This is a wonderful little gem of peace and quiet in downtown Columbia, SC. To avoid disappointment, this is not a manicured garden along the lines of the Riverbanks botanical gardens. I would not travel great distances to visit. But, if you are in the area, I would highly recommend you stop and have a free walk around and speak with the friendly staff on any third Sunday afternoon. On our particular visit, they were handing out free milkweed plants, one of which is in our side garden now. The arboretum can easily be seen and enjoyed without a big time commitment.