We went to see and walk around the Sundial Bridge and discovered that this was also located in the same area. We were considering checking it out, but decided we weren't willing to pay $16 per person. But it did look very clean and nice. Therefore, to be fair I can't really rate the facility, but I'm rating it for entrance cost (3 stars for being somewhat expensive for a family). read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

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EDIT - Not really worth it to send a comment to me about this. I stand by the review. There's nothing someone can say to persuade me that what I saw wasn't right. I have family in Redding and I'm aware that people think differently than the Bay Area so I'm not posting this for a discussion, I'm posting to warn other people so they can make a choice and so Turtle Bay is aware. Thanks. This review is specifically for the Redding Garden of Lights located here. This was really disappointing. The light show itself was absolutely gorgeous and clearly a lot of work was put into making it, but I can't get past how many people were there, and two, how many people were unmasked! I work in the healthcare field, I know people who have passed away from this virus, and as someone who has elderly at-risk family, the way that Turtle Bay handled coronavirus policies was downright offensive and scary. I couldn't even enjoy the night because of it. There had to be at least 100-200 people there (a mile long line as we were leaving, too). My partner and I both agreed that about 50% of those people blatantly had no mask. Huge groups, huddled close, eating and drinking, walking down the paths, talking loudly, with not a care in the world or regard for other people. Staff members were posted at various spots in the trail, and I never once heard them say anything to any of these people. Sure, there's signage saying you won't get in without a mask, but it's not true. I saw so many people unmasked. This would never fly in the Bay Area and the event should really be shut down unless Turtle Bay can get it together. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Pretty displays of lights, not so pretty displays of safety measures. - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

NOTE: I'm posting this review under both "Sundial Bridge" and "Turtle Bay Exploration Park", since my comments encompass both. My siblings and I met in Redding for a family reunion, and before heading out to the coast, we spent the morning at Turtle Bay Exploration Park. What a lovely place! Lots of easy-to-walk, well-groomed nature trails; beautiful foliage; stunning fountains and other creative works; and the bridge itself, which is a marvelous work of art as well as architecture. This portion of the Sacramento River is very pretty, and there's always wildlife to be seen. It's a great place to spend a couple of hours, walking and seeing the local flora and fauna. read more

Exploring on the Sacramento River. So interesting and the beauty is captivating. The mountains off in the distance and the sun beaming off the river....took my breath away read more

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Great staff and excellent facilities. We lucked out and got in for $2 admission but would gladly play full price.

The Turtle Bay Museum (TBM) is a part of the massive 300-acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park (TBEP) located at the heart of the Sacramento River Valley. The TBEP includes lots of things to see and do; some of them are free and some of them you pay a low admission price ($14-adults, $10-children [4-15], and Free kids [3-and-under]) to check out. The Sundial Bridge (SB), Parking, Turtle Bay Museum Store (TBMS) and the access to the Sacramento River Trail system are free. The TBM, Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp (PBFC) and the McConnel Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (MABG) are part of the paid admission. The SB, PBFC & TBMS I wrote up as separate reviews so in this review I'll cover the TBM. The TBM includes lots of educational experiences that are geared more towards older children and adults. The museum leans very heavily towards the history and current state of all things Sacramento River and Redding area. Some of the highlights are the Aquarium; lots of Scientific experiment areas; historic recreations (aka dioramas); and three separate exhibition halls. Here is a synopsis: Aquarium- The display is a nice re-creation of the floor of the Sacramento River Floor with all the fish being species (native and introduced) that can be found in the river. We were lucky enough to get there at feeding time (10:30 daily!) and it was quite a spectacle to see the fish zooming around racing towards the food. Scientific Experiments- Lots of sciency type things for older children and young adults to do. There's a pretty cool erosion experiment; an area on maps (my personal favorite); and some microscopes for kids to play with. I didn't get to do too much because I was with my 3-year old so we just sort of glossed over it. Historic Recreations- Cool dioramas that show life in the past. They cover the Native Americans of the area and the settlers of the past. Exhibition Halls- These are constantly changing topics and subject matters. I was fortunate enough to see the Sacrament Homage to a River (runs thru Dec '13); Sin in the Sagebrush (runs thru Feb '14); and Tough By Nature (runs thru Jan '14). All three were completely different types of exhibits: Sacrament was a series of great photographs takes of the Sacramento River by Geoff Fricker; Sin was a series of dioramas depicting early settler life; and Tough is an art gallery by Lynda Lanker showcasing portraits of Cowgirls and Ranch Women. All three are highly recommended but I suggest you visit the TB website to see what the current displays are. The TBM is great place to bring older kids and would wonderful place for a field trip. If you have younger children, like me, I'd suggest sort of glossing over this area and heading over to the PBFC. read more

