New York City Explorer Pass

Shearwater is a classic Newport-style schooner yacht, only recently recognized as a national landmark in 2009.  The vessel was built by Rice Brother Corporation in East Boothbay, Maine, back in a time when yachting was a rare combination of elegance and adventure; Rice Bros. were well known for building luxury pleasure yachts and produced some 4,000 hulls over a period of 64 years. The keel was laid down on January 4, 1929 and a news clip from the Boothbay Register reflects alongside a photograph "Tyler Hodgon at the old Tide Mill is getting out timbers for the schooner to be built at Rice’s. Vessel to be built of native white oak." Traditionally built from hand-hewn native white oak, she was the last boat to be constructed at that yard - likely due to the ensuing Great Depression brought on by the Stock Market Crash that occurred later that autumn.  East Boothbay was a small coastal town with shipbuilding being its only industry. About 40 workmen were employed for the construction of SHEARWATER. Her designer Theodore Donald Wells was born in Hudson Falls, N Y on October 22, 1875. He was a naval architect and marine engineer, a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers and also the Institute of Naval Architects London. His education included post-graduate work at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He began his career as a member of the firm Herreshoff and Wells, N. Y. City in 1902. Working with Herreshoff no doubt had an influence on his designs, which bear similarities to many of the famous Herreshoff designed yachts of that time. From 1903 to 1907 he worked for Wintringham and Wells and then began practicing his profession under his own name. Mr. Wells joined the Navy Department in March 1917 and became Superintending Constructor of the Baltimore District U. S. N. Notable yachts designed and constructed under his supervision are "Viking" a 272 foot steel motor yacht built for George F. Baker in 1929 by Newport News and "Karina" a three masted schooner built for Robert E. Tod in 1932 by Staten Island Shipbuilding. Mr. Tod was a well-known offshore yachtsman as was his former yacht ‘Thistle", which competed in the Emperors Cup ocean race. SHEARWATER was launched on May 4, 1929 and photographs in the Boothbay Register reflect her graceful and elegant lines. Her first Captain, Leon Esterbrook of Edgarton, MA, arrived to take charge of the fitting out. Her owner Charles E Dunlap was a member of the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Oyster Bay, NY and this became SHEARWATER’s first homeport after her completion in late September 1929. It was there in Oyster Bay that she first started to thrill those who sailed in luxury aboard her and those who were privileged to crew her on race day. Since her launching and documentation in Lloyd’s Register of American Yachts in 1929, she has had a colorful history and has been carefully maintained and restored to standards that few contemporary vessels are able to match and is truly a piece of American Maritime History. On November 7, 1942 SHEARWATER was requisitioned by the War Shipping Administration and became a member of The United States Coast Guard’s Coastal Picket Patrol during World War Two. She was painted gray and bore the numbers CG67004. Based at Little Creek, Virginia she patrolled the waters east of the Chesapeake Bay entrance and south towards Cape Hatteras. Her skipper during that period reflected on how they used their free time while out on submarine patrol to race against other yachts and in his own words "sailed in tandem with the schooner Lord Jim, racing in and out of port, up and down the east coast and winning." She was designed and built as a gaff rigged schooner but during this period was changed to a Marconi rig. She carries over 2,550 square feet while under full sail. A true veteran world cruiser, she first transited the Panama Canal in July 1946 and in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s completed a two and a half-year global circumnavigation. In December 1971 Mrs. John B. Thayer of Rosemont, wife of a former trustee and treasurer, donated SHEARWATER to the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Environmental Medicine. She was used by the university as a laboratory for research on physiological responses to the stresses of living and working underwater. Captained by James Shearson, she was fitted with compressors, generators, monitoring instruments and a small decompression chamber. She has participated in many Ancient Mariner and Classic yacht races in U S waters as well as racing in the Bay of Islands in New Zealand while on her circumnavigation in the early 1980’s. It is rumored she was once dismasted in the famous Newport to Bermuda race. She was last raced by the current owners in San Diego in May 1995 in the American Schooner Cup and finished second overall. She entered the yacht charter industry in 1966 whilst on the West Coast sailing to the Channel Islands and was again used to generate income to keep her shipshape while owned by the University of Pennsylvania. During the chartering industry’s infancy in the Caribbean, SHEARWATER was known as the " Queen of the Fleet". Today she continues this tradition offering the most unique sailing experience and has passed rigid Coast Guard inspections and can carry up to 49 passengers. We welcome you to join us for an excellent opportunity to experience the ambiance of a vintage sailing vessel while delighting in the splendors of The Manhattan sky-line, the Statue of Liberty or the beauty of the oceans beyond.

