If you’re still pondering where to take and what to do with kids this Spring break, look no further than Riverbanks Zoo. Check their website for a monthly events calendar and a varitety of Zooventure family activities.

Below is the April 2009 summary of fun packed children programs grouped by age.

Welcome kids!

Riverbanks Zoo Little Kids Programs(ages 3-5)

Pony Pals – Friday, April 3, 9 – 10AM, $16 (plus admission for general public)
Meet the Shetland ponies upclose and personal! Feed, brush and ride the ponies. Parent participation is required for this class (one parent per child). Online registration is required.

Easter Brunch - Sunday, April 12, 10:30AM – 1PM, $31.95 adults / $15.95 children ages 3-12 (plus admission for general public)
Treat your loved ones to a hearty Easter Sunday brunch in the rustic Ndoki Lodge at the Zoo. Enjoy a traditional Southern breakfast or choose from custom-ordered omelets, honey glazed ham, grilled salmon, chicken piccatta, fresh vegetables, fruits and gourmet desserts. Seating is limited, reservation deadline is Tuesday, April 7. Order tickets here.

Kids admiring a silverback gorilla

A Camping We Will Go - April 23, 25 and 29, 10AM for kids age 2 and 11AM for ages 3-4, $9 (plus admission for general public)
Bring a flashlight and sleeping bag, too, because camping is the thing to do! What animals you will encounter on your camping adventure? Come and find out! Register for class here.

Riverbanks Zoo Big Kids Programs(5 years and older)

Pony Whisperer – Saturday, April 4, 8:30-10AM (ages 5-7), $18 (plus admission for general public)
Learn how to feed, groom and care for the ponies! Parent participation is required for this class (one parent per child please). Online registration is required.

Riding on Caroline at Riverbanks Zoo

ZOOm! into Spring Camp (ages 6 to 10) – Monday through Wednesday April 6-8, 9AM – 3PM, $110 members ($140 general public)
Discover how plants and animals celebrate the spring season during 3 days packed with hands-on activities, animal encounters, behind-the-scenes tours, arts and crafts, and tons of games! More details here.

Scout Saturdays – Saturday, April 18, $10 per scout (plus admission for general public)
Scout Saturdays includes a short education program, live animal encounters and a self-guided zoo adventure tour. Any scout group or individual scout can register (each child needs to be registered separately). Free for accompanying adults. Participants receive a Riverbanks Wildlife Patch.
Online registration here . Learn more on the Riverbanks website.

Family on Safari Overnight Camp – Saturday, April 18, 7PM – 9AM, $39 per member ($44 general public)
Experience the Zoo at night! Enjoy a night of games, activities and behind-the-scenes tours. Families should bring their own sleeping gear and tents and sense of adventure. Price includes light snack and continental breakfast. Register for class here.

Pet a Giant Turtle!

Party for the Planet - Saturday, April 25
Join Riverbanks Zoo party for planet and animals featuring kid-friendly conservation activities and animal enrichment. Free with regular zoo admission.

Everything sounds Zoolicious!

What a year 2008 has been. Lots of chest beating, hollering and hair pulling, hanging upside down, crying, whimpering, and laughing out loud. No, is not the stock market. No Wall Street or Main Street here.

I’m talking about the most incredible animals at the Riverbanks, Greenville and Como zoos. A “planet of the apes” filled with soul searching – and sometimes very naughty – gorillas and adorable baby orangutans.

Loud singing at Riverbanks Zoo

Noisy la-la land holler monkeys screaming and fighting all day long. “American Idol” pop diva baboons, always grooming and posing for pictures.

Here are the photos, you be the judge:

Naughty, naughty gorilla. Hope Santa brought her a sack of coal.

Kiss my...gorilla at Como Zoo

Let the singing competition begin. Bring it on!

I'm so good looking

Wise-man orangutan, the largest tree dwelling mamal in the world…

The Man of the Forest

Kids are always fascinated by the big silverback. Who’s watching who?

So close yet so far away

Sometimes you just feel like acting silly

Mr. Alligator Can't Catch Me!

Bring your kids to the zoo, the most fun thing you can do!

Every year we come to Riverbanks Zoo to experience the Lights Before Christmas. It’s a fun evening, especially for kids. The whole park is lit up, there is laughter, joy and the smell of Christmas.

Christmas Village

What kids love to do at the zoo
1. Play in the “snow” and chase falling snow-soap flakes. This is as close as it gets to a white Christmas around here.

It's snowing mom!

2. Ride the mini train. Here is the Spots and Stripes Railroad video from last summer ($2 per person)

3. Ride the Merry-go-around ($1 per kid)

4. Cooking marshmallows over the coal burning fire. You get 4 on a stick ($2)

Marshmallows Time!

5. Run, climb and slide at the playground. In fact that whole area is great to let your kids loose. There is also the carousel, marshmallows fire, restrooms and food stands.

