I recently visited Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens (Columbia, SC) for the first time and it blew my mind! Having recently completed a multi-million dollar expansion, it’s quite the place! It’s so much more than just animals , and for that I’m grateful, as I’m someone who struggles a bit with the old-school zoo concept. Fortunately, Riverbanks Zoo isn’t old-school as you’ll soon see.
The newly designed zoo entrance allows crowds of people to visit without feeling crowded. The walkways and viewing areas are spacious, so you don’t feel as if you’re tripping over people the moment you walk through the gates, and the pedestrian bridge to a new parking lot has cut down on much of the traffic congestion.
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Sea Lion Landing
This is the crown jewel of the renovations, and it’s one of the first things you see as you enter the park. The sea lions were off display for a long time while this was in the works, and everyone wanted them back badly!
If the habitat looks familiar, it’s because it was modeled after San Francisco’s Pier 39. Visitors can view the sea lions from multiple vantage points, including a large underwater observation area. One very cool item to note is that the sea lion tank water is filtered naturally through a man made marsh behind the habitat. It’s then returned to the tank, and it saves 3 million gallons of water annually. Sustainability is important to Riverbanks Zoo!
We also had the opportunity to see the sea lions working with the staff behind the scenes. One thing I learned that made me feel good is that nowadays the purpose of training is not for entertainment, but rather so that the trainers build a relationship with the animals in order to monitor their health and diet more carefully. Thank you for that! Behind the scenes tours are available to all zoo visitors at an additional cost and should be arranged in advance.
As you leave the sea lion viewing area, take a look at the sculptures. They’ve been created from trash found in nearby rivers and waterways (which is really sad), but it serves as a great reminder that we need to be mindful how profoundly our actions affect the environment.
Botanical Gardens
This. This was my favorite part of the visit! Riverbanks Zoo proudly boasts 70 acres of botanical gardens including the new children’s area (my next point of discussion). I could easily spend an entire afternoon relaxing in the peace and quiet of the gardens. It’s utterly amazing!
Waterfall Junction and Children’s Garden
Along with a brand new water splash and play area, kids can run in a large meado, climb in rabbit holes, play in a treehouse, dig for dino bones or enjoy child-sized playhouses with chalk walls for scribbling masterpieces. A snack bar is located in the area as well.
Don’t forget the animals!
There are over 2000 animals at Riverbanks Zoo! Be sure to wander through the kangaroo walkabout and enjoy the new Grizzly Ridge and Otter Run exhibits — definite highlights for me.
Admission to Waterfall Junction and the botanical gardens is included with zoo admission, so it doesn’t surprise me that zoo memberships have nearly doubled in the last year or two. Riverbanks Zoo is worth a repeat visit and then some.
Visit Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens – Columbia SC
Main Entrance: 500 Wildlife Parkway Columbia, SC 29210
Botanical Gardens Entrance: 1300 Botanical Parkway West Columbia, SC 29169
Hours of Operation (subject to change)
Through October 16, 2016:
9:00am–5:00pm Monday–Friday; 9:00am–6:00pm Saturday–Sunday.
Open daily except for Thanksgiving, Christmas and special closings.
For more information on the Columbia, South Carolina area, visit columbiacvb.com.
Comments & Reviews
Sounds like it’s a great zoo! I have not been out that way, but if I do I will definitely go check out the zoo. I love everything they have in there.
Love all your pictures! It sounds like a great zoo! My son would love it!
Looks like you guys had a LOT of fun!
Oh my gosh that place look SO fun! I had to do a double take at the seal housing, those houses look so real. Spoiled little buggers. Adorable.
I would love to visit this zoo if I was ever in the area. The botanical gardens alone would be worth it.
This looks like an amazing place to spend the day. I would love to walk thru the botanical gardens.
My kids love to go to the zoo. The botanical gardens look beautiful. I will have to check it out the next time I am in the area.
That sounds like an amazing zoo. I have always loved going to zoos. My girls love it as well. If I’m ever in the area, I’d love to check this one out.
Wow Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens looks beautiful! I hope to visit it soon!
What a fun zoo. I love the sculptures- shows people how important it is to keep waterways clean!
