Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, and was full of things to do. I visited the Butchart Gardens and experienced its beautiful rose gardens, a wonderful Saturday night fireworks show, and flowers as far as my eyes could see. I went whale watching, viewing some of the local marine life. The main species of whale in the area was orca, but I saw a large humpback whale swim up right next to the boat! Later, I enjoyed the tour of the Craigdarroch Castle, a wonderful castle styled with Victorian era architecture. The beautiful stained glass windows and antiques made the tour even better! To end the day, I ventured to the Victoria Bug Zoo, which was full of all sorts of insects! I saw stick bugs, beetles, and even a praying mantis. They showed me a millipede as long as my arm, allowing me to hold it even! I had a great time!
Chicago is one of my favorite cities in the country, with many interesting places to visit. I started by visiting the Willis Tower, a 1,451 foot tall skyscraper. After taking the tour through the building, I was taken to the top, and walked out into the glass viewing deck overlooking the city. It really tested my fear of heights! Afterwards, I headed to the Art Institute of Chicago, and saw some amazing pieces of artwork, including American Gothic, Napoleon, and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte. After I left, I walked over to Centennial Park and saw the famous Cloud Gate, commonly referred to as the Chicago Bean. To end my trip, I went to the Field Museum of Natural History, home of Sue the T-rex, the most complete tyrannosaurus skeleton ever found. I loved the exhibits on cultural history and prehistoric evolution. My North American trip was amazing!
