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    Butterfly Pavilion

    4.3 (300 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    On the ground...
    Jeannie D.

    We really enjoyed this experience. You can't hold the tarantula anymore, but the butterflies are SO worth it. There are other interactive things and this would be awesome for kids of all ages. Please WATCH your step!! The butterflies do land on the ground!!!

    Yvonne J.

    The Butterfly Pavilion was such a delight even for two adults! It was self guided and we easily spent an hour just wandering around even though the space wasn't that large. There were SO MANY butterflies of different colors and shapes flying around you. Such a cool experience. Near the entrance of the greenhouse there are chrysalises and we got to witness a partial emergence! The staff were also so cheerful and chockfull of knowledge. I had some great conversations with a staff member that really elevated my experience. Don't forget the gift shop! It had a lot of unique and beautiful gifts. Tip: wear light, colorful colors to increase the chances of the butterflies landing on you.

    Barb N.

    Great place for kids and adults. A weekday morning in October wasn't crowded. Enjoyed the insect and coral aquariums, butterflies and spiders and bright flowers and lush vegetation.

    Fish
    Bonni R.

    It's always fun to take the littles to the Butterfly Pavilion and this was no exception. I like that they change some of the exhibits but keep the most popular where they are. The free flying butterfly area is always a favorite but it does get pretty hot in there as the day goes on. Fortunately we went in fist thing before the heat and crowds and we all really enjoyed it. As usual, the staff was friendly and informative. There's plenty of parking and the gift shop is fun. The garden trail around the outside of the building is a great place to wander and relax. What a fun morning!

    Holding Goldie the tarantula.
    Phillip B.

    We had a nice visit to at the Butterfly Pavilion today. The employees were very pleasant and helpful and seemed like they really enjoyed their jobs. There is also a very nice playroom for the kids and an outside xeriscape. It was smaller than I had expected as I had this huge menagerie in mind. Nonetheless it was pleasant in its small form. *** They accepted EBT cards for a substantial discount so it made the trip worthwhile.

    Butterfly
    Michelle H.

    Lovely experience for all ages! Went with a group of coworkers on a summer Monday afternoon. The parking lot was almost completely full as this seems a popular spot for kids and families during the summer. The front desk staff was polite. We waited in line to hold Goldie, a tarantula, and pet some horseshoe crabs as well! The staff assisting with creature holding and petting were friendly and knowledgeable. And then the actual Butterfly Pavilion part was just delightful. 1500+ butterflies inside. There were a number of benches to enjoy sitting while inside. Next time, I'll be sure to bring my water bottle with me because the heat and humidity in there was pretty intense after a while, and it's easy to spend a lot of time looking at all the butterflies (and plants)! There is a kids play area that we did not visit, but looked fun. And then the shop had lots of fun gifts including some locally made items. One critique is that I did not see any gender-neutral restrooms, which was a bummer especially since they did have a Pride Progress sticker on the door outside. If there is one and I missed it, I'm happy to give a full, five-star rating.

    Vish E.

    Oct 2024 Incredible ! Walking around with butterflies whizzing past you :) The colors, the beauty, the collection is mesmerizing The spider collection is fascinating Wish we could spend more time with the butterflies

    Butterfly
    Cassandra T.

    What a fun place! Kids loved holding the spider and the indoor play area was a hit. Even with the chilly day kids loved the outdoor trail too. Will go again! Staff were great

    Jessica O.

    A great place to bring littles! (I brought my 2 year old son and he loved it.) I have been to two other butterfly pavilions and this one is my favorite! The actual butterfly pavilion has so many butterflies inside of it. Not to mention a wide variety of different species! Besides the butterflies I enjoyed the plant life growing inside of the pavilion. This is the first time that I have seen angels trumpets! They are so cool and the flower hangs upside-down! Make sure to check out the chrysalises and cocoons near the exit and entrance of the pavilion. You may get to see a butterfly emerge for the first time! Besides butterfly when you first come in they have a section just for other insects. Here you can hold a tarantella if you dare and as long as you are over 3 years old. They have many other spiders and even multiple species of tarantellas. There are beetles too and even a hive of bees. One thing I thought was nice about this section is that they have a special platform so that shorter kids could go up steps and be able to see into all the glass tanks the bugs are kept. They have an aquatic section with a touch tank and coral. They also have an indoor playground that is great for kids of all ages. Here they even have a play section for those under the age of three and they have a very nice nursing room. Equipped with a very comfy reclining chair. Lastly they have an outdoor garden area that is pretty peaceful to walk through. Tips: -If you bring food they have a cover area near the entrance with picnic tables. -Come later in the day if you can. It is pretty packed in the early morning with children and the morning timeframe is when all the field trips come here. -Anyone under 2 years old is free. -I was able to get a pass free through my local library!

    Rosie
    Abby T.

