Join me on a trip to the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge.
Butterfly conservatories are such an overlooked experience in my opinion. If you are located where you experience winter (like I am) then you don’t want to miss this place (or one like it). During winter time the days are short, cold and sometimes very grey and sunless. It’s at these times that we so desperately crave warmth, sunshine and humidity.
For those of us that can’t jump on a plane to a tropical island, visit the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge. It offers the perfect escape to fulfill your needs. If you are on a slow living journey, you will find this to be the perfect slow living activity. To follow along on my slow living journey click here.
If you are a plant lover (me too!), chances are you will spend more time admiring the plants than the butterflies. The gardens at butterfly conservatories are always so lush, a plant lovers dream come true.
Let’s get to it!
Location of Butterfly Conservatory
The Butterfly Conservatory I am visiting today is located at 2500 Kossuth Road in Cambridge, Ontario. If you are located in or planning an upcoming trip to the Kitchener/Waterloo/Guelph region, then I would add this to your list of must-do’s in the area.
I also find that this is a great place to de-stress for students. Or if you are suffering from the winter blues, find yourself the nearest Butterly Conservatory and take a long relaxing stroll through.
There is plenty of on site parking available for free! However, public transit to this location is unavailable.
Hours of the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge
The pandemic seems to be impacting everyone in Ontario lately, so make sure you check out the conservatories website for the latests hour prior to visiting by clicking here. The core hours of the conservatory are 10 am to 5pm daily (so keep in mind this will be a daytime activity).
I did not know at the time of my visit but after reading through the conservatories FAQ on their website, I learned that amateur photographers can schedule a session before opening hours. This would be the perfect opportunity to shoot content. The conservatory provides such a beautiful lush background that would be amazing for portraits.
Booking
You must book your visit online prior to arrival – so make sure you plan ahead accordingly! At the time of booking you will select a time slot to arrive at. Your ticket allows you 2 hours access to the Butterfly Conservatory. I went at 3pm for my visit, the final time slot of the day. I found this to be a good time as it was not overly busy so I could comfortably walk around, take in the sites, etc.
Pricing
Admission price is age dependent. General admission is currently $20 at the time this article was wrote. At $10 per hour essentially, I think this activity is well worth it.
If you really enjoy your time, you can upgrade your ticket to an annual pass at the gift store at the end of your visit. An annual pass will make this a more affordable experience depending on the number of times you use it.
So…. what is the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge like?
As soon as you step on the path through the Butterfly Conservatory you will feel like you have been transported to a tropical island destination. I can’t think of a better winter escape that costs less than $100 (much less).
Atmosphere
The Butterfly Conservatory temperature ranges from 24°C (75°F) to 28 ºC (82°F) with high humidity. I suggest leaving your extra layers (ex. coat) in the car. However, they do offer a coat closet to place your jacket before entering the Butterfly Conservatory. Try not to overdress or else you may be uncomfortable in the temperatures.
The butterflies and plants are very real. As per their website: “our butterflies arrive in the pupa stage as cocoons or chysalides from Costa Rica and the Philippines. We hang them up in the Emergence Window where the butterfly can hang to dry its wings once it emerges. When it’s ready, it then takes its first flight into the Conservatory.”
Enjoy the butterflies flying around and engulf yourself in a lush garden of tropical plants. You will find yourself mesmerized by the waterfalls, pond, fish, birds and so many more of the amazing sites.
There is a walking path to follow through the Butterfly Conservatory. I did the loop a couple of times as you miss some things the first time around. You will find benches along the pathway which which offers a nice spot to rest, take in the sights and hey – maybe you could even bring a book to read here.
Depending on the time of day you are there, you might be the only person in there. What a peaceful experience! This makes for such a perfect slow living activity as you can really take you time and appreciate the beauty of it all.
Butterflies are attracted to bright colours and sweet smells – so keep that in mind when dressing for the Butterfly Conservatory if you want to increase the likelihood of a butterfly landing on you.
Final Rating of the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge
I think this experience is a 10/10!
It is the perfect winter escape activity and a dreamland for plant lovers. Add this to your list of slow living activities to try.
Have you been to a Butterfly Conservatory before? Let me know about your experience in the comments below.
While this blog post is specific to the Butterfly Conservatory in Cambridge, a quick google search will find the nearest Butterfly Conservatory to you. I have been to 2 different Conservatories and they both had very similar features but range in size (this one being the smaller one). Stay tuned for an upcoming post about the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls.
Everything up!
– Jane
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