Sky High Safari is the newest family attraction at Riverbanks Zoo. Kick it up in high gear on a 4 stories high vertical ropes course. Once you conquer your altitude fears it’s a breeze. Just in case you get “stuck” there is helpful staff nearby to get you down quickly. Sky High Safari is $7 [...]

Popularity: 10% [?]

We don’t have to go to the zoo or a fancy animal park. Just sit in a rocking chair on our front porch and enjoy the show. Every week we get a “friendly” visit from our furry, scaly or feathery neighbors: deer, rabbits, racoons, opossums, snakes (non venomous thank God!), foxes, turtles, turkeys, geese, and [...]

Popularity: 11% [?]

The SC State Museum in downtown Columbia features a stunning collection of historical telescopes, and astronomy documents and instruments donated by Robert B. Ariail. The exhibit is free with museum admission ($7 adults, $6 seniors, $5 children 3-12). Here is a virtual tour of this amazing gallery (historic data from the exhibit):
4 ¼ inch Edward [...]

Popularity: 13% [?]

Lake Wateree offers one of the best places to kayak north of Columbia. Recently we spent an entire morning paddling on the open lake and its several inlets. We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful landscape, the vibrant foliage, the birds flying around and even the fish jumping from the water.
We let in at a small beach [...]

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Riverbanks Botanical Garden it’s a truly enchanted place to spend the day with the kids. You are delighted by beautiful plants, flowers, trees, water fountains and art organized in over 30 themed gardens. Little ones enjoy a shaded playground equipped with a giant chair and a pink house, a children’s garden, a natural habitat [...]

Popularity: 8% [?]

Last weekend we escaped the heat (and the TV trap) by going to Monkey Joe’s in Columbia, just off Clemson Road and I-20. Admission is $7.99 for children 2-12, $5 for playing children under 2 and free for accompanying adults.

The are several big slides and climbing structures for older kids, and separate play areas [...]

Popularity: 6% [?]

If it’s the end of April in Columbia then it’s time for Sparkleberry Fair! This year we went for the first time. What a pleasant surprise! Imagine a smaller, less crowded and more fun State Fair. Parking was $5, individual food items and rides about $3-4 ($25 for unlimited rides). The best activities were free: [...]

Popularity: 9% [?]

You gotta love poo!
The funny, weird and sometimes stinky Animal Grossology exhibit at the SC State Museum takes the natural science to new heights. This post is all about number two.
The King of Poop
No, it’s not Elvis. The dung beetle is the ultimate pooper scooper.

It eats it, lives in it, lays eggs in it and [...]

Popularity: 6% [?]

The new Animal Grossology exhibit at the SC State Museum is filled with hot air, doo-doo balls, slime creatures, stomach worms, blood suckers and pre-historic poop. There’s a lot of scientific trivia and fun facts and a variety of interactive stations kids can play with. Admission is $5 ($3 for children) on top of regular [...]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Riverbanks Zoo’s newest kids in town are Owen the koala joey and Isabelle the giraffe Southern belle.
Owen was born last May to parents Lottie and Jimmie and spent 7 months growing in his mother’s pouch before making his first public appearance. The size of a jellybean at birth, the koala joey travels to its mother’s [...]

Popularity: 9% [?]