Niagara Butterfly Conservatory

I admit I was skeptical before I went to the Butterfly Conservatory (map)for the first time, especially after I heard that the butterflies land on you.  I’m just not one for insects, no matter how beautiful they may be. Once I set foot inside though, my mind was quickly changed. I was practically holding out my hands hoping they would land, just so I could get a better look.

The Butterfly Conservatory is home to over 2,000 tropical butterflies that float freely through the warm air of the mock rainforest. A rambling path winds through the building, passing trees, waterfalls and ponds. Some of the butterflies blend in so perfectly with their surroundings, that you need to have an eagle eye to spot them.

One of the coolest areas in the conservatory is the emergence window, where you can see butterflies in various stages of life. If you are lucky, you may even be able to watch a new butterfly take its first flight!

The Butterfly Conservatory is located amidst a botanical garden, so once you are finished visiting the butterflies, you could easily spend another hour or two wandering the gardens, which are especially nice in the springtime.

The Conservatory is open year round, except for December 25th. Costs are $11.75 for adults and $7.65 for kids aged 6 to 12. Children under 5 are free. It can get extremely crowded during July and August, so if possible, I would highly recommend going in May, June, September or October.  If that’s not possible, try to go near opening or closing time to avoid the largest crowds. It is much nicer to walk around inside at a leisurely pace, instead of being jostled for a spot to see everything. It is quite humid in the Butterfly Conservatory, so keep this in mind if you are planning to go there in the winter months. You’ll probably want to leave your jacket in the car.

This is a great place to get away from the craziness of Clifton Hill, and in my opinion, is one of the best attractions in the Falls to visit if you are a nature lover.

Photo 1, Megan Pasche
Photo 2, Megan Pasche