Butterfly Pavilion Westminster, Colorado

Located just outside of Westminster, Colorado is a great place to take the family while on vacation or if you live close by that area. It is the Butterfly Pavilion, one of the first non-profit insect zoos built. It is truly an amazing collection of live butterflies in the tropical jungle area, but also sports an ocean aquarium with touching pools, a discovery area for kids, tanks of bugs such as tarantulas, walking sticks, and other creepy crawlies, and outside walkway with sculptures, gazebo and pond, a complete and unique gift shop, and a human-sized praying mantis that will shake your hand.

The cost ranges at the top end at $8.50 to 5.50 and children under one year of age are free. They are open seven days a week and there are family memberships available. What looks like a plain, ordinary building reveals itself to be truly one of the greatest spots to take the family. They have daily programs and special events schedules throughout the year. At Christmas time, the outside area donned lighted sculptures of wire butterflies and ladybugs. The walkway was strewn with lighted shrubs which made it look like a fairyland. From the patio and pond area could be seen the far off lights of Denver and other outlying towns. An ice sculpture of a butterfly was hard to walk by and not take a lick.

Each room contains many wonders and they provide as much touching, playing, discovering and viewing as possible for the areas that not only entertain, but instruct. One such program is the live music provided by various groups. The kids have the opportunity to explore various musical instruments that whistle, twang, beat, and buzz along with volunteers who help the kids explore what each instrument can do.

There is a room for sea creatures introduced at the entrance by a huge aquarium with various ocean dwellers. The touching tanks are manned with helpers who instruct children how to "pet" the starfish or hermit crabs or other fascinating creatures. They also tell about each one so that you become familiar with its habitat and its needs. The room is a beautiful reflection of blues, greens, and rusty colors of ocean tide-pools.

The "bug" room has tanks and containers for the various unusual insects complete with step stools so they can be viewed up close and personal. Volunteers will let you carefully touch the tarantulas or cock roaches while holding them in their hands. Sometimes the tanks are like I Spy books where you have to search for their inhabitants. Informational signs and walls are written up with all kinds of facts and pictures to inspect.

If you are lucky enough to be there when the human-sized praying mantis is roaming the hallways, it will take the time to shake your hand or give you a hug. It looks pretty friendly even though some kids might be intimidated initially by a big green thing walking around.

The discovery area has an area for dancing complete with tap and ballet shoes to wear, a big mirror, and hardwood floor for those pirouettes or classy moves. There is a puppet theater with windows to put on a show with boxes of all kinds of animal and insect puppets. Also there are large kids puppets to keep you company. Discovery kitchens, sandbox area, and play areas are set up for climbing, opening, driving, inventing and hopping around. There is a giant wind machine that shoots scarves into the air that can fascinate and mesmerize visitors for hours along with mirrors that distort making everyone look like visitors from another planet.

The educational programs provided range from photography classes to camps. They have workshops for people of all ages that are simple or comprehensive to meet all interests. They even have family workshops and sunset strolls.

The tropical conservatory provides a chance to enjoy and observe more than 1200 butterflies. Some of most beautiful tropical flowers provide the pop of color among the greenery. An overlook covered by a hut is placed in the center to view from above and have a look at the layout. Many live presentations are conducted such as turtle watching and larvae observation. It is manned by staff who are more than ready to answer your questions or explain the marvels all around. Be prepared to peel off layers of clothing when you spend time here as it is quite warm and humid.

The gift shop allows the visitor to by a keepsake of their time spent with the critters from hats and T-shirts to lovely framed, real butterflies. Toys of all kinds are available to enchant and lure the kids into the shop as well as beautiful mobiles and windchimes hanging all around the store.

Don't miss the opportunity to see this wonderful place full of fun and adventure for all ages while in Colorado.

While they provide events for the public and for members, you can also host your own events such as birthdays or meetings. This is truly destination place for locals and visitors.