About Redding Category
Lucky to Live at Lema Ranch
Sandee and I made the decision a couple of years ago to purchase a home located at one of the trail heads to Lema Ranch. For several years each morning we had been driving to this McConnell Foundation owned trail system for our daily walk or jog. We enjoy the time spent on the trails so much that when our house came up for sale we knew it was the right choice for us.
With 8 miles of trails set on a combined 380 acres of open space the Lema Ranch and Churn Creek Trail system is an oasis of natural beauty and the ideal place to get a little exercise while enjoying the sights and sounds of nature.
Located on what was once a working mule ranch owned by Chuck and Peggy Lema the trail system and ponds were enhanced and developed by the McConnell Foundation in 1997 and is open to the public daily from dawn to dusk. The 4 paved miles of trails at Lema Ranch take you around several ponds and offer spectacular views of Mt. Shasta and the Western Ranges.
A number of Redding neighborhoods are fortunate to have direct trail head access including Hacienda Heights, Alder Creek, Blackhawk, Edgewood and College Highlands. For those who come from other parts of town the main parking lot is located across from Mt. View Middle School at Hacienda. There is a restroom located at the parking lot as well as on the opposite end of the Ranch at the Lema Road trail head. There are many benches set along the trail for those who need a rest or just to sit and enjoy the views.
The paved trails at Lema Ranch are reserved for walkers and runners only while the gravel trails in the Churn Creek Trail system are open to bicycles and allow dogs on leashes. To access the Churn Creek Trails park at either Minder Park in the Edgewood area or the end of Tidmore at the north end of trails.
The McConnell Foundation has been a great neighbor and the employees who work at Lema Ranch do a wonderful job in keeping the trail system maintained and are always ready with a smile and a wave. Give us call should you decide as we did that living on the trail is the right lifestyle choice for you. We will be happy to send you a list of homes for sale that access Lema Ranch.
Bleachers Sports Bar and Grill Opens
Taj Mahal at The Cascade
Taj Mahal will be performing at Redding’s Cascade Theatre next Friday, Sept. 26th. at 7:30 P.M.
The visit by this multiple Grammy Award winner is further evidence of just how far our community has come as a venue for top level performers. JPR Performace Series Concerts at the Cascade are a true joy. I grew up going to large arena and stadium concerts and while I must to confess to having some great times the intimate nature of a concert in a beautifully renovated theatre is much more appealing. Every seat in the Cascade allows you to see and hear the performers clearly.
Time is Right for Free Wi-Fi
Looking for free Wi-Fi in Redding? Keep looking. There are only a handful of truly free Wi-Fi hotspots in our town.
Searching for a list of Wi-Fi hotspots turns up many more pay for access than open access locations. In that regard we are lagging behind a number of more forward thinking cities in California. The State of California Wi-Fi Hot Spot directory includes a list of towns who have made the commitment to offer their citizens and visitors free public Internet access. Why don’t we have this service in our town? A search of the City of Redding website reveals no mention of Wi-Fi.
Our City leaders have shown tremendous foresight in establishing an expanding system of trails and parks and the redevelopment of downtown Redding is a source of great community pride. We need to take advantage of our commitment to outdoor living and recreation. Imagine what providing free Wi-Fi at the Convention Center and Turtle Bay, the Downtown Redding Mall, Caldwell Park and South City Park/City Hall would bring to our City.
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Culture Shock - Nights at the Museum
Heads up to anyone looking for a cool way to spend a Friday evening in Redding. The first Friday of every month Turtle Bay Museum is open after hours for “Culture Shock“, an eclectic mix of cultural programing including art, music, lively lectures and much more! Tonight’s Culture Shock is titled “CSI Crime Scene (Mis) Information. You are invited to put on your cynic’s cap and join Culture Shock and Crime Scene Technician Mike Darling of The Redding Police Department to debunk misinformation from television crime shows.” Enjoy Original American roots music by the Jim Dyar Band. Hang out at from 7 to 10 PM, only $4 for members and $5 for nonmembers. See you there!
Sphere: Related ContentTrue Love and Home Grown Tomatoes
As the song goes “only two things money can’t buy, that’s true love and home grown tomatoes”. Make that one thing. Not only are there a number of places in town to buy “home grown tomatoes” you can even have them delivered to your door. Our area has numerous small family farms and farmers markets are held throughout the week. Farmers markets are a great way shop for organically grown fresh fruits and produce. Far more fun than shopping at the supermarket. We love shopping at farmers markets and think you will too! While Marketfest is great fun and pretty well known many of the other Farmers Markets also have prepared food, beverages and music you can enjoy while browsing the stands hosted by the growers. Here is a list of dates and locations from the Shasta Growers Association;
Redding Certified Farmers’ Market
Saturday, 7:30-noon, April-December777 Cypress Avenue @ Civic Center Drive, next to City Hall, Redding
Sunday Market at Turtle Bay Exploration Park
Sunday, 9:30–2 pm, July–October
Turtle Bay Parking Lot, Redding
Tuesday Morning Redding Certified Farmers’ Market
Tuesday, 7:30-noon, July-October
1700 block of Churn Creek Road @ Dairy Queen, Redding
Burney Certified Farmers’ Market
Wednesday, 3-6pm, July-October
37288 Main Street @ Ben Franklin Parking Lot, Burney
MarketFest Redding Certified Farmers’ Market
Thursday, 4:30-8:30pm, June-Sept
Placer Street, between California & Oregon Street, Redding
Anderson Certified Farmers’ Market
Thursday, 7:30–noon, July-October
Shasta District Fairgrounds, Anderson
Can’t get out to one of these farmers markets? No problem. You can have fresh fruits and vegetables delivered right to your home or office. Both Churn Creek Meadow Organic Farm and Country Organics offer free delivery in the Redding area. You can also pay a visit to one of the many local farms on the Happy Valley Farm Trail and get your produce there.Prefer to roll up your sleeves and grow your own? Vegetables taste even better when watered with a little sweat don’t they? Even if you don’t have room for a garden at home you can still enjoy growing at one of Reddings two community gardens. Contact People of Progress for details on farming a patch at either The Garden in Enterprise Park or the Matson, Mowder, & Howe Diestlehorst Garden.
