Lepidoptera lovers take notice: you can find one of the world's largest collections of butterflies and moths at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Within a few miles of Exit 384 off I-75, the museum is located on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville (home of the Florida Gators).
Although the 13,000+ collection of mounted species on the "Wall of Wings" is impressive, visiting the museum's Butterfly Rainforest exhibit is a breathtaking experience. The exhibit, housed in a 6,400-square-foot screened enclosure that is easily 80 feet high, is built to resemble a tropical rainforest complete with flowering plants, trees, waterfalls, ponds, and tropical (non-insect-eating) birds.
But the main attraction inside the rainforest is the hundreds of exotic living butterflies. As soon as you enter the enclosure, butterflies are all around you. Iridescent blue, orange, red, papery white, striped, and spotted, winged creatures of every vivid color imaginable. These strange, other-worldly beings take no notice of the humans, often mistaking us for another colorful landing spot.
As equally enchanting to small children as to the octogenarians travelling with me (Nancy the Adventurous Mom and Cool "Red Shoes" Aunt Peggy), the butterflies remove you, albeit temporarily, from earth's chains and let our fascination with flight take wing. As they surround you like flower petals, you may be lucky enough to feel the flutter of their fragile wings against your cheek.
The museum is home to several other permanent and temporary exhibits as well, including the Florida Fossils: Evolution of Life & Land; South Florida People & Environments; and Northwest Florida: Waterways & Wildlife. A visit here makes for a thoughtful trek into the adventures of natural history.
Don't forget to check out the two gift shops, full of butterfly souvenirs to delight any woman with wanderlust.
Tip: Adult admission to the Rainforest exhibit is $9.50, but you can easily find a coupon for $1.50 off at your hotel's travel brochure rack.
Have an adventure you'd like to share? Contact me at wanderlust_woman@verizon.net.
©2009 Kerry Bennett
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