Butterfly Pavilion, Westminster

I absolutely love it here! Friendly for all ages and easy to get to. The main attraction (the large atrium) is like walking into a fairytale. The paths are fully lined with greenery and of course, butterflies galore! There are so many different types flying around, and they gladly land on you. There is a front area with all the types of butterflies in their cocoons at all stages. The rest of the building has great educational installations, including other bugs and fish. On Saturday's, they host a beautiful yoga class that is intimate and unlike any other practice.

Loved going here enough to join and get a family membership. Definitely worth the price. Takes the pressure off trying to make the most of a trip and let you do things more leisurely pace for young children. On our last visit our grandchildren wanted to move pretty quickly through the spider and invertebrate sections to the butterfly area. We almost walked into a man standing in the walkway holding his hand out. A beautiful butterfly had landed on his hand and he was showing it to us. So much to learn there and a play area at the end with slides and other exhibits plus presentations makes this a sure to go to place.

This was a really cool experience, but it's a little small for the admission fee. I don't mind supporting their mission, though. It was fun to see the various interesting insects (not just butterflies!), hold Rosie the tarantula, pet the horseshoe crabs, and even learn about shrimp and coral. Of course the butterfly pavilion portion was the highlight. We were able to wander around and observe in wonder all the beautiful, delicate creatures around us. It was quite serene. Sweet to see the kids too.

The Butterfly Pavilion is one of my favorite things to do with my toddler- in fact, we’ve been going since he was a little baby. They are SO kid/family friendly- it’s awesome!! (I’d also gone a few times without kids and it was fun then too.) First of all, they open early, so you can go, have fun, and still be home in time for the nap- super important in our lives right now. Secondly, the exhibits are all set up to engage small people- and accommodations have been made do they can see everything by themselves without you having to endlessly pick them up. Thirdly, they have a membership option. Fourth, they have a beautiful outdoor space that we always take advantage of in the summer, but most of their space is indoor (including a super cool playground) so it’s perfect for chilly weather.

What a fantastic experience this was! I was so enthralled by the butterfly pavilion. First, we went through the tarantula exhibit and I got to hold one of the tarantulas. Then, we moved into the butterfly pavilion. I just had the greatest time here. Frankly, I think the rest of my group would have been happier to move on sooner, but I just couldn't tear myself away. I brought my camera and I enjoyed taking photos throughout the Butterfly Pavilion. I stayed until it got dark and I could no longer take photos. Once I get the photos processed, I'll upload them to this site. I really feel like this day was time well spent. I can't recommended highly enough. All I can do is five stars. This is definitely a 10 out of 10! 😊