Riverbanks zoo

Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia consistently ranks among the top zoos in the Southeast, and after visiting with kids, it's easy to see why. This isn't a small municipal zoo with tired exhibits — it's a legitimate 170-acre destination with over 2,000 animals and habitats that give kids a real sense of the wild.

The layout is set across the Saluda River, with the main zoo on one side and the Riverbanks Botanical Garden on the other — both included in your admission. Most families with kids spend 3-4 hours on the zoo side and use the botanical garden as a calm wind-down walk at the end.

For families with toddlers, the Children's Farm is the most hands-on part of the zoo. Kids can get up close with goats, pigs, and chickens in a petting area that's low-key enough not to overwhelm small ones. The Birdhouse at Riverbanks is another must — you literally walk through an enclosed aviary with hundreds of free-flying birds swooping around your head.

Kids consistently lose their minds over this in the best possible way.

The African section is expansive. Giraffes, white rhinos, and African lions are housed in habitats big enough that the animals actually move around — your kids aren't looking at an animal standing motionless in a corner. The penguin exhibit and the gorilla habitat are also standouts.

Practically speaking: arrive at 9AM when gates open. Animal activity drops significantly in summer afternoons, and the crowds peak on summer weekends after 11AM. Parking is $5 in the main lot. Online tickets save a few dollars per person — worth doing if you're planning in advance.

If you're thinking about a return visit, the family membership pays for itself after two trips for a family of 4. The ASTC reciprocal program also works here if your home science center or zoo participates.