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Well I would like to say that..the Turtle Bay Exploration Park is a good idea..But what happened to the funding and the people that care about the animals and the property and the upkeep of the property .. The animals are alone and the cages are run down and dirty my little 3yr old grandson said Naani..the animals look very sad and Alone..the park consists of a beaver..a soft shell turtle..a barn owl..a skunk..a kookaburra..a raccoon a Raven a turkey vulture and a porcupine and fish and Turtles..Ooh parrots were there also..the sineage isn't clear the.trails around the park isn't Handicapped accessible..the children parks are not maintained.. I was disappointed.. IMy family and I drove from San Diego.. and was disappointed..The entry to the park is reasonable..However it doesn't justify in my opinion the state of emergency that.Turtle Bay Exploration Park is in.With a little tender Loving care this property will be fantastic and a jewel in the community..PS..The park shares the same space as The Sheraton Hotel..Which is a beautiful property..PS...contact the San Diego Zoology Society..they will be able to help!!! read more

My children are ages 3.5 and 6 and this felt worth the money. Not too big, not too small. Great level of interaction and play spaces to get some energy out. Water to splash when it's hot. We loved the Butterfly Garden and the Live Show was a hit. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Entrance to the Museum - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

Turtle Bay Museum is a mondo cool place! For kids and the kid in each adult, this place has a lot to learn and interact. Coupled with the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, you're in for a good time stimulating those brain cells. There are travelling exhibits and currently is Lego: Art of the Brick by Nathan Sawaya, who does some profound sculptures with some adult themes, but seems whimsically childlike when made from Legos. This exhibit plus the Sundial Bridge are what attracted us to spend a half day here and it was time well spent. Some local exhibits include a fish tank modelled after the nearby Scramento River that include multiple species of trout, perch & other freshwater fish. We made it for feeding time, which was cool. There are also local history displays showing Native American roots, 19th century area colonists and early 20th century life. There's even a real beehive that allows you to observe the inner workings of bees at work, but I couldn't find the queen even after staring at it for ages. Make your way outside to the Exploration Park and wander the grounds for some surprises like the porcupine & skunk roommates. One of the handlers even brought the skunk out for some playtime. Wish I had seen some of the other traveling exhibits, but this was a cool place to spend at least half a day. read more

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Likely more worthwhile to stop by if you have kids, since you can see wildlife (you can go see parrots and butterflies flying around), and they also had playground areas in the park (zip line, big climbing wall, etc). There is also an indoor museum area with air conditioning! I stopped by on a hot summer day in Redding, and it was difficult to stay outside too long, despite there being some shaded areas. Turtle Bay was worth checking out once, but I wouldn't pay $16.50 again to return. Parking was easy since there were free parking lots nearby. read more

Great place for your kids. Really enjoyed the AI experience. Turtle Bay is expensive but you will have a great time

Great spot to bring the kids. They have a lot of outdoor activities at the museum that enable them to stay open by appointment during this annoying pandemic. The sundial bridge connects to the river trail and is a fantastic place to go for a walk. All the staff is masked up with lots of hand sanitizer stations. Staff are constantly cleaning all the "high touch" surfaces. Thanks for being there for us! read more

This review is just based on the experience during Covid. I'm sure it's quite nice when it's fully open. But as is, it's really disappointing. There are only a few animal exhibits, and they're mainly birds. They had a total of 2 med turtles and 1 small tortoise. Total Misnomer right now. I would definitely recommend waiting for the museum to open more exhibits. My kids were really disappointed with the lack of animals, especially turtles, considering the name of the place. They did have two playgrounds open but we didn't use them because of covid19. The workers were very nice which is why I gave an additional star. If I ever return and see what the full experience is like, I'll update the review. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Two small turtles in the back in a small pond - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

Stopped by to see the sun dial bridge and I think more stars would be given if we explored the actual park and went into the exhibition museum which was featuring a dinosaur theme this time. The bridge looked cool and nice view of the water but it was quite dirty along the sides amd railings with spider webs and bugs all over. The bridge was getting waxed or some type of treatment on the walkway while our group was there. Along the way, I saw many dogs (some on leashes and others not) who looked dehydrated and very dirty-wasn't sure if there was a policy or rule as they were just passing by the walk to the bridge. With free parking you may have to drive around a little to find a spot. Many young toddlers were there for the museum too. There seems to be a cafe in the museum as well. I would say the bridge on a nice day is a good pit stop as our group was from another state but wouldn't visit again if I was traveling alone. read more