Admission to KSCVC includes all of the exhibits, attractions, the IMAX theatre tickets and a very comprehensive bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center.  It is easy to spend a full day at KSCVC, particularly if you would like to add on 'Lunch With an Astronaut*' or one of the special interest guided tours. Hotels are plentiful in nearby Titusville or the Cocoa Beach area, just south of Cape Canaveral. *Additional fee, to be paid direct at KSCVC. Gatorland Fun Zone Gator Gully Splash Park: For over half a century, Gatorland has been creating fond vacation memories for millions of visitors who have entered through its gaping gator mouth entrance. Families, friends and employees alike have ventured through the glass double doors on their way to a journey through this natural, low-tech adventure. Allie's Barnyard: Drop by Allie's Barnyard and say hello to some of the cute and cuddly barnyard critters that call Gatorland home. Say hello to Gracie, a friendly goat who just loves to eat from your hand, and Harley the Macaw who just might say hello back! Express Railroad: Making its debut in 1965, the original Gatorland Iron Horse gave visitors a glimpse of the south end of the park as it carried passengers over alligators and by the animal displays on its journey back to the station. After 35 years of loyal service carrying millions of passengers, the old Iron Horse was finally retired in 2000 and a new station was built. Very Merry Aviary: Gatorland's Very Merry Aviary, home to the colorful and friendly Lorikeets, is a great place to get upclose to nature. These brightly colored parrots, native to the Western Pacific and East Indies area, are specially adapted to a diet of pollen, nectar, and fruit. Great Shows Gatorland has been entertaining people with fun, exciting and educational shows about dangerous and unusual animals for years! Where else can you help a gator wrestler pick out the gator they are about to wrestle or have an up-close experience with really cool reptiles or see crocs and gators jump high in the air for food? No where! So come and share the adventure at all of our fun shows. The Gator Jumparoo Show: Thrills and chills abound as some of the largest alligators in the world actually jump four to five feet out of the water to retrieve food in this famous one-of-a-kind show. Learn more about alligators and crocodiles and their awesome powers. Watch as giant alligators jump high enough out of the water to actually snatch food from the trainer's hand. A must see for the entire family! The Gator Wrestlin' Show: Gatorland® offers a unique alligator wrestling show done "Florida Cracker" style in a shaded 800 seat stadium. Gator wranglers catch a 6 to 8 foot alligator by hand and climb onto the snapping animal's back to point out survival features to the audience. After doing stunts that only a few are brave (or foolish) enough to try, the alligator is rolled over and put to sleep...only to be awakened by a tickle! Upclose Encounters Show: You never know what kind of animal you might be introduced to next at the Upclose Encounters Show! You'll get to meet fascinating creatures from around the globe as well as Florida's native wildlife - including some of the most dangerous snakes alive. Critters On The Go Show: The newest entertainment experience at Gatorland features the softer side of the animal world and is hosted by either Miss Vera, trail boss Gabe or one of the Gatorland Entertainers. Check out these interactive animal encounters where you and the little ones can oohh and aahh at some of the park’s cute and cuddly critters! Currently these encounters are done on the move so keep your eyes peeled for Vera, Gabe, and the gang, as you stroll through the park.

Amsterdam Guided City Tour - Bus & Canal Cruise Highlights 2,5 hour Guided Tour in Amsterdam Windmill picturestop Visit to a diamond factory 1 hour Canal Cruise GPS Audio Guide on Canal Cruise in 19 languages Ticket Includes Deluxe coach Live Guide in English, Spanish & German Ticket Excludes Food And Drinks Hotel Pick Up Full Description Amsterdam is famous for it's canals, however the city is much more to offer. The guide will show you amazing sights inside and outside the city center and you will receive an overview of the history of this eccentric city. The views you will encounter vary from the suburban town to the architecture of beautiful mansions. A visit to Amsterdam is not complete without a photo stop at a traditional Dutch windmill. And to top the tour off, you have the opportunity to visit a Diamond Factory. At the end of the tour you can either continue your visit on your own and explore Amsterdam further or you can get back on the bus which will take you back to the meeting point. The canal Cruise will show you Amsterdam's world-famous Canal District.The historic houses are preserved by UNESCO and the cruise will give you an opportunity to see the merchants’ houses that are typical to Holland and the medieval bridges that connect Amsterdam together. Want to see more of Amsterdam? Why not get the Amsterdam Holland Pass and visit the various attractions included in the Amsterdam Holland Pass

This is a premier learning experience in the Everglades Area and is superb for the entire family... from toddlers to the grandparents. Every day is different in the Everglades 10,000 Islands so we try to be very flexible and dynamic. The tour may/will include a bit of birding, some photography, strolling thru tidal pools on a remote beach, exploration of one of the 10,000 Islands. The first part of the experience is a guided boating eco tour in search of dolphins, manatees and other wildlife. The second part is a hands on: interpretive, guided walk on a remote barrier island to explore the beaches, tidal pools and inter-tidal zones. For parents and grandparents wanting an active role as educators, our naturalists will help you be the instructor.

Your return train ticket from Paris-Caen is NOT included.  You should aim to arrive at Caen railway station by 09:00 on weekdays, 10:00 on Saturdays and 11:00 Sundays **. You will be picked up by your guide from your arrival at the MAINLINE RAILWAY STATION in Caen:  Please note that your guide will be waiting in the main hall of the Caen Railway Station.Follow the signs ‘SORTIE Place de la Gare’ to go to the main hall. Your guide will be near the ‘Point de Rencontre’ sign and will have a board marked Memorial de Caen.   You will be dropped off at the station at around 18:30 from October to March and at around 19:30 from April to September to connect with trains back to Paris.   Practical information: please wear appropriate shoes and clothes. It can be windy along the beaches and temperatures can be cool even during the summer. If you want to book a train from Paris to Caen, here is some information for you:
  Train from Paris Arrive in Caen Dropped off at Caen Station Train from Caen Arrive in Paris
           
Week 07:07 09:00 19:15 20:18 ou 20:28 22:26
           
Saturday 07:45 10:00 18:30 19:06 ou 19:11 21:18
           
Sunday 09:04 ou 09:10 11:00 19:15 19:54 21:50
 

Available from the following locations: *Anaheim Resort Hotels, Beverly Hills, Long Beach and San Pedro Cruise Terminals, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, LAX Hotels, Marina Del Rey, Huntington Beach, Hollywood, Universal, Downtown LA, Newport Beach. *Anaheim Resort Hotels include: Anaheim, Garden Grove, Buena Park Hotels