TRAVELPHOTOBOX

The Aquarium of the Pacific is Southern California’s largest aquarium and a shore-side attraction in Long Beach . It is home to more than 500 species in 19 habitats and 32 focus exhibits. Large viewing windows provide visitors with an exceptional view of the voracious creatures in a natural habitat. The general admission gives you access to all of the aquarium’s galleries and exhibits, which focus on the creatures and the environment of the Pacific Ocean . ⭐⭐⭐  Highlights include sea otters, penguins and sea lions, and a touchable shark lagoon. A unique feature at the aquarium is the Lorikeet Forest containing more than 100 colorful lorikeets (Australian parrots). The Aquarium of the Pacific  has several interactive touch sections, where you could touch sharks, sting rays, jelly fish, star fish, anemones, etc. Information is readily available and volunteers are frequently nearby to provide educated responses to questions.  

The Catherine Chevalier Woods Forest Preserve is a 338-acre nature preserve along the Des Plaines River  greenway. This is one part of the Chicago area where a pedestrian-bicycle path system exists. It provides habitat for wildlife and plants, and provides the public with an opportunity to experience these habitats and to enjoy the outdoors. 🦌 🦌 🦌   A large population of deer lives in these woods. The Catherine Chevalier Woods Forest Preserve is a living legacy of the era in which Native Americans, French-Canadians, and Métis peoples were living in what would become Chicago . Des Plaines River Trail Des Plaines River Des Plaines River Trail

Catalina Island is a rocky island off the coast of Southern California in the Gulf of Santa Catalina . The island is 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its greatest width. The island is located about 22 miles south-southwest of Los Angeles. Catalina Express offers daily boat passage from San Pedro and Long Beach to Avalon and Two Harbors . We traveled from Long Beach to Avalon. 📌 Hiking Permits are required for your safety. They are free of charge and are available online or can be obtained at the Conservancy House, Nature Center, Airport in the Sky, and Two Harbors Visitor Information Center. There are a wide variety of trails on Catalina Island. We hiked the  Hermit Gulch Trail . The trailhead can be accessed via the Hermit Gulch Campground located at the top of Avalon Canyon , a 1.75 mile walk up the road from Avalon . This 1.7-mile long single trail climbs some 1,200 feet to a junction with East End Road . The effort is rewarded by expanding ocean views. ...

Getting to Catalina Island is fast and easy from Long Beach on the Catalina Express . It takes a little more than an hour   via high-speed ferry cross the Pacific. The ferry drops you in the town of Avalon , the main town on the island. 🏝️  Catalina Island is only 22 miles off the coast of Southern California.  The town of Avalon surrounds the beautiful Avalon Bay on the southeast end of Catalina Island . Avalon is home to many points of interest, including the Wrigley Memorial & Botanical Gardens , where we started our hiking route .

Several walking trails are available for exploring the Pinery Provincial Park (Ontario) . The Heritage Trail is a relaxed stroll that will lead you to a viewing platform that overlooks the Old Ausable Channel after meandering through an exceptional example of upland Oak Savanna habitat.  🍔🍎 The platform over the Old Ausable Channel is a perfect place for a short rest or a picnic.  The term "oak savanna" refers to a plant community with scattered "open-grown oaks" surrounded by grasses. In the early 60’s, many pine trees were planted in the park. The park seems to have been named after the trees that were planted but the main native ecosystem was an oak savanna. During winter months, the trail is the perfect location for a quiet  snowshoe stroll . Go and explore the park yourself! Platform over the Old Ausable Channel Old Ausable Channel Old Ausable Channel  

Pinery Provincial Park  is a provincial park located on the shore of Lake Huron (Ontario) . The variety of habitats in Pinery make the park a unique place. It is a natural environment created to preserve the Oak Savanna and the beach dunes . You can choose one of the numerous hiking trails for explore the natural environment of this park. There is so much to do for everyone. The Cedar Trail is a nice little leisurely hike. Nothing too difficult, with a nice little lookout over the Old Ausable Channel . The loop portion of the trail is wheelchair accessible. Along this trail you will discover one of North America's rarest habitats; the Oak Savanna .  🌳🌲 This term describes a plant community of widely spaced trees with open crowns that allow much sunlight to reach the ground. This light supports a rich ground cover of prairie grasses, shrubs and flowers. Trail head Old Ausable Channel You may also extend your hike and follow the 850 m extension t...

The Roundhouse Park , at the south end of the CN Tower , is a park in Downtown Toronto . It features the John Street Roundhouse , a preserved locomotive roundhouse which is home to the Toronto Railway Museum .  The John Street Roundhouse is a semi-circular structure built in 1929 and had 32 bays. Each of these was accessed by a set of tracks that linked up with the turntable. The Roundhouse turntable is 120 feet long, in order to accommodate the Canadian Pacific Railway 's largest passenger steam locomotives. Locomotives were usually operated in one direction and the turntable was used to turn them around. It's one of the longest ever built in Canada and it was declared a National Historic Site in 1990. The Roundhouse Park  is also home to a collection of trains : four full-sized locomotives, three freight cars, two passenger cars and one diesel multiple unit. Exhibits include the original 60,000 gallon water tower, the 650 ton concrete locomotive coalin...