The Butterfly House

The Natural History Museum of Santa Barbara is fantastic. This intimate museum offers exhibits on regional natural history, sea life, birds and also has a planetarium. Set in the Mission District with beautiful picnic areas, the crowning exhibition now is the Butterfly House. First, visitors are given instructions on butterflies and cocoons. Then they get directions on identifying and handling the butterflies. Inside this giant greenhouse netted garden are many different varieties of butterflies. In a basket you'll find laminated pages of the different butterflies to look for. The kids will love it. Bring a picnic, no food is sold there. Read on for the museum's mission statement: