The Butterfly Pavilion
Last month we went to the butterfly pavilion, dinosaur exhibit, and rose garden at the downtown Los Angeles County Natural History Museum. The butterflies were amazing.
The museum’s own website reminds us, “As symbols, butterflies are a touch angelic. Their colorful wings sectioned by black veins into brightly-hued cells evoke stained glass, while their connection to springtime renewal and vividly transformational life cycles connect them with lofty notions like spiritual rebirth, hope, and transformation.” Aw, gosh. Magic!
I brought my family along on a video call, so they could see the butterflies too. The look of wonder on my father’s face was not so different from the joy on my six-year-old nephew’s.
Many young parents brought their infants, toddlers, and elementary school aged kids. We were told not to try and catch the butterflies, but the temptation was too much for some of the younger visitors, who chased them around and needed constant, gentle reminders. “Don’t grab!”
Left and right, whenever a patron won the affection of a butterfly for one brief moment (two landed on my partner’s head) people burst out with cries of delight. There were graceful Swallowtail butterflies, with black and yellow stripes and long tuxedo like “tails” on their lower wings, classic orange and black Monarchs, bright green and black Malachite butterflies, and Zebra “longwings” with yellowish white and black horizontal stripes, a short body, and widened wingspan. We saw Owl butterflies have wing patterns that look like owl’s eyes. There were majestic Blue Morphos have wings that unfold bright blue and fold up with wings that would camouflage well in dappled tree bark.
After a half hour that seemed much longer because of our wonder, the attendant announced it was almost time to go. I still hadn’t been landed on. I stood very still and said, “If one lands on me and I can’t see it, let me know.” Seconds later, one of the largest, most perfect Blue Morphos landed on my small green handbag inches from my fingertips.
After the pavilion, we headed for the rose garden was full of roses with names like Mr. Lincoln, Unforgettable, and Twilight Zone. We wandered from rose to rose, noticing the slight differences in their olfactory bouquets. Some were more sugary, others had more predominant vanilla or musky notes. The combined effect of all the roses filled the air with the most wonderful perfume.
After the rose garden, we went inside the Museum’s rotunda and wandered among skeletons, including Polly, the only pregnant plesiosaur fossil ever discovered, and “sea reptiles” known as mosasaurs, who looked like dinosaurs to me, but aren’t classified as such because they didn’t walk on land. We went upstairs and visited the panoramas, wherein taxidermized animals posed in perpetuity, surrounded by artificial plants, in front of painted landscapes all inside a glass box. Yet when we took photos, the entire image flattened, with a final effect somewhere between real and surreal.
Looking through photos of this perfect weekend a few days later, I’m struck by the difference between the caterpillars we almost overlooked, with their voracious appetites, and the graceful, otherworldly creatures they turned into. And wonder if those hungry caterpillars, when wrapped in the slumber of their cocoons, dream about their future selves.
–Moira Cue
https://nhm.org/experience-nhm/exhibitions-natural-history-museum/butterfly-pavilion
Raging Waters
“Raging Waters Los Angeles is California’s largest waterpark! This 60-acre Southern California summer tradition has been recognized by USA Today as a “Top 10 Water Park” and is home to more than 50 world-class attractions for all ages to enjoy, including Aqua Rocket, the state’s only hydromagnetic water coaster! The Park also features a wide-variety of tube and body slides ranging from mild to wild, a 30,000 square foot water playground, a one million gallon wave pool and a lazy river. Cabanas are also available for rental making for an affordable and close to home day-cation. Open mid-May through September.”
We attended Raging Waters last month which was a lot of fun. After some young Raging Waters employees directing traffic near the park told us we could not go down the road that was the correct road to the park, we ended up driving around in a giant loop that added nearly 10 minutes to our trip, only to return right back to where we started. We then ignored them and went down the right road anyway. After the major hassle of getting into the park, which should have been an easy process, entry into the park itself was simple.
We Paid for a small locker for $18, then stood in line: and lines there were. Long lines. So long in fact that we only had time to go on a few rides by the time we got there. The next time we go we will go on a weekday when it is hopefully less crowded. The express lane area we saw on one area allows fast lane users to skip ahead of around 20 to 30 people, which to me would worth it.
As for the rides themselves, you can find the names of the rides on the website, and then look up on YouTube clips of people riding the ones you want to check out. There are mostly videos for all of them.
I had on rubber swim shoes, but they would not let anyone on most rides with these on, which I did not see indicated on the website, so beware of that. Also if you have anything you need to keep secure, be sure to bring zipper pockets, otherwise you will easily lose them in the water.
Unless you have a really bad diet and eat unhealthy junk food, eat before you go, or have snacks in the car. Food and drinks here are similar to junk food at a movie theater or carnival. Be sure to bring your own towel and sunscreen. You will need it.
This is a very large park, reportedly Southern California’s largest waterpark, and there are rides here for the whole family. It’s a lot of fun, with many cool rides, and a must do during the hot summer days in LA!
–Bruce Edwin
Editors note: Both Raging Waters and the Butterfly Pavilion will be ending soon! Visit the respective websites above for ticketing and final days!
