Planning your trip to Redding, Calif.

THE BEST WAY

From LAX, Alaska Airlines flies nonstop and direct (stop, no change of plane). United, Delta and Alaska offer connecting flights (change of plane). Restricted round-trip fares begin at $228.

WHERE TO STAY

The hotel scene in Redding is pretty much limited to the familiar: Best Western, Red Lion, Holiday Inn, etc. But I visited some bed-and-breakfasts that have personality plus.

Bridgehouse B&B, 1455 Riverside Drive; (530) 247-7177, www.reddingbridgehouse.com. This inn is a renovation of a 1930s cottage with four guest rooms, all with flat-screen TV and wireless Internet, and a small exercise room. Best is the river-view Sundial Room. Doubles are $95 to $160 a night.

Tiffany House Bed and Breakfast Inn, 1510 Barbara Road; (530) 244-3225, www.tiffanyhousebb. This picket- fenced hilltop house sits on a residential street minutes from town. Three rooms in the main house and a free-standing cottage. Antiques-filled parlor, garden with pool. Doubles are $110 to $150 a night.

O’Brien Mountain Inn, 18026 O’Brien Inlet Road, Lakehead; (530) 238-8026, www.obrienmountaininn.com. In the Shasta Lake area 17 miles north of Redding, this woodsy property has four music-themed rooms in the main house and four suites, including free-standing Luke’s Tree House. Doubles are $140 to $300 a night.

WHERE TO EAT

Market Street Steakhouse, 1777 Market St.; (530) 241-1777. This popular and noisy newcomer is giving 69-year-old Jack’s Grill, a local favorite, competition among steak lovers. Main dishes $18 to $32.

Gironda’s, 1100 Center St.; (530) 244-7663, www.girondas.com. Family-owned Italian restaurant with concrete floors, wine in water glasses, big portions and a huge menu. (Try shrimp piccata with capellini.) Main dishes $13 to $26.Thai Bistro, 1270 Yuba St., (530) 244-4666. Thai fusion cuisine (scallops meunière, New York steak with green curry) as well as staples such as pad Thai and satay. Most main dishes, $14 to $22.

TO LEARN MORE

Redding Convention and Visitors Bureau, 777 Auditorium Drive; (530) 225-4100 or (800) 874-7562, www.visitredding.com.