It’s no mystery that Orangeburg is nicknamed the Garden City. There are plenty of beautiful gardens and outdoor places to visit throughout the city that will prove there’s a good reason for this nickname. The following list includes some of the best gardens and outdoor locations that everyone should visit while exploring Orangeburg.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
A day at the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is a day well spent. There are over 2,000 incredible animals to marvel at and one of the nation’s most beautiful botanical gardens. You’ll experience 170 acres of natural habitat exhibits, scenic river views, spectacular valley overlooks, and significant historic landmarks. Catch one of the daily animal feedings, encounters, or presentations to get up-close and personal with the animals. Some of these include a sea lion demonstration, the aquarium dive, and a penguin presentation.
This place has more to offer than just animals and gardens. You can try your hand at feeding the Lorikeets or stop by the giraffe overlook to feed some giraffes. Have a little fun and take a ride on the carousel, or be adventurous and scale the rock wall. There’s a miniature train that will take you from the zoo to the garden, called Spots & Stripes Railroad, that’s fun for all ages. If you’re up for a real thrill, try out the Sky-High Safari ropes course and get a sky-high view of the zoo.
Edisto Memorial Gardens
Edisto Memorial Gardens brings together both natural and man-made beauty within their borders. One of the main attractions of the gardens are the roses. It currently has about 4,800 rose plants representing around 120 varieties. In the beginning, the garden contained only azaleas, but it now has so much more to offer visitors. You can take the 2,600-foot boardwalk trail that leads to the Edisto River. It will take you through a typical Tupelo-Cypress wetland, where you’ll see a cypress display case that gives you information about life on the river.
Also found in the Edisto Memorial Gardens are a butterfly garden, a serenity garden, and a sensory garden. If you go, don’t forget to stop by the terrace garden at the back of the Arts Center. The gardens are open to visitors seven days a week from dawn to dusk.
Congaree National Park
This is a hidden gem among National Parks. Congaree features the largest intact expanse of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the southeastern United States. There are endless opportunities to enjoy nature here. You can take a kayak or canoe out into the rivers, where you might view wildlife such as otters, wading birds, and turtles. Hiking can be done either on the boardwalk trails or, if you prefer something more challenging, head off into the backcountry. Either way, you’re sure to be delighted by the beauty of all the nature around you.
Orangeburg didn’t get its Garden City nickname for nothing. Visit one of these places when you’re in the area and see just what the name is all about.
Image by Ken Lund CC BY-SA 2.0
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