    Visiting Colorado, definitely make a stop here! It's a wonderful indoor activity for all ages! I haven't been here since I was a kid, and im so happy to see it hasn't changed! You can hold Rosie, when I was a kid, I was too scared, so it was fun finally getting to hold her! She was much lighter than expected. The butterfly room is so beautiful and I was in awe the whole time! Be dressed for humidity because that room is hot and humid but breathtaking! There were so many different types of butterflies and moths. Basically, keeping your head on a swivel, you can see them all. There were plenty of benches to rest and take in the beauty. We spent just about two hours here. They have a very basic bag policy and do allow outside food and drink so bring some water because it's hot.

    This is not a brooch!
    Neva G.

    First visit, three adults, and we enjoyed the experience a lot. One of us even held Rosie the tarantula. We loved seeing the interpreter release new butterflies, and he was very informative. The garden is as entrancing as the butterflies - so many tropical flowers! Mornings are when groups of children take over, so consider your entry time accordingly.

    Aquariums were thriving.
    Leah P.

    It was smaller than I remembered, but still pretty darn cool. We brought our family here, the kids' first time. It did not disappoint. Holding Rosie, the tarantula, was a highlight for my daughter who is afraid of spiders/arachnids. She overcame a huge fear and that was very exciting to see. I am still a chicken. The variety of bugs was neat, and their fish tanks were clean and a little less depressing than the aquarium in downtown Denver (still not our favorite). The best part is definitely the butterfly room in the greenhouse. The variety of butterflies is decent. We did see a lot of the same butterfly, but some of them are gorgeous and unique. We wanted to see more of our favorites like the blue morpho. A white morpho actually landed on my daughter! And we got to see a butterfly release of newly hatched butterflies! It was a lovely experience.

    Carrie R.

    Beautiful, fun,relaxing trip here with my school aged kids. So many different varieties of butterflies. 2 times a day they do a butterfly release of the hatched butterflies. You can also sit and watch100's of cocoons hatch in a glass viewing area. Opportunities to hold a tarantula after waiting in line and view many other spiders, bees, snakes. A small area of fish and ocean things to touch. An indoor play area. The whole place is quite small but great for a couple hours.

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    9 months ago

    Awesome experience every time I come here. From holding Rosie, to seeing different stages of butterfly life, I have so much fun every visit!

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    10 months ago

    I love the butterfly pavilion! It is an amazing space to learn and enjoy the beautiful nature!

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    Ask the Community - Butterfly Pavilion

    Review Highlights - Butterfly Pavilion

    If you have a couple of hours to spare in Denver and want to relax seeing beautiful butterflies and more, come here.

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    Denver Museum of Nature and Science

    Denver Museum of Nature and Science

    4.2
    (749 reviews)

    Our family of seven adults and three young children descended upon the Denver Museum of Nature &…read moreScience. We joined as members, which turned out to be a great value since the membership cost less than purchasing individual tickets and allowed us to return throughout the year. Some of the toddlers were especially excited to see The World's Largest Dinosaurs exhibit (a separate ticket is required), which explores the biology and amazing anatomy of sauropods, the largest land animals ever to walk the Earth. We also enjoyed Discovering Teen Rex, which featured interactive exhibits for the kids. The fossil preparation lab was on display as well, showcasing Triceratops and Edmontosaurus fossils along with the tools used by paleontologists. Both exhibits were listed as temporary. The biggest surprise was the Wildlife Halls on the second and third floors. These 90-plus wildlife and habitat dioramas are beautifully detailed, many featuring enormous and exotic animals within realistic ecosystem settings. Everyone was impressed by how clean and vibrant they looked, especially compared to the classic dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History, which we still greatly enjoy. The Discovery Zone on the second floor was the biggest hit with the children. Designed for kids up to age eight, it offers a variety of hands-on exhibits. From uncovering buried bones in the sand to designing custom bug badges and experimenting with the force of moving water, it was difficult to pull the kids away. Outside the museum, there are additional attractions including animal statues, a playground, and a splash fountain. The museum is located within the expansive Central Park area, providing plenty of room to explore before or after your visit. We found the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to be well worth the visit and highly recommend it for adults and children of all ages.

    Denver has a great museum, so if you come here be sure to check it out. It's a great experience of…read moreColorado history, while also having tons of science and the exhibits that rotate in and out are great too. They have free days every so often. They tend to be packed but it's a great time, the building feels so alive with so many people. Come by and check it out, you will love it.

    WOW! Children's Museum

    WOW! Children's Museum

    3.8
    (53 reviews)

    Visited this children's museum recently while exploring some cities north of us. Kids had a great…read moretime. Lots of different things to keep them busy including a big pirate ship, pulley chairs, art room, etc. I loved how they had some older telephones, switch boards, etc. so kids could actually experience some of these items not commonly used or seen today. It was fun to let them explore those and play with them. As a bilingual family, we appreciated how everything was presented in English/Spanish. I did feel like some of the displays were a little run down. Likewise the prices were steep, especially for adults. I really think since adult presence is required, it really shouldn't cost more than $3 per adult. Bathrooms were fairly clean. Place seemed stuck in the Covid era which I wasn't a fan of. Time to move on! This isn't the museum's fault but the day we went the kids there were a bit out of control and rude. That dampened our experience a little bit. They had a little area where families could sit and eat snacks. That was nice for taking a break, especially if you stay for a while. It was a fun one time excursion but I wouldn't return. We have a lot of fun places much closer to us that cost a lot less!