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Such a fun adventurous place to spend the day in Redding. Went through the wildlife part of it and their animals are so fun to watch. Mostly terrestrial cuties and you can tell their caretakers work hard on their training and keeping them happy! Parrot playhouse is fun to feed the lorikeets and the museum/ art galleries are interesting about the history of the area. Can't beat the surrounding aesthetics of the forest and going out on the sun dial bridge and seeing all the wildlife!! 11/10 recommend. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Smiling tiger salamander - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

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Great place and we had an whole afternoon of being outdoors. It's wonderful to feel nature away from all technology once in while!!!

There was a lot of construction going on as they're making improvements to the park, but it was still a great time exploring throughout both the indoor and outdoor facilities. Totally worth the $16 price for adults. The Get Animated exhibition was so fun to experience, but I think it ended around mid-January. I loved seeing all the animals as well! Be sure to walk around to the back of the park to see the big birds, the bobcat, the raccoon, etc! read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

Great place for kids to explore and play. They have a huge play area out back with a zip line, big climbing wall, and more. There is a parrot and butterfly playhouse where you can interact with birds, and the museum inside the main building has cool interactive exhibits about the history and environment of the local area. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

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This is a great place for kids of all ages. It is fairly small but has really nice environmental/educational exhibits that describe the local area and some rotating special exhibits on a wide range of subjects. It also has an outdoor area for kids to run around when the weather is nice. My one complaint is that some of the animal cages look very small. There also is a botanical area across the Sundial bridge, and worth the walk on a nice day. read more

Pretty cool stuff to look at. I wish the live animal section would have been a little bigger. There were several exhibits inside and then several outside. I think we may have missed the botanical gardens unless it was the foresty section we walked through to get to the outdoor play areas. It would be perfect for a kid about 10 years old. We were there with three adults and a 2 year old. At least the 2 year old was free. read more

Awesome park!!! The museum was great, staff are friendly, and the whole area is clean and very well maintained. The aviary, Parrot Playhouse, was excellent and we wish the butterfly exhibit was also open but we'll have to return for that some time later. They have a porcupine parade (forgot the time) on the bridge which was pretty cool. The Sundial Bridge is right next to museum and there is a trail for a super easy hike. read more

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Beautiful place, the views are breathtaking. Very kid friendly, there is plenty to do! It is definitely worth checking out. read more

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If you're near Redding CA, by all means visit this place! If you're not, you can view LIVE streaming video of 6' EAGLE'S NEST at: turtlebay.org/eaglecam 3 chicks this year, you can watch day or night ( maybe they installed a light, or maybe it was lit by the full moon?) Both parents tend and feed the chicks and take turns watching them. It's just like looking out your window into a tree over 100 feet high! Way cool !! read more

Turtle Bay is a wonderful place to stop along Highway 5. The park has something for everyone: gardens, a nursery, the Sundial Bridge, an aquarium, a museum, a gallery, and the Paul Bunyan camp. These have all been reviewed individually by many people if you want to know more about them before you go. The 16 mile Sacramento River Trail passes through the park. While I doubt I would be able to walk the whole trail unless I spent days in the area, it is possible to walk a portion at the park. I have not gone too far on trail as it is always around 100 degrees when I have visited. read more

Enjoyed seeing the golden eagle, bobcat, porcupine etc. Also the aquarium and other parts of the museum. Sundial bridge was relaxing. Flycasting pond/ demo/ instruction might be a nice addition since the area is big on fishing. read more

I'm a little confused about all the reviews with a 5 star rating !!! I was expecting something great based on the reviews, but this place was nowhere close to what i had expected , or is it because its still winter & they have cool exhibits only in summer . Well the admission rates seem to be the same in winter though !!! I have been to the children's museums in Seattle & San Jose & SFO , but this one is just way low .. its a new facility & looks well kept , but with no exhibits whats the point !!!! It was just too little & had may be 10 exhibits overall !!! The turtles were missing & are scheduled to be back in a couple of months . Overall quite disappointed ! read more

