When you’re out and about with plans to spend the day in Orangeburg visiting its most beautiful places, consider these visually appealing destinations that are sure to satisfy your craving for lush and lovely.
Edisto Memorial Gardens
As one of Orangeburg’s most beautiful locations, Edisto Memorial Gardens is a breath of fresh air combined with a rainbow of color. Situated along the Edisto River, rose enthusiasts can enjoy the fragrance of 79 rose beds containing 120 varieties and nearly 5,000 blooming roses. A bevy of colorful azaleas enhance the gardens and compliment the roses. Each year, the city celebrates the flowers with the Orangeburg Festival of Roses.
Stroll along the 2,600-foot boardwalk and observe the cypress wetlands. Enjoy the butterflies flitting in the garden or relax in the quiet respite of the sensory and serenity garden. During the months of mid-March through mid-April, the gardens are ablaze with the colors of blooming dogwoods, cherry trees, azaleas, and assorted flora followed by rose buds from mid-April to November. The gardens are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk.
Congaree National Park
For a complete outdoor experience, a visit to Congaree National Park has plenty of activities to please everyone. The park offers an adventure, whether you prefer to explore on foot or by water. Hikers have access to more than 25 miles through the lush landscape, and visitors who enjoy canoeing or kayaking can follow a marked trail along Cedar Creek.
For short jaunts, the boardwalk provides 2.4 miles of trail. There are also guided programs available year-round on Saturdays by volunteers and rangers. Fishing enthusiasts can drop a line and wile away the afternoon in most areas of the park with the proper fishing license.
Plan a longer stay by bringing along camping equipment and pitching a tent in either Longleaf or Bluff Campground. Backcountry camping is also possible with a permit.
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens offers a look at the magnificent gardens and the beauty of wildlife species that call the zoo home. For greenery, a plethora of colorful species awaits your observation at the Old Rose Garden and Asian Garden. There’s also the Walled Garden, Shade Garden, and Bog Garden to satisfy your interest in buds and blooms.
Along with enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the gardens, the zoo offers an opportunity to observe wildlife that comes from all points of the earth. You’ll see African and Asian specifies, wildlife from North America and Australia, assorted creatures at the Aquarium Reptile Complex, and bird habitats at the Birdhouse at Riverbanks.
Within the complex, you’ll find several historical landmarks that earned Riverbanks a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. The historical locations include the Saluda River Factory ruins dating to the 1800s and the remains of the State Road Bridge burned by Confederate soldiers during the Civil War. The zoo and gardens are opened from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, except for select dates for holidays and special events.
Make your plans to delve into the lush and colorful landscapes at these Orangeburg destinations spanning 170 acres where Mother Nature and the great outdoors offer adventure, exploration, and discovery.
Image by SymphonicPoet cc by 2.0
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