This year, March Break weather in Ontario was not the greatest. Unlike last year, which was gorgeous, this year, winter decided to hang around. By Wednesday of the break, it was snowing, even in southern Ontario. This was the day we decided to go to Cambridge from Oakville to visit some friends.
My parents live by the lake, and their neighbourhood has its own microclimate. There were flurries, but nothing major. Part of our visit was going to be at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory, so I told the kids to put on their shoes instead of their boots. After driving through a blizzard on highway 401 West, we arrived at our friend's home to several centimetres of fresh snow. The kids stayed inside to play, but it was funny to think we could have still needed our boots.
The Butterfly Conservatory is a wonderful place to visit, especially in the winter. The temperature inside is always 26C, so it is like a mini trip to the tropics. In Sudbury, we have the butterfly gallery at Science North. It too is climate controlled. It is much smaller though. The conservatory in Cambridge takes up a fairly large area. There is a nice walking path,and a waterfall. They have some birds along with the butterflies, and a pond full of fish.
The kids loved it. I enjoyed it as well. I think butterflies are one of the most amazing creatures, ever. Imagine going into a cocoon shaped like a caterpillar, and coming out shaped like a butterfly. Biology is so cool. The guides were there to show you the new butterflies emerging, and help answer any questions.
There was also a bug feast going on for March Break. My daughter did not quite catch on, and was disgusted that the caramel corn servings all had fried crickets in them. She ate the salt water taffy, with ants, but only because they were ground up, and she did not realize she was eating ants. My son wanted the lollipop with the scorpion inside. We did not buy it for him.
The only drawback I found was the same drawback I have experienced at other museums or nature centres. Often, there are single, older adults who do not like loud, excited children. If they have chosen to come to a place like this during a school break or the summer, they are going to have to accept that there will be rambunctious children around. Do not come to nature centres, science centres, museums during busy school break times if your intention is to have a quiet, relaxing time because it will not happen. Even the best of parents will have difficulty calming their children when they are seeing new things for the first time.
Now, if I were to choose between the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory and the one in Niagara, I would go to the Cambridge one again for sure. It is free for teachers, if you have you professional card. Also, you can re-enter the gallery as often as you would like. At Niagara, it is one tour around the gallery, then out you go. They are probably busier, but I like the option of being able to stay as long as I would like.
If you think there is no point going during the summer, the temperature inside the gallery is always 26C, so if it a particularly hot summer day, the gallery will be cooler. We visited the Niagara Conservatory on the hottest day of the summer last July, and it was a relief to be inside.
In Sudbury, we are limited to the smaller butterfly gallery at Science North, but it is still a nice change of scenery. Science North is also free for teachers, and children under three. If you are looking for a way to chase the winter blues, hanging out in a warm greenhouse with butterflies is always a great way to do it.
My daughter really wanted a butterfly to land on her. She was running around with her arm out, so one would land. Despite her colourful dress, she was just too busy, and they kept flying away from her.
http://www.cambridgebutterfly.com/
http://www.niagaraparks.com/garden-trail/butterfly-conservatory.html
http://sciencenorth.ca/science-north/exhibits/index.aspx?coll_id=7
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