• Travel & Vacation: Butterfly Garden at Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History

    P1160911c

    A butterfly getting a drink from the purple flower

    While in the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History we visited the Butterfly Garden.  Getting into the Museum was free, but it did cost I believe $5 to get into the Butterfly Garden.  I wasn’t sure if it was really worth it, however, Jake insisted that the girls should experience it at least once.

    Both girls LOVED it!  Brina was convinced she could stay there the entire day.  It was really neat seeing the butterflies so close and having them land on you.  Karlie didn’t mind them landing on her shoe, backpack, or clothes, but when they landed on her skin she didn’t like it.  We spent a good amount of time in the Butterfly Garden which was completely enclosed with a variety of plants, flowers, and of course butterflies.  If you get a chance to go through it with your kids I highly recommend it.

    P1080268c

    Waiting in line for the Butterfly Garden!

    P1160937c

    Brina thought it was hilarious that the butterfly landed on her camera!

    P1170072c

    Karlie with one on her leg.  “Mom, it feels funny can you get it off!”  She was not a big fan of them crawling on her skin, but for some reason they liked her legs, ha!

    P1160953c

    Brina loving it!

    P1170063c

    Oh no, it’s on my leg again!  Mom!  For some reason they liked Karlie’s legs!

    P1160961c

    One landed on the tip of Brina’s finger!

    P1080291c

    Karlie holding her hand next to the butterfly to see if it will crawl onto her hand.

    P1160963c

    Fascinating!

    P1160988c

    I was busy taking pictures when Brina informed me that I had 2 on my shirt!

    P1170025c

    One butterfly was checking out Brina’s colorful headband!  She said she could feel it moving and it was tickling her ear!

    P1170029c

    The butterflies really liked Brina.  She loved this activity!

    P1160992c

    Karlie’s backpack was a favorite spot for butterflies to land!

    P1170053c

    Hey, look at this one!

    P1170069c

    Karlie trying to encourage the butterfly to walk up to her hand so it wouldn’t be on her leg anymore!

    P1170106c

    This butterfly has a death wish….  I went to take a step when a butterfly decided to land on the bottom of my shoe.  I had to hold my foot into this position until one of the workers came with a paint brush and get the butterfly off the bottom of my shoe!  Thankfully I noticed before stepping down!

    P1080293c

    Jake took this picture on the outside of the butterfly garden.  Sweet Karlie taking a picture of the butterfly in front of her!

    P1080299c

    Brina showing Daddy one of the butterflies that landed on her fingers.  This is a little cloudy because it was taken through the canopy, but still really cute.  She was so excited to show her butterfly to her Dad!