Fun things for parents
1. Get a Starbucks coffee or hot-cocoa. The hut is strategically positioned right by the entrance.

2. Stay in line with the kids for a moment with Santa. It seems grown-ups are more enchanted photographing their prodigy in Santa’s lap than the children do. When asked what she wants for Christmas mine replied “A lollipop!”…now you tell me?

What you want for Christmas?

3. Cooking marshmallows…yep we like it too!

The Lights Before Christmas event is open till December 30 every day until 9PM (except on Christams Eve and Christmas Day). Admission is $8 adults, $6 children 3-12 and free for kids under 3. Members get a one time free entrance to the event.

Lion King at the zoo

Merry Christmas!

Treat or trick? Come see Big Boy sea lion Halloween action daily at 10:30 AM and 3 PM at the amazing Riverbanks Zoo.

Big Boy doing a flipper stand at Riverbanks Zoo

This is truly an animal show worth shouting about! And the loud holler monkeys couldn’t agree more

Other notable Zoo animal feedings and demonstrations:

• Penguin presentation 11 AM and 3:30 PM
• Gorilla presentation 11:30 AM
• Raptor aviary show 1:30 PM

Don’t miss out on Riverbanks’ latest blockbuster attraction the miniature ride on the Spots and Stripes train ($2 safari bucks per person, daily from 10 AM to 4 PM).

If you’re first time zoo visitor read my previous post for some great tips to make the best of your trip. FYI admission fees to Riverbanks:
• Adults $9.75
• Children (3-12) $7.25; under 3 get in FREE
• Military (with ID) $8.50
• Seniors (over 62) $8.25

OK it’s not near the level of the Olympic Games in Beijing. But don’t tell that to the animals at Riverbanks Zoo downtown Columbia! They’ve trained and trained and are competing effervescently every day to put on a quality show just for you. The kids love to cheer them on. If nothing else is worth visiting the Zoo just to ride the instant children attraction the Spots and Stripes Railroad miniature train. You be the judge!

Wow the bears are really going at each other in the heavyweight wrestling event!

Everyone said she’ll never make the Olympic team. Boy she proved them wrong! It’s such a beauty to see her conquer the pole vault. And all the monkeys are cheering and jumping the ropes as she attempts the world record!

Complete silence in the stadium. The gorilla is deeply concentrating in her last attempt at the javelin event. If she wins, we are told there will be a Gorilla Presentation at 11:30 AM.

The track and field jewel, the zebras 100 meters dash it’s finally about to start. Expectations are high and there are talks of breaking both the world and Olympic records!

The goats proved impenetrable at the net in the volleyball competition! It helps being constantly fed by enthusiastic kids ($0.25 cents, however I’ll save the quarters and just pick up the food laying around all over the place)!

She said this Funny Olympic Games will be her last. Such a shame to lose a queen platform diving sea lion! Don’t despair, you can still admire her and company daily at Riverbanks Zoo: Sea Lion Feeding at 10:30 AM and Sea Lion Training at 3 PM

She’s a rookie…but very talented and the pony delivers! Gold medal at the equestrian obstacle course. Pony rides are by far the main Zoo attraction for girls. They run daily from 10 AM – 3 PM and is 5 Safari Bucks per ride.

The baboons continue their badminton tradition and claim first spot in the singles competition. Rumors has it the guy received extra grooming to keep his nerves in check!

Perfect landing and a statuesque body stance at vault individual apparatus event! The frilly lizard gets a whopping 16.900 the highest score today!

Here comes the lion in the Decathlon track and field event! The animals king looks a little rattled don’t you think? By the way the amazingly cute lions cubs where moved from the aviary exhibit. Don’t worry they’ll soon join the regular lions exhibit.

As usual it’s a nerve wrecking nail biting 4×100 medley race, the most sought after medal of all swimming events. Seems that the yellow stripped fish team has an edge at the butterfly exchange. Make sure to stick around for the Aquarium Dive Demonstration at 12:30 PM.

The elephants are on a roll at the lift and jerk weightlifting event…yeah well when you weigh several tons I don’t think there is much competition to stack up against you!

Can the giraffe basketball dream team redeem itself and finally bring home the gold? So far so good. Autograph signings and feedings from 10:00 AM-1:30 PM daily (1 Safari Buck)

What wonderful animal athletes! Live the Funny Olympic spirit daily at Riverbanks Zoo!

This post is a follow up to my previous article on Riverbanks Zoo I wrote back in March. Three months later it’s worth noting the zoo’s newest attractions and prices updates, especially on food.

Those of you new to the blog or just recently moved into town, Columbia Riverbanks Zoo is THE family attraction in the city.
Rain or shine, from spring to winter, this is the place to be if you have kids, or a bunch of relatives visiting for the weekend. For moms it’s the best and most affordable “baby-sitter”.

