Facts
McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park is the second oldest park in California's park system, established in 1922. Many vacationing "regulars" represent four generations of visitors to the park!
Frank McArthur donated the park to the State of California so the power company wouldn't ruin the falls by turning it into a hydro electric plant. At the time, it took him two years to convince the state to purchase the park!
The water that feeds the falls comes from underground springs, and although the surface water from Burney Creek all but disappears from July through September, the falls continue to pour out 100 million gallons of water a day all year round.
The falls has a natural 110-foot drop that is likely to recede over the years due to the hard volcanic rock from which it is made. The water issues from the falls at 38 degrees Farenheit and warms up to almost 42 degrees in the summer!
The Tour
A hike down and back to the falls takes approximately 30 minutes. At the view point on the trail, you can look directly across to the falls. Do you see any Black Swifts flying around the falls? These birds fly right through the waterfall and into the rocks behind to nest. There are only five places in the United States where the Black Swift can nest, due to the moisture their eggs require.
"The Falls" loop trail, leaves from the same location near the parking lot, and takes about 40 minutes, including stops. This trail meanders along the creek that runs to Lake Britton. An arched wooden bridge crosses over the creek and up to the top of the falls. Stop on the bridge and look back towards the falls. Can you see it through the trees? This is a great photo op.
On the way up to the top of the falls, you will pass the Pacific Crest Trail. Stop to take a photo at a sign that includes mileage to Mexico and Alaska! You're half way to each!
A second bridge crosses over the creek at the top of the falls and continues back to the parking lot.
Lake Britton is a short mile-and-a-half drive within the park. Get off the bus and walk to the swim beach area. You don't have to wait long before you see or hear a bald eagle in the area. Seven or eight pairs are known to nest around the lake, and they stay year-round.
LASSEN VOLCANIC NATIONAL PARK
PO Box 100
Mineral, CA 96063
530-595-4444
www.nps.gov/lavo/
Contact: Ranger Steve Zachary, Education Specialist - Ext. 5132
Directions: There are two entrances to the park.
To access the park from the north entrance:
From Interstate 5, take Exit 678 to Hwy 44E/Lassen Nat'l Park.
Travel east approximately 48 miles to the north entrance of the park.
To access the park from the south entrance:
1. From Interstate 5, take Exit 649 to SR36E/Chico/Lassen Park.
Travel south on Antelope Boulevard (Hwy 36) through Red Bluff approximately three miles to Hwy 36E.
Travel east on Hwy 36E approximately 50 miles to south entrance of the park.
2. From Hwy 99 (coming from Marysville/Yuba City)
It take approximately one hour to drive non-stop from Chico to Red Bluff
on Hwy 99E. As you just begin to enter Red Bluff, turn east onto Hwy
36E.
It takes approximately one hour to reach the north entrance of the park from Redding. It takes approximately an hour-and-a-half to drive from the south entrance of the park, down Hwy 36, onto Interstate 5, and into Redding.
Fees vary based on seating capacity of commercial vehicle, but average $200.
The Park is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week seasonally. In the winter, accessibility by vehicle is reduced to the visitor center at each park entrance. You cannot drive through Lassen Park during the winter, which usually lasts at least into the month of June. The road is traditionally open until the end of November, when snowfall limits travel through the park.
Allow a minimum at least three hours to drive through the park and make stops.
No step on guides are available through the Park. Rangers are available to speak to groups. These talks last from 20 minutes to an hour, depending on the group. Please make arrangements ahead of time.
Late June through early September, demonstrations and wildlife programs will occur at the Loomis Museum. Check the schedule to find out what might be going on when your tour goes through.
Loomis Museum, Information, & Bookstore
Late May - late June, open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Late June - early September, open daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Early September - late September; open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Southwest Area/ Lassen Chalet Gift Shop & Snack Bar
Facility will not be in operation for the 2005 season beginning in April 2005. Construction of the new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Facility should be complete by Fall of 2006.
Fun Facts
All four types of the world's volcanoes can be found in Lassen National Park.
The Pacific Crest Trail and the Nobles Immigrant Trail both pass through the Park.
The Lassen area was a meeting point for at least four American Indian groups: Atsugewi, Yana, Yahi, and Maidu.
Every way that a lake can be created in nature exists within Lassen Park.
At nearly 350°, the mud pots and bubbling fumaroles are some of the hottest in the world!
The Tour
Starting at the north end of the park (Hwy 44):
You will stop at the Loomis Museum, view history and Native American exhibits and maybe even catch a Ranger-led demonstration or talk. --There are splendid restroom facilities available at this location, including flushing toilets and running water.--
Back on the road, you pass Chaos Jumbles on your left. It is the heart of a rock fall avalance!
As you pass the Lost Creek Group Campground, take note that portions of the existing roadway are a part of the Nobles Immigrant Trail.
Stop at the Devastated Area. So named because it was devastated during the eruption of Lassen. New wayside panels display information and photos to assist in interpreting the park's history. You can look straight up to Lassen Peak from this location and you are able to view three different types of volcanoes from this very point. Great bus turnaround and wonderful panoramic views of the area.
You will pass Summit Lake, so named because you can see the summit from this location. You will note on your map that the road goes out and around before continuing south out of the park at this location. The reason is that you are actually driving around a glaciated area of a large plug dome volcano. You will then be climbing the flank of that volcano as you continue south.
Stop again at the "peak" parking lot. This is the road's high point at 8,512 feet. From the parking lot, you may hike the trail to the "top" of Lassen. (Food and beverage are available for sale at this location) --Restrooms Available Here--
As you descend the mountain, you will be driving right into the center of an old volcano,
Mt. Tehama. At this point, you will pass Lake Helen, a deep blue gorgeous glaciated lake great for photos. (Glaciated = created by a glacier melting or moving through the area)
This is also where you will find trails to Bumpass Hell and Devil's Kitchen, an area full of mudpots and fumaroles-some of the hottest in the world!
As you approach the south entrance to the park, you will smell the Sulphur Works area before you see it… Park and walk the wooden pathway to see the steam and mud bubbling. -Restrooms Available Here--
The south entrance will soon be home to the new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Facility, not to be missed. Great for group tours, it will include a gift store and amphitheatre.
There are quite a number of possibilities for itineraries available to view these popular attractions. Please contact the Redding Visitors Bureau so that we can assist you in planning the best possible trip for your group!
For example, if you would like to include Burney falls in your tour of Lassen Park, a loop can be made from the south entrance, through the park, north on Hwy 89 to Burney Falls, and then back into Redding via Hwy 299E.
If you would like to include the Shasta Sunset Dinner Train, you might take Interstate 5 to
McCloud, then continue south on Hwy 89 to view Burney Falls, then south again to the north entrance of Lassen Park to stop at Loomis Museum, then back to Redding on Hwy 44 or through the park and back to Redding via Hwy 36 and Interstate 5.
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