What an amazing place. I'd heard a number of people rave about this park, especially its appeal to young children, but it was only after a visit that I am now a top fan. From their visitors center to the Sundial bridge to the sprawling grounds and elevated bridges leading to the animal sanctuary, this is a treat for people of all ages. I drove two and a half hours from Sacramento and would gladly return. We spent most of our time in the museum where my three year old son was most fascinated with the swimming beaver, pull out drawers that show you what animals do underground, a play room with different educational games and a classic truck that he pretended to drive. So much of it is interactive. As parents of those with little busy hands know, having things they can touch instead of just look at is such an important feature. We then walked out to the animal enclosures and saw some gorgeous creatures, including a Golden Eagle, a fox, a porcupine and a bobcat that was only a few feet from us. There was even an area he could simulate being a fire smoke jumper! I was happy to learn that some of the area is under construction to expand their attractions, like a rock climbing spot for older kids. After lunch, we spent our final hour walking across the beautiful Sundial Bridge. This is an architectural masterpiece, especially if you know about sundials. You can gaze upon the river and the fishermen below. Next time we'll check out the botanical garden as well but his little feet were getting tired. After my visit, I took the time to read some of the few negative reviews for this place and was flabbergasted. They consist mostly of people with no experience protecting or working with wild animals projecting their anxieties upon everything from cage size to not seeing turtles on their visit, as if the seasons and hours of animals were on their time schedule. Most of these animals are injured and disabled and the park is doing them a service by caring for them. read more

For $16 an adult, $10 a kid, this place is meh. Provides at the most 1 hour of entertainment with nothing crazy. The few animals they had were extremely depressing. I wish they had bigger cages at least or at least add some creativity to their enviroment. All in all, you'll probably leave feeling like you couldve done something better with your time. Deadpool 2 came out last week. Go watch that. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park consists of the Turtle Bay Museum which also includes Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp and Wildlife Woods, Sundial Bridge, McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Mosaic Restaurant, and Sheraton Hotel. We didn't eat at the restaurant (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/mosaic-restaurant-redding) or stay at the hotel (see https://www.yelp.com/biz/sheraton-redding-hotel-at-the-sundial-bridge-redding). - Turtle Bay Museum (3 stars): The museum has a small aquarium, local history displays, and temporary exhibit space which had a fun travelling science show about fear from the California Science Center from my hometown of Los Angeles. A boardwalk extends activities to the Forest Camp children's play area and Wildlife Woods with a handful of zoo critters but with empty zoo cages and closed exhibits like the big and vacant butterfly coop. $16.50 for adults. One hour to visit unless you have kids that want to play. - Sundial Bridge (3 stars): Nice looking bridge with a view of the Sacramento River but overkill for a pedestrian crossing to connect the gardens with the museum. If we could go to the top of the sundial spike, then that would be cool. Free. See www.yelp.com/biz/sundial-bridge-redding. - McConnell Arboretum & Botanical Gardens (2 stars): Not lush or densely developed. Best things were the weeping rock sculpture in the Asian garden and the willow pond (the parts that didn't look like a garbage dump). $4 suggested donation. 30 minutes to walk around. See www.yelp.com/biz/mcconnell-arboretum-and-botanical-gardens-redding. Free parking is available south of the Sacramento River at the Museum and also north of the river at the Botanical Gardens. Because only the Gardens are north of the river, park south of the river if not visiting the Gardens. This multi-feature complex was developed like it would be a centerpiece attraction like Disneyland was to Anaheim. Nice try, but it lacks unique content to make it noteworthy. read more

Nice little museum and park. We were able to get free admission on our ASTC Passport from the The Tech Museum in San Jose. The museum is nicely focused on local geology and wildlife, with additional exhibits on other science-related themes (e.g. the current nanotechnology display). The wild animal show in the amphitheatre was entertaining for the kids, though it's clear that the animals and birds are anything but wild anymore. The Parrot Playhouse was an interesting experience, as several birds spontaneously landed on our heads and arms as we entered, expecting us to have a cup full of nectar in our hands. We walked briefly through the arboretum, but it was getting hot and we didn't take the time to explore it fully. It seems nice and compact and highlight local vegetation very well. read more

Such an awesome little museum. There is some interesting exhibits here about fish, dinosaurs, animals, etc. Don't miss the animal show!!! I think that was the best part for me. There animals were well trained and local to the area. There's a play area next to show as well as gardens and walking trails to explore. Perfect for a days adventure with little ones. It's definitely worth a visit. read more

