The Butterfly Forest In Cleveland That’s The Perfect Family Destination
By Nikki Rhoades|Published May 25, 2022
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
There’s an urban oasis hiding in the depths of Cleveland. Situated in University Circle, the incredible Cleveland Botanical Garden offers an escape into a rich, verdant, and vibrant world. With a massive glass greenhouse and beautifully-manicured exterior, it’s impossible to miss this botanical garden and butterfly house in Cleveland. That’s right… we mentioned butterflies! Butterflies are one of the main attractions in the Garden, and they bring joy and excitement to visitors of all ages. Are you ready to spend some time in a butterfly-dotted paradise? Let’s make our way on over to Wade Oval, where this incredible Cleveland institution is hiding a real-life metropolitan jungle.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden is part of Holden Forests & Gardens. This local organization manages the University Circle garden and the Holden Arboretum, and both strive to educate visitors and spark a positive impact in our community.
This incredible institution got its start in 1930 as the Garden Center of Greater Cleveland, but it moved to its currently location just a few decades later.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden is home to carefully curated plants that thrive both inside and outside the greenhouse. In the 10 acres of gardens outside, you can actually spot some remnants of Cleveland history. When the old Garden Center of Greater Cleveland moved to this spot, locals were very much aware that the site formerly hosted Cleveland's zoo. Today, the old zoo is a distant memory, but you can still spot evidence of its bear pit in the Ohio Woodland Garden.
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Today, the Botanical Garden continues to educate visitors about the wonders of plant life... and it does so inside its glasshouse and on its grounds.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden's grounds, by the way, host an almost unbelievable number of plants and animals. There are more than 350 species of plants here, plus about 50 species of animals!
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The Eleanor Armstrong Smith Glasshouse spans 17,000 square feet, and in that space, you'll find a Costa Rican rainforest and a desert in Madagascar.
When you're planning your visit to the Botanical Garden, keep in mind that there's a ton to see. It closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday, so remember to give yourself plenty of time to explore.
The landscape is so authentic that you just might feel like you've stepped into another world...
Surrounded by the sound of birdsong and trickling water, you'll feel like you're deep in the tropics. However, Cleveland's bustling streets lie just beyond the greenhouse glass.
...And the live on-site critters will help bring the illusion together.
The birdsong you'll hear during the visit isn't pumped in from speakers... it's real, and they're just one of several species that call this place home. For many, the butterflies are the top (and most interactive) attraction.
Visiting the butterflies is included with your general admission ticket, and you can stay and admire the butterflies for as long as you'd like. Just remember that the garden closes early... so be sure to budget enough time to bond with them!
The butterflies (and the birds that live beside them) help to pollinate delicate flowers, and you might find that a unique tree species is in bloom during your visit.
The butterflies teach visitors valuable lessons about how deeply interconnected forests are with species like butterflies. The two depend on each other to survive, which opens up an opportunity for visitors to learn and be inspired.
The butterflies are just one of several species at the Botanical Garden, believe it or not.
The butterflies live alongside a panther chameleon, radiated tortoises, frogs, and even Madagascar hissing roaches. Of course, they're surrounded by a vibrant indoor forest that's also very much alive.
Every visit to the Cleveland Botanical Garden is unforgettable...
Ready to plan your own visit? Connect with the Cleveland Botanical Garden on Facebook to keep them on your radar and to get behind the scenes glimpses into life in the garden.
...And you just might make a new friend while you're there.
Look for it at 11030 East Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44106.
Great things await visitors at this incredible botanical garden and butterfly house in Cleveland. Have you ever paid a visit? We’d love to hear about your experience in the comments! If you took any butterfly photos, we’d love to see those, too!
Want to interact with even more butterflies? Visit Put-in-Bay’s Butterfly House for more photo ops and family fun.
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