Space for Life

Space for Life (Espace pour la vie) is Montreal's natural science campus, and it's one of the best family destinations in the country. The complex includes four distinct attractions: the Biodome (indoor ecosystems with live animals), the Planetarium (immersive space shows), the Botanical Garden (75 hectares of themed gardens), and the Insectarium (bug exhibits with a live butterfly greenhouse).

The Biodome is usually the headliner for families. Four recreated ecosystems let you walk from a tropical rainforest to a sub-Antarctic penguin habitat in minutes. The Planetarium next door shows space films on a full dome screen. Both are fully indoor, making them reliable in any weather.

The Botanical Garden is one of the largest in the world with themed sections including a Japanese garden, Chinese garden, and a massive First Nations garden. In fall, the Magic of Lanterns festival transforms the Chinese garden into an illuminated spectacle that kids love. The gardens are outdoor, so they're best visited spring through fall.

The Insectarium reopened with a modern design that includes a live butterfly greenhouse where hundreds of butterflies fly freely around visitors. Kids who are squeamish about bugs usually forget their hesitation within minutes.

The all-access combo pass is the way to go. Buying individual attraction tickets adds up fast, and the combo saves around 30%. Kids under 5 are free at all four venues.

All four attractions are on the same campus in the east end of Montreal, accessible by metro (Pie-IX station) or by car with large parking lots. Each venue has its own cafeteria or food options. Plan for a full day if you want to hit all four, or pick two for a half-day visit.