Ontario is home to many great family attractions. Places you can take your children, your friends, students etc and have a fun and educational day. One of these fun places is Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory located in Cambridge Ontario. For most of my readers it is just a short drive way and while you are there there are many other things to see and do. As well as great places to stay, but that is another post.
Discover 1000’s of free-flying butterflies in a tropical garden. Explore a vast collection of insects, meet live giant exotic bugs and experience the tropics! Open 7 days a week from 10am to 5pm Enjoy lunch on site in the cafe and explore the educational exhibits throughout the building.
Recently when we spent a couple of days in the area we had the pleasure off checking out Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory. It was our first time visiting and we loved it! The friendly staff we so welcoming and helpful. All willing to answer our questions and show us the insects, Bees, birds and butterflies, as well educate us on them. My teen sons had just as much fun as my daughter exploring this amazing facility. We walked around, interacted and sat still on a few benches letting butterflies land on us. The butterflies really loved the bright coloured shirts my kids were wearing. They also loved landing in my hair.
At least 2000 free-flying tropical butterflies and moths are on exhibit at any given time in the tropical Conservatory. Our butterflies and moths originate in either Costa Rica or the Philippines. Most are sent to us weekly as pupae (also called chrysalides(butterflies) or cocoons(moths)) from butterfly farmers. Butterfly farming is a sustainable form of agriculture and ensures that natural populations of wild butterflies and moths are not depleted. At the Emergence Window, visitors can watch as butterflies emerge from their chrysalides, dry their wings and prepare for their very first flight into our Conservatory. Some butterfly species are reared onsite so that visitors can observe all four of the stages of metamorphosis: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly. Our population of butterflies and moths consists of approximately 40 different species.
We spent a few hours here and enjoyed a yummy lunch in the cafe. Before leaving we checked out the exhibits and learned a bit more about birds and butterflies. One of our fave things was the bees that you could see and had the freedom to come and go.
Bee hive, with the Queen marked so she is easily recognized
If you are planning a visit Admission is as follows
General Admission Prices
| Pre-Tax | Including HST | |
| Members (Learn more) | free | free |
| Adults (ages 18-64) | $11.50 | $13.00 |
| Seniors (over 65) | $10.25 | $11.58 |
| Youth (ages 13-17) | $10.25 | $11.58 |
| Child (ages 3-12) | $6.00 | $6.78 |
| Child (ages 2 & under) | free | free |
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Check out some of our pics from the day
Touch table
Malaysian Jungle Nymph
Disclosure- Our visit to this location was complimentary. All opinions expressed are honest and my own
Thanks for writing about the Cambridge Butterfly Conversatory; I think that my kids would love to visit. I especially believe that they would enjoy seeing the butterflies at all life stages.
The bees were one of our favourite parts too, it's so cool how you can see them coming through the hole on the outside wall and then see inside the hive on the inside and I was amazing at how they communicate by shaking their bodies. it was fascinating!
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So cool that you got to check this out. Our family lives close and we usually visit at least once or twice a year. Its a really great learning opportunity and fun too!
We haven't been to the butterfly conservatory in ages and it's so close to home. It's a great rainy day place to visit.
My kids love getting up close with butterflies and virtually every other insect this planet has to offer! Looks like a great spot for a family outing. (And I love that the price for a child entry is reasonable.)
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This is right at the top of the list of places I've been meaning to go. Oh all things my Father-in-Law went on a solo trip a few years back, and when he returned he made the place sound amazing. Been wanting to go ever since. Your post has reawakened an itch.
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Such an awesome place, love butterflies, just not to sure about the Malaysian Jungle Nymph though..lol
That place is amazing. Went with my daughters class. I don't know if you noticed but you hardly see a butterfly anymore. When I was a kid we seen them daily. Along with dinasours. Lol.
My girls would love this place! Butterflies are rare these days!