Places to see and things to do
outside in the beautiful state of
South Carolina.

The Riverbanks Zoo has three California sea lions and three Harbor Seals. The attraction has a tank in which guests can view the sea lions inside and outside. There is theater seating facing the outdoor tank and informative presentations occur daily so that visitors can learn more about these animals. California sea lions are extremely social, and often engage and "interact" with the zoo guests. For example, like featured in the photo above - "racing" with Darcy and showing off their twirls and flips.

The flamingo habitat is a top-rated attraction at the zoo. Located just outside of the Birdhouse at Riverbanks, they announce their presence to zoo guests with loud vocalizations.

The Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Aquarium & Reptile Conservation Center will advance the Riverbanks Zoo's mission to protect and conserve endangered species. The process has involved a complete demolition of the old aquarium and constructing a new facility that will feature a new entry to the facility. This entry will contain a pathway that will showcase new habitats for various aquatic and desert species.

Each giraffe has a unique pattern and a tongue up to 18-20 inches in length! For the past forty-five years, the Riverbanks Zoo has maintained a giraffe habitat on the grounds. Currently the African Savannah exhibit is home to five females and three males. Each day from 10AM-1:30PM, guests can hand-feed the giraffes leafy greens for a nominal cost however, individuals with Riverbanks Zoo & Garden memberships can feed the giraffes at no charge.

As one of Australia's most famously beloved animals, the koala exhibit is a delightful treat for zoo guests. Visitors can get an up-close view of these little "bears." Some facts from the Riverbank's website: "Although bear-like in appearance, koalas are not bears but tree-dwelling marsupials related to the kangaroo and wombat. Marsupials are mammals that carry their young in a pouch. Females give birth to one koala joey at a time. After a short gestation period of 34–36 days, the joey moves into the pouch, where it remains for several months. A young joey will continue to stay with the mother after it exits the pouch, clinging to her back for nearly a year or until another joey is born and moves to the pouch."

Flamingos are incredibly social, and each flock of flamingos has its social tiers or status dynamics. They are one of my favorite subjects to draw during the summer months - I enjoy watching their "discussions" and pecking order resolutions. Learn more facts about the flamingos, like why they are pink, and the Riverbanks exhibit, by clicking on the link below.

I love drawing at the zoo, especially during the summer months. Sometimes my sketches are polished renderings, and other times they are loose and impressionistic, like the flamingo sketch above. Check this month's Studio Visit page to see a more comprehensive selection of my Riverbanks Zoo drawings.

The White-Faced Saki Monkey lives in the Conservation Outpost. This animal hales from the rainforest in South America and is known as a "flying monkey." In the wild, they dwell in the lower canopy of the forest, feeding primarily on fruits, nuts, seeds, and insects. Their life span in the wild averages fourteen years however, they can live up to thirty-six years in captivity. Sakis are active during the day and sleep in highly elevated locations at night.

There are many activities for little, young and big kids at the zoo. Some of the activities for little and young kids include the Spots and Stripe Railroad and the Endangered Species Carousel. Geared for big kids are the Wild Adventures Rock Wall and Sky-High Safari - featured above as part of the Explorer's Outpost.

These super cute and super social creatures reside in the Riverbanks Conservation Outpost. They are busy bodies to say the least - very active feeding or playing. They, too, are from the Rainforest in South America. In the wild, squirrel monkeys eat primarily fruits and insects. Sometimes, however, they also eat seeds, leaves, flowers, buds, nuts, and eggs.

The day we visited the zoo the gorillas were partially inside and partially outside. There was a vibe of "family time" among the primates - their connection to each other is evident as expressed with their eye contact in this photo. Also, a young gorilla would come up and slap the glass when a child was sitting next to the exhibit. It was not a violent slap, but rather playful, as if to initiate a game of tag.

Guests can experience the Farm Yard daily from 9AM-4PM. For a small fee per guest, visitors can groom, pet, and roam with the herd of goats. Guests with a membership can enjoy this attraction for free.

