On The Road With DDY: Sundial Bridge

One of the things I love about traveling is discovering new pleasures during familiar trips. The drive between Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon is one our family has made several times but it’s only been in the past year that we discovered an awesome rest stop in Redding, California: the Sundial Bridge.

Redding is the halfway mark on the drive along the 5 freeway between LA and Portland. Take just a 10-minute detour to the west of Redding and you’ll find Turtle Bay Exploration Park, home to a museum, botanical gardens, 16 miles of paved trails and the Sundial Bridge. Leashed dogs are welcome on the paths as well as on the bridge!

The Sundial Bridge’s deck is glass so as you walk across you can see the Sacramento River below. (If you visit during summer beware that the glass can get very hot, so it’s best for four-leggers to make the walk in the morning or evening.) The bridge is lit at night and open until midnight.

Mason and I have visited the Sundial Bridge twice and we think it’s a perfect rest stop, whether that means just a few minutes or for an afternoon—there’s easy parking and access, a striking piece of functional art to enjoy (although I’ve heard complaints that the sundial’s time is not exact!) and paths on both sides of the bridge where pedestrians, bicyclists and dogs of all ages can take in the scenery at their own pace.

Photo: Turtle Bay Exploration Park

Find more details on Sundial Bridge and surrounding Turtle Bay Exploration Park here and directions here.