Wow what a great place to stop off and take the young ones. The exploratorium was very interactive. The gift shop was amazing, over priced of course but expected as all gift shops are. If you are looking for other things to do in the area the gift shop has a kiosk area and staff are more than helpful read more

The Turtle Bay Museum is a great place for everyone, but definitely it is great for kids. There are many activities and knowledge that this place offers. Activities include: 1. Paul Bunyan's Forest Camp which includes different birds, reptiles, butterflies, and other animals. 2. Different species of fishes in a tank and information about them. 3. A separate room explaining why people look and sound the way they are. Also there are interactive activities. 4. A station where they explain how the Sundial Bridge was built. 5. Exhibits about the history of Redding, California. The Museum is located near the Museum Store & Coffee Bar and the Sundial Bridge. There is plenty of free parking. read more

Turtle Bay Exploration Park - Up close of a parrot taking a bath in the Parrot Playhouse. - Museums Near Me - Redding, California

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The Garden of Lights event is beautiful. It's obvious that so much work went into it. I enjoyed the benches that were in place-a great way to sit and watch the lights dance to the music. People were required to wear masks and distance but as people go, you can't hold their hands and they didn't bring their mothers. Still, it was an amazing light show. read more

As a kid, I always came here with my grandpa when I visited him (I live in the Bay Area and he lives in Redding). My first time was a blast! All the animals and activities and the museum and hiking trails were so cool to me then. Since then, I've visited numerous times, but as I got older the charm started to wear off, mostly because of the animals. Now, I'm no "animal rights advocate", but I deeply care about the wellbeing of the creatures. Their cages seemed a little cramped for them, especially the birds, who could use lots of space to fly. The feedable lorikeets and the eagle have adequate space, but the other raptors and raven (those who could use extra space) didn't seem to have much room to fly about. Another thing I noticed involving the enclosures was the severe lack of enrichment. All captive animals should have toys and foraging tools to keep them entertained and to maintain their wild instincts, but I've never seen any except in the lorie enclosure and during the live animal shows. The last time I visited, the park was under construction, however, so I can only hope that they work on improving the animal enclosures, and not just the aesthetic of the area. Perhaps I'll send a polite inquiry email. Overall, I'd say it's a fun family trip, but if you're a stickler for animal captivity, perhaps just take a hike along the trails to enjoy the views. read more

My grandkids and I love turttle bay! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is the fact that the only way to get in or out is through the doors by the cafe and sundial bridge. For someone like me that has spinal and nerve neuropathy it's hard and painful to walk most days so to walk to door then go in then go to other part of park and then out to animals then all the way back to leave is a bit trying. They have walkers and wheel chair to lone out but this is not always the answer eighter. BUT... I and grandkids LOVE turtle Bay to Holly heaven... The little explorers and exhibits , watching the fish feed and everything else is amazing. No matter how many times we've been there it's always fun. I have a family membership. read more

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I went here to check out the sundial bridge and trails along the river. There were panhandlers roaming the parking lot looking in car windows and I saw a couple shooting up heroin along the river. Typical scene you can find almost anywhere in Redding so don't waste your time on the trails. I did not go into the zoo park bc I had my dogs with me. read more

Turtle Bay is an easy stop right off the freeway. We came here to check out the Sundial Bridge. I think I saw it in the AAA magazine before. The park is really nice, lots of grass and places to relax with a picnic lunch or something. The walk to the bridge is not far and there's a visitors center worth checking out. Stop here to break up the long drive on the 5 if you're coming from Oregon or heading south. read more

A lot of outdoor walking but great for pets! Family trip! Sit under the bride and by the Sacramento River water to have a picnic lunch! Its beautiful! Park is huge walk! See turtles, ducks, fishes, plants and more! Bridge is amazing art form and design! Great overnight to day trip for the weekend get away fir the kids! Only 2.5 -3 hours away from Solano! Why go to South Lake Tahoe when you can visit Redding for the weekend to! Yes there is a casino near by in Redding! Check out my other review! This place is beautiful, amazing and I had a great time!!! read more

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I lost my prescription glasses in the park yesterday. Freaking out because the odds of getting them back weren't good. ( I thought ) I called and explained my plight and was assured they would do their best to find them. I was called every hour with an update that they were still looking. Then magically they were found, but I couldn't get off work in time to get them before they closed. So they decided to leave them at the coffee shop so I could have more time to pick them up. It's not often anymore that a business will go so out of their way for you. Thank you staff at Turtle Bay for your time and concern and for such a great place to bring your family read more