This Is the Sunniest City in California

Though California is known worldwide for its sunshine, there’s only one city that holds the title of the Golden State’s sunniest. And believe it or not, it’s not one of the desert or beach towns of Southern California—it’s actually located up north.

Roughly 120 miles south of the Oregon-California border, Redding has an 88 percent annual average of sunshine—that’s more than any other city in California, according to statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It also makes it the second-sunniest place in the United States. As a result, the city can serve as a base camp that most nature lovers can only dream of. Within a stone’s throw of national recreation lands, Redding is bisected by the scenic Sacramento River and has a skyline dominated by Mount Shasta. 

Needless to say, you’ll have no trouble finding plenty of things to do with all of that great weather. “There’s something for everyone up here, and I like to call it finding your true north,” says Jennifer Johnston, a born-and-raised local and the tourism, marketing, and communications manager of Visit Redding. “You can come and get reconnected with your inner compass, your authentic self, and just go get lost in nature. There are all these little adventures you can have when you go out for the day.”

In fact, you might find more opportunities for adventure than you know what to do with. More than 200 miles of hiking trails and dozens of waterfalls surround Redding, while water sports like kayaking and paddleboarding draw visitors to the shores of nearby Whiskeytown Lake and Shasta Lake. As Johnston puts it, “You could spend a week here and have a different trip every day and never be bored.”

If you’re looking for starting points, Whiskeytown National Recreation Area allows visitors to explore both on land and on water. Plus, that recreation area designation means you can take your four-legged friend with you out on the trails. “You can hike to four different waterfalls at Whiskeytown,” notes Johnston, including Crystal Creek Falls, a two-tiered cascade at the end of a 0.3-mile, wheelchair-accessible path.

Then there’s Lassen Volcanic National Park. Less than an hour’s drive away from Redding, the park is home to otherworldly attractions like Sulphur Works and the evocatively named Bumpass Hell. Swing by to marvel at bubbling mudpots, meander around massive steam vents, and read up on Lassen’s unique ecosystem at the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. “It’s a very underrated national park,” says Johnston.

As impressive as all of these outdoor attractions are, you can’t overlook the scenery back in Redding itself. The Sundial Bridge is the city’s most iconic landmark, a cable-and-glass construction that stretches over the Sacramento River and turns pedestrian transportation into a work of art. “You don’t often get to walk across a glass suspension bridge over a river,” says Johnston. “That’s something that I highly recommend, especially at sunrise or sunset. The reflection of the colors off the river and the mountains in the background is just breathtaking.”

You’ll also have numerous opportunities for recreation of the indoor sort. For example, visitors should plan to catch a live theatrical or musical performance at the downtown Cascade Theater, which dates back to the 1930s. “It has quite a history,” says Johnston. “From the gold on the ceiling to the arts and the Art Deco feel, going to a show there is like stepping back in time. They have everything from the symphony to the annual Cascade Christmas productions.” 

Before the show, set aside some time to shop at locally owned stores like the boutique clothier Carousel and Ferris Wheel Kids, a purveyor of one-of-a-kind children’s gifts and toys. If you’re feeling peckish, you can grab some excellent craft beers and elevated pub fare at the family-owned Woody’s Brewing Company, or, for a more refined, date-night vibe, reserve a table at the steakhouse Market Street Blade & Barrel. During the warmer months, head to Taste & See Creamery for scoops of inventive flavors like blueberry goat milk cheesecake and balsamic roasted strawberry.

When it comes to finding a place to stay, campers will be in luck—Redding is minutes away from spacious sites in Whiskeytown National Recreation Area and Shasta-Trinity National Forest. You can also stay right in Redding at chains like the Sheraton Redding at the Sundial Bridge and Holiday Inn Redding, as well as the Americana Modern Hotel, a glammed-up version of your classic roadside motel.