Oh my! Gorgeous gardens!! We ‘re members of the San Diego Zoology Society and love to stroll through the Zoo and Safari Park. WE also take our grandkids every few weeks.
What a beautiful place to visit. The sculptures created are a pretty neat idea but sad that kind of stuff is found in waters.
Thats a beautiful place to visit. i appreciate you sharing tis article with me.
I was completely unaware of this until I read your review. Will have to add it to my bucket list. The creativity in the sculptures is incredible.
What a cool zoo! I would definitely make a trip out there to visit this zoo!
Wow! What a fun and unique zoo! My kids are zoo junkies, we will have to visit sometime!
Definitely makes me want to head out here on our next road trip!
Looks like a fun and gorgeous place. I love all the sculptures. And the Botanical gardens would be my fave, too!
Whata lovely spot – looks like it would be wonderful for kids!
This looks like such a great zoo! The botanical gardens look so pretty!
Wow!!! This place looks and sounds fantastic, what a place to visit! My kids would love it, however we are from the UK but hopefully one day we’ll holiday here!!
This is a fab place for a day out – I’d love to see the botanical gardens
We aren’t too far of a drive away from here. Looks like a fun place we can visit with my grandsons!
Oh wow! I have never in my life seen a zoo like this before. It almost looks like a resort with animals instead of zoo. Love it!
When the kids were growing up, we visited Riverbanks Zoo often. It’s only an hour from my home and we’ve made so many great memories there. Their Christmas lights are awesome. I haven’t been since the expansion. I’ll have to visit soon and see all the new improvements.
What a beautiful place to visit!! I love the arty sculptures and the animals seem happy
My goodness! I know where we’re going on our next vacation to the States! That’s the most amazing zoo I’ve ever seen!
The sea lion place is the absolute best! What a lovely idea. I also love the trash sculpture, it is such a vivid reminder of what our waste is doing to the world.
I love love LOVE sea lions, they always seem so mischievous and fun!
Sounds like an beautiful place to visit with family! I will plan to go there very soon!
This is such a great post! Makes me want to make a trip just to go to this zoo.
Wow this certainly looks way more exciting than most of the zoo’s I’ve been too. Love the sea lion houses x
Liz, that house on the water looks really cool. Haven’t been to SC in a LONG time. Hoping Charleston soon!
What a great zoo and botanical garden! We love going to the zoos here in Chicago and our botanical garden is so beautiful.
You got some good pictures. Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens was so nice. I’d like to go back one day.
This Zoo is just beautiful! I like the Sea Lions-they are so cute. I would be thrilled to spend the day at this zoo! It looks like so much fun.
My family loves to visit different zoos and see all kinds of animals. We have one 3 minutes from our house that we visit often, that’s where we take our after school walks.
What a fantastic day out – the trash sculpture really brings it home that we need to take care of our planet doesn’t it x
This is awesome. I’m in the northern part of SC and I haven’t even ventured down to the zoo. I’ve wanted to go since I moved here 9 years ago. I may have to go now.
I think that my nephew would really enjoy visiting a place like this. He is so into animals. He can tell you what animal is what by sound or sight. He is a brilliant 4-year old. Thanks for the info.
Wow, this looks like such a great place for the whole family. My boys would love the children’s area!
What a cool zoo. I love the sea lions house, I want to live there.
This looks and sounds really great. I’d love to visit a zoo overseas. It looks interesting and I bet my daughter would love it.
That place looks so fun and interesting. Definitely I have to go there with my son.
This zoo looks so unique! I love outdoor art, especially with found objects and these sculptures seem to be worth the trip from California to see.
Now this looks like an awesome zoo. And that sea lion tank is amazing! Love the pics you captured…makes me wish I was there.
This looks like such a lovely zoo. I love all the open spaces and greenery
Wow, this zoo puts others to shame! We have the lamest zoos ever compared to this! Love the sea loin area so much!
I love a day out at the zoo! Your photos are awesome, particularly the botanical gardens ones!
Milly // Mini Adventures
This looks incredible! I love zoos! So much fun!
That looks so beautiful – and I love that they have a children’s garden there. I love visiting the zoos – more often I enjoy seeing all of the little bits they’ve added and never get to see the animals as much!
This looks like so much fun! I haven’t been to the zoo in ages but now I really want to go!
