When I was young my mom painted a floral picture with a butterfly dancing along the top of the canvas. My love for that painting gave me an appreciation for the whimsical beauty of butterflies. Since my mom's passing, that painting holds even more meaning to me. As a tribute to her I've decided that for my birthday next week I'm going to get a tattoo of the butterfly she painted. What does that have to do with travel? The tattoo, not much. But butterfly observatories are scattered around the world and offer a chance view these winged wonders up close and in their natural habitats. Wear white and one just might land on your shoulder. A memory you'll cherish, just like the butterfly that will soon be landing on my shoulder.
amnh.org/exhibitions/butterflies
Located at the American Museum of Natural History in Central Park, the Butterfly Conservatory offers a lush oasis in the concrete jungle of New York City. Interact with the butterflies and learn about conservation efforts.
The Butterfly Pavilion is just outside of Denver, in the city of Westminster, Co. and is filled with more than 1,600 free-flying tropical butterflies. This was the first stand-alone insect zoo in the nation and prides itself on educating the public on the threatened habitats of these creatures and how we can help.
Coffs Harbour Butterfly House, Maze and Tearooms in New South Wales, Australia offer an indoor rainforest setting, an outdoor maze to hunt butterflies and a garden room to relax and enjoy tea and lunch.
Thousands of butterflies from Costa Rica and the Philippines fly free in this tropical garden in Cambridge, Ontario. Exotic birds, plants and bugs can also be observed.
Trip Tracker is compiled by Joy Guest. Is there a vacation or excursion that interests you? E-mail jguest@adn.com or comment online at adn.com/life/travel.
"Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." -- Nathaniel Hawthorne