Sphere: Related ContentUC Workshop in Shingletown
If you own or are planning on owning forested or woodland property in the Shingletown area you should make plans to attend the one day Forest Stewardship Workshop put on by the University of California. The one day workshop titled “Forest Ecosystems and Creating Defensible Landscapes” will include discussion on forest management history, forest ecology and risks affecting forest and forest health and includes the opportunity to discuss forestry issues with UC Berkley Forestry Specialist Gary Nakuamura and other forest management experts. The day includes a trip to the Denny and Gimini properties as well as snacks and a BBQ lunch.
The day begins Aug. 16th at 8:00 A.M. at Ed Stewart’s Property, 35099 Lenwood Way, Shingletown and Adjourns at 4:00 P.M.. Space is limited to 30-40 people for the workshop, so register Early! $15 registration fee per workshop; $20 if not received 7 days prior to the workshop. Fee includes materials, lunch and snacks. There are some fantastic homes and properties for sale in the Shingletown area. Please Contact Us for a list of available properties and homes.
Sphere: Related ContentLocal Ranch - Naturally Raised Beef
Yesterday while looking at some property in the Hat Creek area I had the pleasure of visiting with a local rancher who specializes in Naturally Raised Beef. With the growing interest in locally grown and produced food as well as the concerns many have with the additives used in food production I thought I would pass this along.
If you know of anyone who orders Omaha Steaks tell them about Hat Creek Grown. A Local Family Ranch, their cattle are never fed artificial feeds or ruminant by-products. They never receive hormones or ionophores. The Cattle are raised in Hat Creek and processed in Orland. They hang and age the beef at least 25 days insuring great flavor and tenderness. We encourage everyone to shop local when you are able to. Now you will have to excuse me…….I need to go fire up the grill!
Sphere: Related ContentTurtle Bay Exploration Park - What’s Next?
A recent editorial in the Record Searchlight titled “Importance of Turtle Bay not tied to figure” is a reminder to those of us who have enjoyed living in this area for many years just how much the Redding area has matured. With the addition of the Sundial Bridge, Sacramento River trail and Turtle Bay Exploration Park our City is experiencing a growth in cultural, recreational and educational opportunities that have transformed us from a small town indistinguishable from so many others to a vibrant, culturally diverse city.
Everybody has an opinion on Turtle Bay and what direction it should take. I have often considered what changes or additions I would make if I had that ability. The exhibits like “Titanic” or “Bodies Revealed” are wonderful and certainly have great value but are temporary and provide no lasting anchor for Turtle Bay. The Sundial Bridge designed by world renowned architect Santiago Calatrava is certainly a compelling draw for locals and tourists alike but how many repeat visitors does it attract? Do people come to Redding to see the famous bridge or are they simply stopping along the way to have a look?
I believe that one of the things that make’s Redding unique is our proximity to so many rivers and streams that can be fished or floated. Imagine if we were to take advantage of our location as a hub to several major whitewater-kayaking rivers with a Whitewater Park & Kayak Training Center at Turtle Bay. The park could take advantage of the plentiful water of the Sacramento River as well as provide for cleanup and restoration of an area still bearing the scars of gold dredging performed in the early 1900’s and gravel mining during the construction of Shasta Dam.
Using the U.S. National White Water Center in North Carolina and the Truckee River Whitewater Park as models of what works and just as importantly what does not work, a facility could be designed that enhanced the habitat of Turtle Bay and served as a recreational destination anchor to attract tourism by hosting events, training and competition. Companies like the McLaughlin Whitewater Design Group have been building this type of project for some time, with great success. Certainly Kayaking enthusiasts from all over the west coast could enjoy utilizing a facility such as this with the added advantage of day trips to some of the world class natural whitewater river runs in our region. And it’s not just kayakers who would visit our town. In only it’s 4th year the Reno River Festival drew over 32,000 spectators to a 3 day event.
At any rate, that’s my idea. What’s yours? If you have ever had an idea for enhancing the draw and success of Turtle Bay Exploration Park I invite you to share it here. Who knows? Perhaps by sharing your idea it will come true!
Sphere: Related ContentCool Tech Tool for Viewing Redding
One of my favorite sites when looking at Redding properties is the City of Redding GIS map. You can view details on homes and land in the city limits including aerial imagery with an overlay of the parcel map. Wonder whether or not the lot stops at that fence or is that creek on the property? This is the place to check it out. You can also see the location of underground water and wastewater lines, proposed roads, school districts and a host of other features. You may need to download the viewer to use but it’s very simple and fun to use. The GIS map does not replace physical inspections of property boundaries and condition but it can certainly be an entertaining way to view our City.
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