    Cons: NO toilet seat covers in bathrooms (there was kid pee all over the seat and I had to wipe it…read moreoff and hover. NOT COOL.) NO antibacterial/sanitizing wipes near yuck bins (or anywhere.) if someone is putting an item in the yuck bin, you can guarantee they need to wipe their hands. And what about babies who drool on things that can't be picked up? Simple wipes would go really far. NO water from the outdoor mud kitchen spigot. If you are going to make a mud kitchen sink and have a spigot with a pipe all set up, at least make sure it works! ! Running kids... they have 2 screens that I saw that said make sure to walk, but I can tell you they do nothing, hah! So be prepared for your little one to get run into, whacked, stepped on, etc. They don't remind anyone during check in to please walk. NO parking. They have a few spots and otherwise it's street parking. For pregnant moms, newly postpartum moms with their strollers and gear, grandparents with arthritis or bad hips etc....enjoy the hike!!!! Pros: Many different areas of play, and geared toward a wide range of ages. We drove from Fort Collins to go, and had fun. Though I wouldn't return with a 1 hr drive. Also wish it was a bit cheaper, but it's better than some of the really large museums. Tried to get a pass at the library but have to have a Lafayette address to get a museum pass, even though we have a Lafayette library card. COST was about $33 for 2 kids and 1 adult. All in all, if it was walkable distance we might go more, but for any kind of driving distance plan for it to be one and done visit :) there is a cute coffee shop next door which was nice.

    Denver Art Museum

    Denver Art Museum

    4.2
    (694 reviews)
    $$

    A large, impressive museum with something for everyone. The main museum is technically two museums…read more(there are a total of three), the Hamilton building and the Martin building. Sections include modern and contemporary African art, arts of Oceania, Western American art, latin American art, indigenous art, alaskan art. They also have textile, fashion, and architecture exhibitions. They also have rotating temporary exhibitions. When I visited, it was European and American art. I had a little fun finding paintings of judgmental looking people and making a "we listen and we judge" instagram post. All the rooms are large and well curated/presented. I visited on a Tuesday and it was free (I still donated). On regular days, admission is 30 dollars, but gets you into all three museums, including the Kirkland (reviewed separately), which is right next door. I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves as far as the variety available at this museum.

    The depth and breadth of the Denver Art Museum's collection is breathtaking. There is so much to…read morelearn and enjoy in the standing exhibits and the rotating exhibits that amaze and delight the senses. The current exhibition on Australian Indigenous Art "The Stars We Do Not See" is a stunning example of how much there is to gain and appreciate from going to see something you know nothing about. I particularly enjoy the tours, ongoing programs and lectures that the Museum offers. In conjunction with with the Aboriginal exhibit, the monthly "Mindful Looking" program offered a deep dive into one painting in that exhibit as a group of maybe 50 patrons listened in rapt attention as the curator of "The Stars We Do Not See" gave us a deep understanding of not only how that piece was made, but also its historical, symbolic and hidden perspectives. This is just a tiny slice of the education, amazement and enjoyment the Denver Art Museum has to offer. It's a treasure.

    Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

    Museum of Contemporary Art Denver

    3.6
    (201 reviews)

    Considering that I paid the after 5pm discount fee of $5 [Tues-Thurs], I would rate it a 4/5. If I…read morehad to pay the regular $14 admission fee, I probably would rate it a 3-3.5/5. You have to park in the street. They do give you a free coin to store your belongings in a locker for the duration of your stay. The museum itself is kinda small. Although it has 3 floors, there's only 1-2 exhibitions per floor. The rooftop is also small & the outdoor city views are sort of limiting. So in general, you can easily complete the whole museum in a matter of 30-60 min tops. They feature rotating exhibitions. So every few months or so, the theme is different & you can come back to see totally new artwork. It's really nice that they feature local artists that are Denver based and display their ideas & artistry to the world. I really enjoyed spending some time in the afternoon walking around & admiring some of the art. It was definitely a good way to kill time & spend time indoors away from the heat/cold.

    I've been here twice- most recently because I was able to get a free ticket through the Denver…read morepublic library, and previously to attend a wine and Halloween candy pairing party. If you get a chance to attend their events, they are really fun and worth the price of admission. I also really enjoy their ever rotating art collection. They have some really great local and minority artists, but what really tugged on my heart this time was the exhibit of teen artists. Absolutely adore seeing kids express themselves through art, and their statements about their art were truly eloquent. Parking downtown sucks, as usual, but if you come on a Sunday you might be able to find a metered spot for free. I'm sure I'll be back, most likely for an event! I know I'll be recommending their teen program to some of my more artistic students.

    Butterfly Pavilion - museums - Updated June 2026

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