Founded in 1988 by Ronald Boender, Butterfly World is the first butterfly park in the US and one of the world’s largest. The 3-acre (1.2-hectare) site includes butterfly aviaries, botanical gardens, and a working butterfly farm and research center, plus two aviaries for tropical birds and an interactive lorikeet encounter. Another major attraction is the hummingbird aviary, where you can sit and observe the tiny birds.
There are at least 10,000 butterflies on display at any time at Butterfly World. With a goal of educating people on butterfly gardening, Boender also created the “Bring Back the Butterflies” campaign in 1988, which to this day supplies free butterfly gardening materials.
Butterfly World is a short drive north from Fort Lauderdale, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) on Interstate 95 or on the Florida Turnpike via Sample Road in Coconut Creek. The park is located on the south side of Sample Road. It’s about a 30-minute drive from the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Visit the park on a sunny day when the butterflies are most active. Since there are thousands of butterflies and hundreds of birds on display, you’re guaranteed to spot some no matter when you visit. Keep in mind that the Butterfly Flight area and the Lorikeet Encounter close at 4:30pm daily, and the park is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Another popular attraction for animal and nature lovers, Flamingo Gardens—located in Davie, about 30 minutes south of Butterfly World—is home to more than 3,000 plant and flower species. The family-friendly attraction celebrates the native Florida wilderness with an animal rehabilitation center, aviary, and on-site museum.