The ButterFLY PLace in Westford, MA
If you’re looking for a fun family activity in Massachusetts, look no further than The Butterfly Place in Westford. This indoor butterfly sanctuary is a great option for parents searching for things to do in Massachusetts, especially in Boston and the surrounding areas.
My name is Lauren McDonagh-Pereira. I am a portrait photographer, web3 artist, and web3 blogger. I am a lifelong Massachusetts resident, and I am a mother to two wonderful children. My children and I go out to explore activities, locations and events around Massachusetts almost every day. This blog is my guide to my favorite family fun location in Massachusetts.
My family loves visiting The Butterfly Place! We have visited at least once a year since 2020, and I have fond memories of visiting The Butterfly place with my Aunt Eloise back in 1998, when I was in 5th grade.
Keep reading to learn more about this special place.
Disclaimer
Before we get into it, please consider a few quick DISCLAIMERS.
- I am not compensated in anyway by the locations that I write about. I visited The Butterfly Place in Westford, MA with my children simply because we wanted to go.
- This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn a commission from qualified purchases.
- This post links to my portrait photography services under Lauren McDonagh-Pereira LLC.
- This post represents my personal opinions. I am not responsible if you have a different experience at this location.
The Butterfly Place Overview
The Butterfly Place is located in Westford, Massachusetts. It is about 40 miles North of Boston.
It is open seasonally between Valentine’s Day and Columbus Day. The Butterfly place is closed for most of the winter. During its open season, The Butterfly Place operates between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM every day.
As of March 2023, an adult ticket was $14.00, a ticket for kids between the ages of 3 and 12 was $10.00, and children under 2 are free. I was able to pick up a pass from the Tewksbury Public Library that covered my adult admission.
Please check their official website before you head out for up to date operating hours and pricing.
The Butterfly place consists of a wonderful greenhouse full of flowers and a large variety of living butterflies, a small multimedia exhibit that teaches about the life cycle of butterflies, a gift shop, and an outdoor picnic area.
No food or drinks are allowed inside the green house. In the warmer months, you will be able to enjoy your snacks at the picnic tables outside. In cold or wet weather, be prepared to let your kids eat their snacks in the car.
There is on site parking close to the building. Strollers are not allowed inside the butterfly greenhouse. I usually leave my stroller in the car and walk the short distance into the building while carrying my kids, or holding their hands.
The greenhouse is kept at a lush, tropical temperature above 80 degrees at all times. When we go, I dress myself and the kids in t-shirts. I layer sweatshirts and coats over their short sleeves for the walk into the venue, and then leave our outwear behind on the provided coatrack before entering the butterfly atrium.
You are not allowed to touch any of the butterflies or flowers. For the safety of the butterflies, there is no running inside the atrium. This is a bit of a tall order for toddlers and younger kiddos.
I always purchase a toy bug for each kid from the gift shop when I pay for my tickets. The rubber bugs cost $0.50 and give the kids something new and interesting to hold on to. This keeps their hands busy while they are looking at the butterflies and reduces the temptation to touch.
What is there to do at the Butterfly Place?
Our recent visit to The Butterfly Place with my 1-year-old and 4-year-old was an fun family adventure. As soon as we stepped inside, we were greeted by a warm and humid atmosphere that transported us to a tropical rainforest. My kids were fascinated by the hundreds of colorful butterflies flying around us, and the vibrant plants and flowers made the experience even more magical.
The Butterfly Place is a perfect choice for preschool family activities and family activities for toddlers. The little ones will be amazed by the sight of so many butterflies in one place, and they will have a great time learning about the different stages of the butterfly life cycle through the educational displays.
In addition to being a great educational opportunity, The Butterfly Place is also a fantastic option for family fun. My 4-year-old loved pointing out all the different butterfly colors and patterns, and my 1-year-old was captivated by the bright flowers and plants. We spent over an hour exploring the garden, watching the butterflies drink nectar from flowers, and enjoying the enclosed butterfly house.