Holy cool!!!!! LOVE !!
Seeing the kangaroo just chilling gave me a laugh. I’ve never been to the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, but if I’m ever in the area I would love to check it out.
You’ve shared some great pictures. This looks like it was an amazing adventure!
I love visiting the zoo on my trips! I’ve been to San Diego, Atlanta, Chicago, Tampa, Orlando and Miami zoos and loved it! Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens looks so amazing! I’d love to go there someday! Loved your pictures!
We go a few times a year. I live about 10 miles from there and I love visiting. The gardens are my favorite part too. I am so glad you enjoyed it! It is even more enjoyable if you visit when it is not so muggy here.
I like this place, the best part about it is that animals look happy and healthy
Could stare at those creative art pieces for hours. What an amazing find. So much better than a standard zoo.
Wow, the Riverbanks Zoo looks like the total package for sure! I love that they make it a point to place a special focus on the environment.
This zoo looks incredible! And what wonderful photographs you captured… this is a place I would definitely visit with my husband.
That looks like so much fun! I love that they use trash found on riverbanks to create sculptures of animals!
What a beautiful zoo-I love its focus on the environment and creating habitats that take the considerations of its animal residents to heart! Hope to visit soon!
I love the artwork. It looks like you had a great time and it was a few million well spent!
I love that this zoo also incorporates a botanical garden! I love seeing the animals but also enjoy checking out the flora!
This sounds like an amazing Zoo. My kids love to go see all the animals and learn about them.
It looks like a really beautiful zoo that families could really enjoy. That’s so neat that they have a behind the scenes program too. I’d definitely pay a little extra for that experience!
What a great zoo! We spend a lot of time at the Bronx Zoo and the Queens Zoo, this may be worth a trip down south.
So pretty. I want to see this for myself – so many gorgeous things!
Riverbanks zoo looks like a wonderful place to visit. It’s always fun to watch the sea lions, I’m from San Francisco and we love watching the sea lions at Pier 39. The Botanical gardens are so pretty. Love waterfalls too and of course the sweet animals.
I take my son to the zoo all the time here in the United States. I really like your photos of the Kangaroos.
The zoo is always a fun place. Every zoo is different so its fun to see them all.
Looks like a great place to visit! We always try to visit the zoo whenever we are visiting somewhere! I will definitely have to check this one out when we are in the area.
This looks awesome. I love the sculptures made out of plastic trash. A great way to help the next generation learn and hopefully move away from a throwaway society
Oh it looks amazing and the children’s area looks so cool! H x
I’m not sure how I feel about Zoos these days, but I love the statue!
that feeling of being so close to the zoo can give you alot of reason to go visit one. great photos in here and truly i enjoyed reading this through.
What a fantastic looking zoo. I love how they have made statues from recycled parts – That turtle is amazing. You had great weather for your visit too.
Wow! This sounds amazing! I visited there once year ago, but would love to go again and see this expansion! My family would love he sea lions and the gardens! If I’m ever up that way again, I’d definitely stop by.
I love visiting zoos in my area. My children and I find it so educational to learn about them this way. Love your beautiful pictures.
This sems to be absolutely much more than a typical zoo. We used to visit zoos when kids were small and they found them so fascinating but this one would have been their favourite, I’m more than sure! Love those kangaroos and the house by the pool combination looks great.
I love botanical gardens and Riverbank’s gardens are beautiful, I love the waterfall feature so pretty xxx
Wow looks awesome. We love going to the zoo, and having lots of things to do and see at the zoo makes it so much more fun! this looks like a place to visit!
I love that sea lion landing! What a cool set up! This sounds like one of the most beautiful zoo’s I have seen in a long time. I did enjoy the one in Ashley, North Carolina as well, but even that was not as beautiful. Blessings
This isn’t too far from us. We need to make a visit sometime soon.
Oh my goodness!! This place is absolutely awesome!! I have to plan a trip there! Great photos!
This sounds like such a fun day out for the whole family.
This sounds like an amazing Zoo and Garden. Your pictures are beautiful!
Wow, that looks like it was a beautiful and captivating place! I love taking the kids to the zoo, especially nice ones like this!
What a really lovely Zoo and I love that the surroundings are just so stunning too x
This zoo looks really wonderful, I would love to visit a zoo sometime and see all of the cool animals!
