Which zoo is better, Riverbanks Zoo (Columbia, SC) or the North Carolina Zoo (Asheboro, NC)? (great)

[CR9girl]

I like Riverbanks. It's not huge, but very nice and family friendly. Has a mini aquarium, reptile center, botanical garden, VERY reasonably priced.

[KJr50]

Love em both, but I like the Asheboro a little better because the animals have more room to move around instead of living in a cage

[advent]

I like Greenville, SC Zoo because its small. cheap ($6), and only takes about one hour to hour and half to complete.

[mullman]

One more!

[Akhenaton06]

Originally Posted by advent

I like Greenville, SC Zoo because its small. cheap ($6), and only takes about one hour to hour and half to complete.

It's not even in the same league as Riverbanks and NC Zoo.

I really like Riverbanks, but haven't had the chance to make it up to Asheboro yet.

[pantherfan101]

The chimpanzee exhibit at the Asheboro Zoo is amazing. I could sit there all day and watch them. If you love birds, the Aviary Dome is fantastic.

[brichard]

Originally Posted by appalachick

Asheboro for us is a whole day affair- the drive to and from and the size of the zoo. We usually eat at the zoo restaurant. Once we took a picnic lunch. Riverbanks is easier to do in just a few hours and then we either head back toward Charlotte to eat or eat somewhere in Columbia.

They're both very nice. If you've been to Asheboro, maybe you should check out Riverbanks.

After 60 years as a dry town, alcohol was finally legalized in Asheboro in '08, so there are some better restaurant options coming in there now. Also, the downtown has been revitalized, and is very pedestrian-friendly (and outdoor entertainment sometimes on summer weekend evenings at the gazebo in the middle of downtown). There are now several good restaurants downtown, an Internet cafe, a bakery, an old-fashioned soda shop, and an old movie theatre they're trying to revive with live entertainment as well as classic movies. And there are also several VERY large antique stores, which are fun to peruse. So an afternoon at the zoo, followed by a stroll through downtown (and a meal or ice cream), would make for a fun day.

[Dadof2many]

Originally Posted by KJr50

Love em both, but I like the Asheboro a little better because the animals have more room to move around instead of living in a cage

Haven't seen too many cages at Riverbanks. Asheboro does have a little more room for the animals to roam in their man made habitat.

[Dadof2many]

Oh yeah we like both and have been going to each at least 4x per year. Riverbanks is definitely easier than Asheboro on our 4 & 5 year olds legs. Buy a family pass for $62 and enjoy unlimited visits to both

[ocdetail]

What kind of camera/lens were those taken with? Great shots!