Things to know before you go

1. The most popular thing kids want to do now is riding the new “Spots and Stripes Railroad” miniature train located near the farm (where the pony rides used to be…don’t worry the ponies are still going strong at the zoo, just moved across the little bridge. It’s also 1 buck more ($5)). The train ride is $2 for EVERYBODY onboard (unlike the merry-go-around where only the child fare is paid). There are only 3 carts and lines to get in get very long quickly. My advice is to do the ride as soon as you get to the zoo, and if possible, early morning. The rides go from 10 AM to 4:30 PM.

2. Next thing kids love to do is watching the SpongeBob 3D movie. This is $2 (children under 5 get in for free) and it runs every half an hour. The movie is pretty lame and only lasts for 20 minutes (you do get to keep the glasses)…but hey I’m not the intended audience My 4 years old daughter saw it twice already. However there is something interesting to see inside the theater: the rat moles exhibit. The baby rat will put on a show as you wait for the movie to start.

3. The cooling fans spread throughout the park, although not an attraction per say, it’s the zoo’s best idea ever in these hot Carolina summer days: The ones by the bird show cabin are just irresistible. Babies, kids, parents and grand-parents come here to catch a well-deserved break. Also two thumbs up for the one by the playground near the carousel.

Admission Fees
• Adults $9.75
• Children (3-12) $7.25; under 3 get in FREE
• Military (with ID) $8.50
• Seniors (over 62) $8.25

Safari Bucks

You get 10 for $8. They are only sold in sets of 10, good for 6 months and are accepted at all retail and food locations (beware they will not give change back to the safari bucks).
• Pony rides 5 bucks
• Train ride 2
• 3D theater 2
• Carousel 1
• Giraffe and lorikeet feeding 1

Snacks
• Small popcorn $2.25
• Pretzel 2.50
• Nachos 3.25
• Cotton Candy 3
• Peanuts 3
• Medium drink 2.50
• Dipping dots ice-cream cup 4

Stroller Rentals
Require $5 deposit and there is 7% sales and use tax on top of rental price
• Single 6 bucks
• Double 9
• Wheelchair 6
• Wagon 11

Happy Safari at the Riverbanks Zoo!

This is as good as it gets at Riverbanks Zoo. Up close and personal with these puppy love cuties. That day the Galapagos turtles were particularly funny and friendly letting kids touch their shells and pet their scruffy heads.

Happy family vacation in South Carolina!

One of the main attractions at Riverbanks Zoo: the Caroussel or Merry Go Around, as we say it here. For just one dollar you will get “dazed and confused”! Kids just love it so smile and try to enjoy it.
Learn more on how to make most of your time at the Riverbanks Zoo from my previous post

Come and enjoy South Carolina

Shot this funny video at Riverbanks Zoo last weekend. Some of the things guys will do and go through just to get our attention. Watch the female at the end of the video (on the left side of the screen). She could care less about all that samba, rumba, cha-cha, mambo

Gotta get better moves!

Get valuable tips from my previous post on Riverbanks.

Keep on having fun in beautiful South Carolina!

You are never bored at the Riverbanks Zoo. There is always some drama unfolding with the animals and people alike. It’s relatively cheap, you get plenty of exercise and fresh air walking in the beautiful surroundings, and most important, the little kids can scream their hearts out and run around for a couple of hours while no one there really cares. When my daughter Lana was months old she got her best hour-long naps as we were strolling pass the big cats exhibits.

Tips to know before you go
1. Get the membership it will pay for itself after two family visits.
2. Go during the week. By all means avoid Friday which is free day for Richland and Lexington counties residents and when most school, church and senior tours visit.
3. Get the 10 safari “bucks” for $8 ticket. This will save you $2 and lets you do a girls magnet pony ride or a 3D movie (each costs $4), two carousel runs ($1 per run and you get to join in for free…yeah! better not eat anything heavy ahead of time), and you can feed the animals along the way ($1 each). At the farm go with the goats, they’ll put on a show.
4. Know the animal shows and feeding times; this is when animals are most active and crowds gather to a specific location (so you’ll know when and where to get away!)
5. Young kids love to climb the many bronze statues scattered around the park. Let them do it; you’ll get a rest, they get a great kick out of it and it’s also a good motivation to keep them going “to the next one”.
6. If you plan on eating while at the zoo, Kenya café is your best bet although don’t expect Wolfgang Puck style dining. Get the hot-dog and fries combo with the yogurt smoothie or the salad box (each about $2.00). There are water fountains throughout the zoo so don’t spend money on drinks…unless it’s your only option to shut the kids up.

What you might run into at the zoo

Scrawny-looking lion is bored to death by the endless exhibit of photo shooting humans. He’s looking for refuge along the more self-assured matriarchs.

Flute singing gorilla finds peace by the shade secluded rocks