If you've never had the chance to have an encounter with a Galapagos tortoise I strongly recommend you visit the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine Florida. It cost $35 for a group of 5 people or less to enter their enclosure (after your initial ticket fee of course). They have 4 tortoises - 2 male and 2 female. One of the males, named Dirk, is very friendly and they use him as their "showing" tortoise because he poses for pictures like a pro. It was definitely a good way to cross something off...
Galapagos tortoises in St. Augustine
Galapagos tortoises in St. Augustine