Tropical conservatory with hundreds of butterflies, birds, flamingos


























"An enclosed conservatory housing more than 50 butterfly species alongside turtles and birds such as flamingos — a colorful, slow-paced attraction that delights younger visitors and provides close-up nature encounters." - Elizabeth Preske Elizabeth Preske Elizabeth Preske is an associate editor at TripSavvy and a former associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure. She writes and edits content about destinations around the world, covering everything from travel-related news and tips to stories about quirky destinations. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"I wandered among hundreds of butterflies and tropical birds in the glass-domed Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, where more than 50 butterfly species flutter freely and you can even spot a couple of free-range flamingos." - Skye Sherman Skye Sherman Skye Sherman is a travel writer based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Aside from traveling, she's also a pilot, scuba diver, bookworm, and fourth-generation Floridian. Her work has appeared in Travel + Leisure, USA Today, Palm Beach Illustrated, Atlas Obscura, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"Wandering among hundreds of colorful butterflies and birds, lush tropical plants, and waterfalls in this conservatory felt like stepping into a vibrant, peaceful oasis." - Nina Ruggiero Nina Ruggiero Travel + Leisure Senior Editorial Director Nina Ruggiero oversees T+L's award-winning travel content across digital platforms. She is also the co-founder of Be A Travel Writer, an online course for aspiring travel journalists. When she's not traveling between her current home in Los Angeles and T+L HQ in New York City, Nina can often be found in Italy or the UK. She has lived in NYC, LA, Miami, Rome, and Sicily, and has traveled extensively through Europe, the U.S., Asia, the Caribbean, and Mexico, in addition to visiting Botswana, Morocco, New Zealand, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

"Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory is a hidden gem amongthe bars and bustle in Key West. The small glass-enclosed habitatis flutteringwith more than 50 species of butterflies, as well as colorful birds and a large tortoise. Different species of butterflies are active at different times of the day: In the mornings, some typesbaskin the sunand feed onthe flowers and fruits; as the sun goes down, the largest butterflies on-site, the owl butterflies, becomemost active. Within the 5,000-square-foot conservatory, there are fountains, ponds, flowers, plants, and trees. But the best part of a visit to this tiny wonderland is interactingwith the butterflies. If you putout your hand, they'll land righton your palm. The siteincludes a learning centerand a gallery."


"More than 50 species of butterfly and 20 species of exotic birds from around the world live in the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory, where you can learn about butterfly anatomy, physiology, life cycle, feeding, and migratory patterns, and watch flamingos strut their stuff just feet away. Don't miss the learning center, where live caterpillars munch away at their host plants. In all, it's a quick activity when you need a break from sun and sand." - Nancy DePalma , Laura Ratliff
