Location: The Butterfly Place
120 Tyngsboro Road
Westford, MA 01886
(978) 932-0955
Website: www.butterflyplace-ma.com
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Summer has drawn to a close and with it the warm weather, but that doesn't mean good times are gone with it. With the unpleasant overcast weather putting a damper on the possibilities for outdoor activities I thought it would be a perfect weekend to enjoy a little fun indoors at The Butterfly Place. This 3100 sq ft, 27ft high indoor sanctuary/conservatory in Westford, MA allows visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy the tranquil habitat for the roughly 500 butterflies that call it home. It's paths are lined with a variety of colorful plants and shrubs, designed as a source of nectar for the butterflies. The lush surroundings also create a beautiful habitat for the other living creatures that call it home such as the quail birds and koi fish that swim in the indoor pond.
We arrived at about 11:30 and found it lightly attended allowing us to really enjoy the habitat without having to fight the crowds. After passing through a few sets of doors we entered the atrium and the butterflies were flying about, landing on the flowers, and seemingly tormenting the young children. While they majestically fluttered by I learned from the guide that there are roughly 50 different species of butterflies from all around the world at any given time. She further explained however that they prefer to showcase local species whenever possible. The butterflies seemed to really enjoy when the heater turned on and they all seemed to take flight at once to enjoy the warmth which was beautiful to watch. Their colorful wings intertwining with each other as they perform a free spirited dance in the air.
We took many pictures and it is definitely worth bringing your camera just in case one decides you might be a nice place to land. We sat still for a while hoping but they seemed to land on the children and older people more than anyone else which amused me since the kids seemed scared when they were crawling on them and the older people seemed to not even notice. It is very warm and fairly humid inside so leave your jackets in the car. The place isn’t very big and I can see how on a crowded day it might be too much to try to navigate along the narrow winding paths.
While I thoroughly enjoyed myself I do want to share one negative which is less about the actual venue and more about peoples thoughtlessness. My biggest pet peeve is people with baby carriages. Some of those things are the size of smart cars and they drive them like big rigs. I think they should be banned from the conservatory and left outside. The paths are just too small and too narrow to allow them. If your child is too small to walk you should carry them. I also think while it is nice to bring wheel chairs for those unable to walk to enjoy the beauty it too is frustrating to find someone left to sit in the same spot and blocking the path. There are benches and you should park those people along the benches so that you are not blocking the paths. That would allow everyone to further enjoy the experience.
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