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Riverbanks is home to more than 2,000 magnificent and fascinating animals and one of the nation's most beautiful and inspiring botanical gardens. The lush 170-acre site features dynamic natural habitat exhibits, scenic river views, spectacular valley overlooks and significant historic landmarks. For more than 30 years, Riverbanks has provided individuals, families and groups with a common place to connect with and learn about the world's wildlife and wild places. Twice awarded the Governor's Cup for South Carolina's Most Outstanding Tourist Attraction, Riverbanks is the premier family choice for education and recreation in the Southeast. Riverbanks Zoo and Garden not only serves to protect rare and endangered wildlife and wild places, but also is caretaker to a number of Civil War era historic sites located within the Zoo on both sides of the river including: Saluda Factory Interpretive Center, Covered Bridge Abutments, Camp Sorghum, Saluda Factory Historic District and Sherman's Rock.
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 Columbia |
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Designated the official state botanical garden in 1992, this 295-acre public garden features a unique collection of nature-based sculptures, each one incorporating living plant material. The garden is located at the northwestern end of the S.C. National Heritage Corridor adjacent to Clemson University's east campus.
The Fran Hanson Discovery Center is the visitor center for the garden. Rotating exhibits highlight South Carolina artists along with a permanent collection by South Carolina native Elizabeth Belser Fuller and provides visitors with local and regional information. The garden also is home to the Bob Campbell Geology Museum and the Hanover House, a French Huguenot c. 1716 historic home. There are several "niche gardens" on the grounds, including a butterfly garden, award-winning hosta collection, a wild flower meadow, extensive holly and camellia collections and a 70-acre arboretum.
The Garden Gift Shop is located inside the Discovery Center and features gift items crafted by regional artists. Organized tours are available for a nominal fee.
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 Clemson |
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The Butterfly Garden inspires rejuvenation with vibrant perennials, annuals, vines, bubbling fountains and butterflies. The Springfield Prayer Garden is filled with all-white flowers and emerald-green foliage, providing a sanctuary for peace and tranquility.
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 Springfield |
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The black waters of Swan Lake form a setting for Iris Gardens. The lake is dotted with colorful islands, wildlife is abundant andit is the only public park in the US to feature all eight swan species. The 150-acre garden also is home to some of the nation's most intensive plantings of Japanese iris, which bloom yearly from mid to late May through the beginning of June. The garden also boasts many other floral attractions, including colorful camellias, azaleas, day lilies, and Japanese magnolias. A Braille Trail enables the sight-impaired to enjoy the scents and sensations of the gardens. The annual Sumter Iris Festival is celebrated on Memorial Day weekend.
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 Sumter |
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These two c.1830 large clapboard mansions were built as the Upcountry summer residences by the Lowcountry planters, Ladson Gibbes (Ashtabula) and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (Woodburn), to enjoy the more healthful climate of the foothills. Each house with a distinctly different architectural style and has been fully restored and authentically furnished with antebellum style.
Each location has several historic outbuildings. Ashtabula's original c. 1780 4-story brick building was the site of an early 19th century "tavern." Woodburn has a walking trail to ruins of late 19th century farm buildings. Woodburn Farm was the birthplace of Jane Edna Hunter, daughter of tenant farmers, who became a leading African-American Activist and reformer in Cleveland, OH founding the Phillis Wheatley Association and is listed as one of the top 20 "Heroes" in Ohio history. A replica of the tenant cabin in which she was born in has been built on the grounds to interpret her life and contributions.
The Pendleton Historic Foundation stages two annual historical reenactments per year at Ashtabula Historic House. Held on the last weekend of April is "Stoneman's Raid on Ashtabula Plantation" and on the first weekend in December, the annual Christmas historical reenactment, "Christmas at Asthabula Plantation."
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 Pendleton |
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The Audubon Swamp is a black water cypress and tupelo swamp, is lovely, mysterious, and unique to this area. Once a freshwater reservoir used for rice cultivation, the entire 60 acres is traversed by boardwalks, bridges, and dikes, featuring all varieties of local mammals, birds, and reptiles, including bald eagles, herons and egrets, otters, turtles and alligators. Allow at least 45 minutes for a self-guided walk. A 45-minute nature boat tour takes visitors through ancient rice fields.
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 Charleston |
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This 12 acre garden located just blocks from historic downtown Summerville features a riot of seasonal colors, a gazebo, paved pathways, sculpture and lots of shade. It is the home of the nationally known Flowertown Festival and Sculpture in the South.
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Summerville |
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Located in the heart of Charleston’s historic district, this prominent landmark provides a spectacular view of Fort Sumter and Charleston Harbor, where the Ashley and Cooper rivers empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It was first used as a public garden in 1837. With the outbreak of the Civil War, it became a fortification for the city. Visitors today also find an impressive display of historic mortars and cannons from the Civil War used to shell as well as defend the city. At the corner of Murray and East Bay there is a Confederate monument.
In the early 1720s, the infamous "gentleman" pirate Stede Bonnet was hanged here with about 50 others like him. Townspeople filled the gallows area and jeered as the outlaw was brought to his rightful end. Bonnet was buried in the nearby marsh. His epitaph has been memorialized and stands today in the park.
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Charleston |
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Boone Hall is one of America's oldest working, living plantations, established in 1681 by Major John Boone. The present plantation manor house dates to 1935. The famous avenue of oaks-a three-quarter mile drive lined with massive Spanish-moss draped live oaks, dates to 1743. Bordering the avenue of oaks are nine original slave cabins, which housed the plantation's house servants and skilled craftsmen. This cluster of cabins, known as Slave Street, is one of the few remaining intact in the Southeast and the only brick slave street in the U.S. Boone Hall and its grounds were prominently featured in the TV mini-series "North & South" Civil War epic by John Jakes, and Alex Haley's "Queen," among others. Crops have been continuously grown and produced here for more than 320 years. Peaches, strawberries, tomatoes and pumpkins as well as many other fruits and vegetables are still grown, with U-Pick fields open in season. The main modern market on Hwy. 17 is now open for business.
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Mount Pleasant |
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Set on a 300-acre parcel in the heart of a 9,100-acre preserve along the South Carolina coast, Brookgreen Gardens is a beautiful sculpture garden with a wildlife sanctuary, creek excursions, back road tours and seasonal events. Comprised of four former rice plantations, Brookgreen was the first public sculpture garden built in the U.S. The garden was opened to the public in 1931 by its founders Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington. Mrs. Huntington's works are featured along with other prominent American sculptors. More than 1,200 works of figurative sculpture by some 350 artists are featured in 10 separate garden "rooms," with accent pools and fountains. Seasonal offerings include a spring garden fair, two indoor changing exhibits, evening dining and other programs in the summer. Harvest Home Weekend festival in the fall and Night of a Thousand Candles during the holidays. Visit the E. Craig Wall Jr. Lowcountry Center and take enjoy one of the daily programs, tours and excursions.
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 Murrells Inlet |
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