The kiosk is an incredible asset to the exhibit. It enables visitors to learn each primates name and relationship to each other, as well as the length of time they have been at the zoo. From the Riverbanks' website: "The tropical rainforests of western Africa are home to western lowland gorillas."

The habitat for the goats is a generous space. This allows for the exhibit to feel spacious and open while interacting with the animals, and creates an opportunity for guests to practice social distancing as needed.

The Riverbanks Zoo & Garden splash pad is located at the garden side entrance is a summer time favorite.

The Riverbanks Zoo & Garden features several animals from North America, and the grizzly bear is one of them. The bears are active, roaming throughout the exhibit and playing - frequently coming up the glass where visitors can get an intimate look at them. From the Riverbanks' website: "Grizzly bears will often stand on their hind legs to better use their keen sense of smell in locating food. Riverbanks’ two grizzlies are male siblings that were orphaned when young."

The scale of the splash pad is ample, and after the kiddos cool off they can enjoy refreshments like hotdogs, soft pretzels, cotton candy, popcorn or soft drinks. For those who want to remain active, there are other activity areas like a "dino" dig, an obstacle course, and more.

There are several dining areas at the zoo where one can choose from a selection of kid friendly favorites like pizza, burgers, tater tots, chicken tenders and more.

Herman the turtle is a colorful masterpiece turtle, and on permanent display at the sea lion attraction. He is made entirely out of trash clean-up collected from rivers and beaches. He is larger than life and modeled after the loggerhead sea turtle. The recycled "art" clean up materials used to create him has an important message for visitors regarding single-use plastics and their threat to the environment and marine life habitats: plastic pollution is an epidemic please cease and curb the use of plastics - especially those used only once. Featured next to Herman is a donation box, enabling visitors to make a financial contribution to plastic waste clean-up during their visit.

Zoo visitors are able to feed these socially curious, interactive, and enthusiastic birds. Guests are able to hold out a sweet nectar concoction comprised of pollen, water, and other vitamins. Sometimes the birds land on the heads of visitors or nibble at their finger tips.

The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden are some of the most beautifully maintained grounds in South Carolina. Each summer, I put my Riverbanks Zoo & Garden membership to use - the zoo becomes my studio. I frequently visit the zoo to draw the lush landscape and animals throughout the summer months.

Darcy is becoming quite the budding photographer. She takes South Carolina Sunshine seriously and during our excursions, she takes seriously her role, applies a work ethic, and seeks to make quality contributions.

We live five minutes from the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, so a membership for us is a must. The zoo offers a variety of membership packages that allow members to enjoy frequent visits and special perks such as discounts off of Riverbanks Backstage and Zoo Camps, free admission to Members' Night Out, free parking, 10% discount from the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden gift shop, free visit to Lights Before Christmas, and members-only discounts off Boo at the Zoo, and other speciality organized events. Photo by Darcy Phelps.

There are three types of penguins house at the The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden Birdhouse: Gentoo, King and Rockhopper. During our visit, Darcy was smitten and drawn to the King Penguins. She took several action shots that pictorially had several layers of texture, color and movement. Click on the button below to learn more about the birds and the distinct qualities among the species. Photo by Darcy Phelps.

More behind the scenes: Darcy photographs a Gentoo Penguin.

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The Bridge to the Wild has been a project in the works for the past few years and the "outlined includes ​​transforming both sides of the Saluda River into SC’s leading conservation resource" -Samantha Robertson.

That is a real possibility and a proposal that is in the works. Samantha Robertson of COLA Today recently reported on an 80 million dollar project proposal that has been submitted to Richland and Lexington Counties titled Bridge to the Wild. Part of the multi-faceted proposal envisions turning the lower banks of the Saluda River into a habitat that would house orangutans.

Other developments for the Bridge to the Wild include "the South Carolina Nature Preserve where guests can learn about + experience our region’s most at-risk species — like black bears, bald eagles, and red wolves." Read more about this plan in Samantha Robertson's COLA Today article by clicking on the link below.