A Few Photos from Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina

When your travels bring you to or near Columbia, South Carolina, be sure your itinerary includes a visit to the Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Not just the Zoo, but also the Gardens.

There’s something to see any time of the year. I took this photo of berries in the Garden on February 1st. Not as many brightly colored flowers during winter. But this is South Carolina! So there’s always something to attract your attention.

More on the Garden in another post. But look at the photo above. That’s the work of Anna Hyatt Huntington. One of two on display here. They’re smaller than most of the pieces you’ve probably seen at Brookgreen Gardens, down on the Coast. But nonetheless interesting, and they fit perfectly into the Garden design.

The Garden is across the river from the Zoo. But access is simplified by this train. It makes a round-trip every ten or fifteen minutes. From the Zoo side just walk across the bridge and board the train. It’s free! And like the Zoo and Gardens designed for visitors of all ages.

Speaking of visitors of all ages, an interactive children’s garden is slated to open in April of this year. Those are some of the kid-friendly tree houses still under construction. Click here for more details. This is a Big project, some time in the planning and construction. Riverbanks doesn’t do things by halves.
Back to the zoo. Click on the photos below to open SmugMug photo galleries. Then click the “slideshow” option above the photos for larger views. Remarkable creatures, well cared for.