Trip to the Montreal Biodome (#Family Friday)

My husband, our two sons and I went to the Montreal Biodome yesterday. We have been wanting to go for a long time. I went 12 years ago when I was in high school but my husband had never been even though it is only 2 hours away from us in Montreal Quebec Canada.

The Montreal Biodome houses five ecosystems under a glass dome.

Tropical Rainforest
Laurentian Maple Forest
Gulf of the St.Lawrence
Labrador Coast
Sub-Antarctic Islands

Each ecosystem is filled with plants and animals of that system. As you walk through you actually feel like you are there.

It is more than a zoo because the animals are in their real habitats. Birds are free to fly around inside the dome enclosure and are not regulated to cages.

My son and a bird inside the Tropical Rainforest ecosystem.

Inside the Rain Forest Ecosystem there were birds flying around and tiny monkeys close enough to touch. It was so humid in there it almost took your breath away. Just like a real rainforest, I imagine.

You get to see the underwater flora and fauna also. It is so neat to see a habitat from all viewpoints.

My husband and oldest son watching the catfish and piranhas in the Rainforest.

The Gulf of St. Lawrence made me feel right at home since that is where I grew up. The birds, rocks, and coastal waters made me very nostalgic.

My two boys and I in the Gulf of St. Lawrence ecosystem.

I really enjoyed all of the animals throughout the Biodome. There were penguins, puffins, bats, otters, porcupines, beavers, lynx, monkeys, parrots, ducks, fish, snakes, frogs and many, many more.

In the basement there was an interactive exhibit filled with stuffed animals, antlers and bones. Many of which you could touch and kids could play with. There were stick insects and roaches to see as well.

My 2 year old had a lot of fun. We were not sure if he was old enough to enjoy it but he would get excited whenever he would spot different birds and fish. Toddlers definitely have to be confined to strollers or baby carriers as they are not supposed to walk on the grass or touch the plants. My son is very adventurous so I know the first thing he would do with his freedom is climb into the exhibits and starting picking flowers for his mama.

The whole tour including the interactive exhibit downstairs took about 1.5 hours. We could have spent more time and read about all of the birds, insects and plants on the touch screens inside of each ecosystem but with a 2 year old there is not much time to stop in one place for long. He likes to keep on the move.

Adults costs $15 each and kids under 4 years old are free. So it is not a bad price for 2 hours of enjoyment. 

There is also a botanical garden, insectarium and soon-to-be planetarium on the same site but you have to pay for each or buy a package deal. When my kids are older I would like to return and see it all.

Have you been on any fun trips to see plants or animals lately? Zoos or amusment parks?

Had you heard of the Montreal Biodome before?

What do you think is the ideal age for those kinds of activities?

{Disclousure}

I was not compensated for my trip to the Montreal Biodome. It was just a fun outing with my family that I wanted to share. I will not receive compensation for any tickets sold.