Columbia SC Visit with Family

Atter leaving Fripp Island we walked around Beaufort, SC and then spent one night at the Route 22 Drive-In, a Harvest Host member. Scott watched the movie, The Hail Mary Project and loved it. I was pooped and it ran from 8 PM to 10:30 and I couldn't manage that. We had one more night at the New Green Acres RV Park before continuing on to Columbia. 

Sam, Scott, Heather, LaVerne and Joe at Blue Marlin Restaurant

This was our first visit to Columbia, SC and we were very impressed. The downtown has been clearly restored and seemed very busy. We had an excellent lunch with Scott's niece LaVerne, her husband Sam, and son Joe at Blue Marlin. 

There were lots of benches and tables.

This covered section of the walk was covered in 
yellow flowered vines.

Spring was in full swing there.

The amphitheater for the Kirkin of the Tartan

One of the two bagpipers at the ceremony

It was a busy day seeing some of the city with LaVerne's suggestions. We walked along the River Walk in the morning - so lovely as you can see from the photos. It's a 12 mile paved biking/walking trail with benches and picnic tables. And good fishing we noticed! We started at the West Columbia Park just over the bridge from downtown and surprised a Blessing of the Tartans ceremony  (Kirkin of the Tartan) in the amphitheater. It was the end of the 16th annual Highland Games, bagpipes and all.

Fountain in the Botanical Gardens - not as popular
as the Zoo.

The Skyway gondolas

The Congaree River view from the gondola

After lunch we went to the Botanical Gardens on the west side of the river and then crossed over on the gondolas to the Columbia Zoo. As it was a Saturday we joined enormous numbers of families enjoying both. Our favorites at the zoo were the 3 different kinds of penguins , the flamingos, and otters. But they had a wide variety of species in some lovely grounds. 

It was a full day and we were glad to relax at our excellent site at Sesquicentennial State Park We spent 2 nights there before driving west to North Carolina.

Beautiful Flamingos

Sun Penguins

Fierce looking Komodo Dragons

Adorable Koalas