Chico Listed as ‘Best Place to Live’ in Men’s Journal

Chico has been included in a recent list of the Best Places to Live in America in the Men’s Journal. The April edition includes a rundown of U.S. communities and why residents love them. The article reads, “College and community mesh so neatly in Chico that the would-be Sacramento Valley farm town has more than a little in common with eastern brick-and-ivy burgs, with its leafy streets and coffee houses, and arched brick campus buildings in the middle of town.” The article goes on to describe the local love of fishing, skiing, day trips to Mount Shasta or Lassen Park, and attributes like Bidwell Park and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Chico is one of 25 communities named and is referred to as “best place to get your degree, then settle down.” Chico has made a number of best-place lists, including Money magazine in 2005 and 1999, Sperling’s Best Places in 2005 (Chico and Butte County), and Forbes Magazine in 2000. CSU Chico has also been ranked No. 6 is master’s programs at public universities by U.S. News.

Visit Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding!

One of the best known features of Redding (a short hour and a half drive North of Chico) is the Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Located on the Sacramento River, this facility is the perfect day trip for families looking to explore nature and learn about Northern California culture.

The park is situated on 300 acres designed to promote exploration and educational opportunities for all ages. The museum features permanent interactive exhibits, an underwaterturtlebay_museum.jpg fish viewer, historic recreations, artwork and experiments. It also houses the exhibits that travel through Turtle Bay several times a year (past features include: The Body Exhibit, Titanic artifacts, Scoop on Poop, and Dinosaur fossils). Next door to the museum is the Paul Bunyan Forest Camp, an educational hub about forestry and logging that sparked growth in the area. The Camp also has outdoor play equipment, a logging water feature, amphitheater with seasonal animal shows, as well as the amazing butterfly and aviary exhibit.

On July 4, 2004 the Sundial Bridge was opened in Redding and has become an icon of the area. The bridge is located adjacent to the park and spans the Sacramento River. Designed in the fashion of a giant sundial, is the first free-standing bridge in the United States, and  is truly spectacular. The designer, Santiago Calatrava is world rpage0_blog_entry14_1.jpgenowned for his works including the 2004 Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. Next to the bridge is the beautiful McConnell Arboretum and Botanical Gardens with Mediterranean plants, a children’s garden, and water fountains. And for the adventure seeking Turtle Bay offers Segway tours around the park and the Sacramento River Trail.

Summer Hours are from 9am - 5pm daily

General Admission is adult (13+) $13, child (4-12) 9$, and seniors (65+) $9,  memberships are available.

For more information visit  http://www.turtlebay.org/ or call 1-800-TURTLEBAY

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About Chico

Located in the heart of the north State, Chico’s proud culture, location and csu_chico1.jpgeconomy have made it home to one of Northern California’s most unique cities. Though a self-determining small-town feel remains, Chico has become the premier location for business, culture and recreation in the north state. In addition, Chico is home to one of California’s most distinguished state universities – commonly known as Chico State.

Resting 90 miles north of Sacramento, Chico is home to over 80,000 residents. To the west and south of the city you’ll find mainly fields, plains and agricultural crops, and to the north and east, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada.

bidwell-mansion-chico.jpgChico locals have taken pride in their surrounding wilderness, preserving a large portion of it for Bidwell Park. As the Park winds like a miniature Grand Canyon into the foothills, it becomes one of the largest city parks in the country. Though surrounding areas are spectacular, Chico inner city boasts a diverse population of trees; thus, earning its nickname, The City of Trees.

Known to be a college town, Chico’s rich culture has become a hotspot for many events: live performances frequent both indoor and outdoor stages; in the summer, Thursday night market transforms downtown into a carnival like atmosphere; the Chico Outlaws, a minor-league baseball team, entertains many of the hot summer nights; and46591056onemile.jpg the nightlife keeps the streets alive well into the morning.

With a strong sense of community and culture, Chico’s businesses – from restaurants to bicycle cabs – have come to support and thrive on the active people that are proud to call Chico their home.