When you exit the main butterfly area, there is a small screening room where they show a documentary about the life cycle of butterflies on repeat. The video is about 20 minutes long. My 4-year-old was fascinated by the movie, which afforded me the perfect opportunity to nurse my 1-year-old in a relatively quiet space.
Overall, The Butterfly Place is a wonderful family activity that is sure to delight kids of all ages. It’s also a great addition to any list of things to do in Massachusetts in the winter, especially if you’re looking for indoor activities to escape the cold.
Will Kids Enjoy visiting the Butterfly Place?
Yes! Kids will have a great time at The Butterfly Place.
My son has visited three times.
When my son was two-years-old he was thrilled by the sheer volume of butterflies. He was so excited. He kept pointing and yelling, “There’s one! There’s one! There’s one!” every time he noticed a new butterfly going by.
At 3, my son enjoyed visiting The Butterfly Place and asking my husband lots of questions about what butterflies ate, how they changed from caterpillars into butterflies, and quoting lines from Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”.
During our most recent visit on March 2, 2023, my son was 4-years-old. On this visit, he took my cell phone and walked around slowly, trying to capture pictures of all of the different butterflies.
My daughter has visited twice. Well, technically, she has been three times, but the first visit was in utero.
We visited in March of 2022, when she was 7-months-old. I wore her in a baby carrier and she was completely fascinated watching the butterflies flying by.
During our March 2023 visit, my daughter was almost 19 months old. This time she rushed up and down the paths trying to follow the butterflies around the room.
What should I pack for a visit to the butterfly Place?
1. Baby Carrier – Stollers are not allowed in The Butterfly Place. When my daughter was a baby, I wore her in my Infantino Carry on Carrier.
2. Camera – There are lots of photo opportunities in The Butterfly Place. I shoot with my Nikon Z50 Mirrorless camera and the delightfully small Nikkor Z 28mm f/2.8 lens.
I let my son take his own pictures with my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra phone.
3. Snacks and Drinks – Food and drinks are not allowed inside The Butterfly place. I usually pack a few CamelBaks full of water and some snacks into my Vera Bradley backpack to eat at the picnic benches outside after our visit.
If it is a long ride for you, be sure to bring your own snacks. There are no snacks or drinks sold at The Butterfly Place. You must bring your own and eat them outside.
4. Warm Weather Clothes – It is very hot inside The Butterfly Place. Our first visit was cut short because I was pregnant, and wearing a thick winter sweater. I was absolutely melting.
Dress in layers so that you and the kids can strip down to t-shirts before you enter the butterfly atrium.
5. Curiosity – Bring your curiosity! There is lots to learn, and the friendly staff are very knowledge and are eager to answer the questions of both adults and children.
Is the butterfly place appropriate for family photography?
Yes! The Butterfly Place makes a gorgeous setting for portrait photography, especially in February and March when much of Massachusetts is a muddy mess.
It tends to get very crowded in the morning and on weekends. After lunch time, the stay-at-home mom crowd clears out and provides a bit more space for grabbing a few individual or family portraits.
The Butterfly Place also offers appointment-only photo sessions from 9:00 AM until 10:00 AM.
If you are interested in having a portrait session at The Butterfly Place, I would be happy to work with you and the venue to secure a date and time. Email me at laurenmcdonaghpereira@gmail.com for inquiries.
Final Thoughts on the butterfly place
The Butterfly Place is a must-visit location in Massachusetts with children.
Plan to stay for 1 to 2 hours, dress for a tropical garden, and get your smiles ready!
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MEET Lauren McDonagh-Pereira
Lauren McDonagh-Pereira is a photographer from Massachusetts, USA. She captures the beauty of the world around her, favoring Nikon cameras and lenses. She is drawn to shooting landscapes, wildlife, nature, and people authentically enjoying life.
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