Riverbanks Zoo & Botanical Gardens is located on the banks of the Congaree River just outside of Columbia, Riverbanks Zoo is rated as one of the ten best zoos in the United States. Situated on a 170-acre tract of beautifully landscaped property, the zoo specializes in showing the animals in their natural habitat: polar bears plunging into icy waters, elephants and giraffes grazing in pastures, lions sunning in the ‘Serengeti,’ and chimps in zoot suits roller skating beneath the jungle canopy.
For plant and garden lovers, HGTV has named The Riverbanks Botanical Gardens as one of the country’s top 20 botanical gardens. Featured are differently themed gardens—Japanese, water, woodland, bog, desert, etc. There’s no better time than spring to see this beautiful park.
We’ll board our chartered bus at 8:00 for the 2+ hour drive. The weather should be perfect for a comfortable 4-hour, self-guided visit—time enough to include a lunch or snack break at one of the many concessions or the delightful zoo restaurant. There is a regularly scheduled tram to transport you between the zoo and gardens. At 3:00 we’ll board the bus for the drive back to Seabrook. And just in case the weather’s not so perfect, the bus goes, rain or shine. Handicap accessible. The cost is $42.00 (includes tickets) and there is a Minimum of 35 people and a maximum of 38.
Submitted by Carol Bane