This looks like so much fun! I love how cute the seal lions look.
Love,
Ivelisse | CarnationDreams.com
Such a fun and interesting place to visit! It looks like you really enjoyed a lot!
What a fabulous zoo to visit with so much more to do than many others.
What a nice zoo to visit, I bet my kids would enjoy there so much.
That zoo looks so fascinating. It is not the usual zoo that my grandson usually go to.
I love the zoo! I can’t believe this one looks amazing. My son will surely love it!
I’ve been hearing a lot about this Riverbank Zoo. And it seems like a great place to visit! Hope we can get there one time.
Looks like a fun zoo to attend. And the seal habitat sounds amazing. Glad they’re well taken care of.
This looked like it was a gorgeous place to experience! Wish I could stop by and experience it sometime soon with the kids!
Wow, they did go all out. Everything looks great, and hurrah for the splash areas for the kids. Those are great when it’s HOT outside!
I love visiting zoos and, so far, have visited a few in a few states. There is so much to learn there about wildlife and animal life.
I’ve only been to a couple of zoos in my life but would love to visit more. This one looks really fun to go to.
That looks like such a wonderful adventure! We love animals, and seeing how much there is to offer with the gardens also makes it a great family outing.
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens is a gorgeous place to visit. It would make for a great family day for sure. I would love to visit here some day and I love the Sea Lions Landing. Thanks for sharing your awesome experience.
This looks like an amazing zoo! I love how all across the country more and more zoos are adding other attractions for families to enjoy!
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit – will have to keep it in mind if I am ever local!
Awesome! There’s simply nothing like it! It’s really beautiful out here and it would be nice to spend a day there with the family just to relax and enjoy what the zoo has to offer.
This looks like a lovely place for a day out.
The sculpture made out of the trash that goes into the ocean is very effective and really gives some pause for thought. x
I agree with you. We must take care of our environment and avoid these senseless dumping of garbage into our oceans. Those sculptures are reminders that these materials may endanger marine life.
I’d love to take the kids here. I wish it wasn’t so far but perhaps we can go in the future. Your photos are beautiful!
Such a beautiful place! Loved your pictures!
What an amazing zoo!! I love the fact they have a splash park there too. x
What wonderful photos. I used to love trips like this. Never been here but by the sounds of things would like this.
It’s such a lovely place and I’m sure the whole family will have a blast when you take them here! I love the botanical gardens as well! Everything is perfect for a day of quality time with the kids!
LIZ!! I wish I’d known you visited Riverbanks zoo! I’m about 2 hours away from it! We need to go back since the upgrade!!
It’s sad that so much trash is in the rivers and such, people are so thoughtless. I love the sculptures they have created with the trash. The zoo looks like a wonderful place for animals to live.
This is a great zoo to visit. It is nice to know that the trainers try to build a relationship with the animals to monitor their health and diet. I have a friend who lives in SC. I will ask if they’ve been here. If not, then they should. Awesome place for an entire family to visit!
Omg what a fabulous place. It’s been a long time since I’ve visited a zoo but its always great to see the animals.
Wow this place looks amazing, I’d love to go there!!
This looks awesome! I would love to visit this zoo and check out those kangaroos!
Sounds like a great zoo. I am not into zoos but gardens are my happy place 😉
Now THIS is a zoo. The one have here in Little Rock absolutely pales in comparison. I’d love to be able to take my son to this one.
This sounds like a great place to visit with the whole family. Kids can learn too!
Mhaan | http://www.mommyrockininstyle.com
What an amazing zoo! I would love to go here.
Wow, very nice place! It’s really good when a zoo can get an investment and expand its own facilities!!
I usually love visiting Zoos with my kids during summer as that is a great learning experience for them with some fun all around. The Riverbanks Zoo looks amazing & I am in love that Sea Lion, the beauty of that Botanical Garden and all those cute animals as well!
Oh my gracious… this zoo looks amazing! What a fabulous place to take the family.
That is the zoo???
Wow, I want to go! Time to plan a vacation there!
Love to visit in this kind of places withfamily and even friends. Its entertaining and at the same time educational as well.
I really love this zoo and need to go back up there so I can do a review for Tails of the Lowcountry!