Children and adults of all ages are enchanted by butterflies. While you can build a butterfly garden at home to try to attract some of the beautiful bugs, a visit to a public butterfly garden will let you see many more than you would at home, plus a variety of species. Butterfly gardens provide a great educational day trip for kids and will make everyone more appreciative of colorful flowers that attract them.
Below we’ve rounded up some of the country’s top butterfly gardens. Be sure to contact the location before you visit; some are only open seasonally from spring through fall, depending on weather.
Butterfly Garden Guide
1. Butterfly World in Coconut Creek, Florida: The largest butterfly park in the world, housing about 5,000 butterflies
2. Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale, Arizona: Home to America’s largest butterfly atrium and other exhibits including a live ant colony and the elaborate Honey Bee Extravaganza.
3. Day Butterfly Center in Pine Mountain, Georgia: Find over 50 species in the 1,000 square-foot conservatory at Callaway Gardens.
4. Magic Wings in South Deerfield, Massachusetts: In addition to the 3,000+ butterflies, visitors can also see exotic reptiles, frogs, fish and other insects.
5. Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado: The 30,000 square foot pavilion sits on 11 acres, providing plenty of space to teach appreciation and conservation and host events.
