Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory

Step inside the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory, and your eyes can’t help but dart left and right, up and down, trying to take in all the colors filling the air around you. This oasis in Niagara Falls, Ontario, is home to more than 2,000 butterflies, which glide freely through the glass-enclosed space. 

In hues ranging from electric blue to pale yellow to traffic-cone orange, more than 40 species call the conservatory home. The Parides montezuma is mostly black, save for a few vibrant red crescents on the bottom of each wing, while the owl butterfly has “eyes” on its wings that call to mind its namesake. Be on the lookout for the leafwing butterfly, which can camouflage itself against the foliage. 

Open year-round, the conservatory provides a lush respite from winter in Ontario, with leafy ferns, trees and waterfalls creating a rainforestlike space. As fall descends, ornamental grasses, fruit, chrysanthemums and autumn crocuses are in bloom, giving butterflies a place to perch.

In addition to marveling at these winged insects (and trying to coax a few to land on your hand) visitors can learn more about the butterfly’s life cycle through an informational video at the start of their visit. And no trip would be complete without a stop at the emergence window, where the conservatory nurtures caterpillars during metamorphosis. Through the window, visitors can see butterflies emerge from their chrysalises and begin to tentatively use their wings.

When weather allows, walk down a path to the Garden Cafe, which offers light fare ranging from flatbreads and sandwiches to wraps and elevated takes on grilled cheese. Both the cafe and butterfly conservatory are on the site of the 99-acre Niagara Parks Botanical Garden. Located just 15 minutes north of downtown Niagara Falls, the conservatory is conveniently positioned near several dining and lodging options. 2565 Niagara Pkwy., Niagara Falls, Ontario L0S 1J0, 877/642-7275, niagaraparks.com/butterfly-conservatory