Shakespeare's Family Homes and Gardens - Full Visit (All Five)

Highlights Downtown Dubai Dubai Mall Palm Jumeirah Island Atlantis the Palm Hotel Jumeirah Lakes Tower Emirates Mall Dubai Ski Dubai Ticket Includes Hotel pick up & drop off Professional guide Ticket Excludes Personal expenses Food & Drinks Entrance to Burj Khalifah or Ski Dubai  Tips   ITINERARY: Our tour will start in the DOWNTOWN area of Dubai and the Burj khalifa, the tallest building in the world . We will continue the tour with the visit of “Dubai Mall” with more than 1,200 stores and a host of world class designers. Afterwards , we will head to visit the PALM island and the Famous iconic hotel the Atlantis hotel located at crescent of palm Jumeirah. We will then pass by new Dubai MARINA and its walk , small stop , before we drive through Jumairah lake towers brand new city , and reach the BARSHA area with the famous Emirates mall with its all year SKI station.  

As home to two of NYC’s most important sites – the Statue of Liberty & the 9/11 Memorial and Museum – Lower Manhattan is high on the priority list of most visitors. Get the most from your time in the Big Apple on our full-day, Complete Lower Manhattan Tour, a combination of our 9/11 Tour and our Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island tour (but at a lower price), with expert local guides and small groups of only 20 people or fewer.  Our day starts early, at Battery Park. With priority boarding you’ll be one of the first people aboard one of the first boats to Liberty Island. Snag the best seats for a stunning ride across the water and get to know your guide a little. Once docked, they’ll lead you on a tour of the island and on to the great lady of NYC – the Statue of Liberty. During your guided tour, you’ll enjoy special access to the statue pedestal, allowing you to get closer to the statue than general access visitors. All the better to admire her beauty!  It’s back aboard the ferry then for the short ride to Ellis Island. Here you’ll be particularly grateful for your expert guide as they lead you through the immigration process undergone by 12 million new arrivals. Walk the Stairs of Separation and get a feel for how it must have felt for lovers and families as they awaited their fate – and the start of a new life in land of the free.  Your guide will walk you through the fantastic exhibits of the Ellis Island Museum, answering any questions you may have. This is where the first part of your tour ends, and with 2.5 – 3 hours before the next leg of our Lower Manhattan journey, you have plenty of time to spare. Spend a little while more on Ellis Island if you like, before hopping on the ferry back to Battery Park (included in the price) and getting lunch on your way to the meeting point for our afternoon activity – a complete One World Observatory & World Trade Centre Tour. Standing tall and proud on the site of the 9/11 attacks, One World Tower is a testament to a city that was knocked down and got back up again. Get to the heart of that terrible tragedy and learn how NYC rebuilt itself bigger, better and stronger on our guided tour. You’ll start out at St. Paul’s Chapel with a more personal insight into the drama that unfolded here. This was where families and friends came to pray, offer support and await news in the immediate aftermath of the attacks; as testified by the hand-drawn cards and memorials, personal memorabilia and photographs that still hang here. On next to some sites you may have missed visiting on your own. With a local guide leading the way, you’ll see special spots away from the major landmarks. One such site is the American Express 11 Tears Memorial; a strikingly personal tribute to the 11 AmEx employees that lost their lives on September 11. Plus the beautiful Winter Garden, destroyed in the attack and now restored to its former glory. At the 9/11 Memorial too, your guide will make your visit that bit more special. Together you’ll see the Twin Reflecting Pools, built in the footprints of the World Trade Centre and engraved with the names of every victim. Learn the little nuances that make it more touching; like how staff place a single rose in the name of each victim on their birthday. Visit the Fireman’s Memorial to pay tribute to those brave men and women who worked around the clock after the attacks. See the Survivor’s Tree, a single tree which miraculously survived the attacks and was nursed back to health by New Yorkers, as a symbol of their enduring strength. The highlight of your tour comes at the end with a visit to the brand new One World Observatory. With pre-reserved tickets your visit is guaranteed to go ahead regardless of the how large the crowds are. There’s not much explanation needed here so your guide will leave you for an independent visit.  Inside the lobby you’ll find videos about the production of this incredible structure - said to be the strongest in the world - and of the men and women who built it. Then board a ‘skypod’ to travel through time AND space. Created in association with Universal Studios, the special ‘skypod’ elevators are covered inside in LCD screens, on which you’ll watch the changing face of New York from the 1600s to today while ascending 102 floors in just 42 seconds. Disembark at the top of One World Tower for incredible panoramic views over NYC. What better way to end a day of looking back with a glance into the future.  Inclusions: Fully guided Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Museum tour Pedestal Tickets for Statue of Liberty All ferry tickets between Battery Park, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Priority ferry boarding from Battery Park – Statue of Liberty Guaranteed, pre-reserved entrance to One World Observatory Small groups of 20 people or fewer Exclusions: Statue of Liberty Crown Gratuities Hotel pick-up/drop-off Food/Beverages Transfers between tours Sites Visited: Statue of Liberty Museum and Pedestal  Ellis Island Museum   Castle Clinton National Monument Pier A Harbor House (from exterior) American Merchant Mariner’s Memorial The Sphere New York Korean War Veterans Memorial One World Observatory (Observatory is non-guided) St Paul's Chapel Survivor Tree Winter Garden Fireman's Memorial One World Trade Center American Express Eleven Tears Memorial Brookfield Place (formerly known as World Financial Center) 9/11 Memorial Pools *Please note that from March 1, 2018, we are no longer including the following sites on our afternoon walking tour due to a slight itinerary change.   Please note, this tour is in English only.

One of the most powerful large light cruisers ever built, HMS Belfast is now the only surviving vessel of her type to have seen active service during the Second World War. HMS Belfast played a leading part in the destruction of the battle cruiser Scharnhorst, and also the Normandy Landings. In service with the Royal Navy until 1965, she was saved for the nation in 1971 as a unique reminder of Britain’s naval heritage. Launch! Shipbuilding Through the Ages This new family-orientated exhibition will use hands-on and computerised interactive displays and engaging film and footage to demonstrate techniques of shipbuilding, from the ‘age of sail’ to modern prefabrication methods. The exhibition will focus on the science, engineering and social history of shipbuilding in Great Britain, and the interactive elements of the exhibition will allow children of all ages to get involved and experience this history. Explore ‘What shall we give in return for so much?’ One of the most powerful large light cruisers ever built, HMS Belfast is now the only surviving vessel of her type to have seen active service during the Second World War. Serving Britain for 32 years, she played an important role in both the Second World War and the Korean War as well as performing peacekeeping duties throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Saved from destruction in 1971, HMS Belfast is now part of the Imperial War Museum and is the first ship to be preserved for the nation since Nelson’s Victory. Through its team of staff and volunteers – many of whom are veteran crew – the Imperial War Museum is dedicated to making sure that HMS Belfast still has a role to play in reminding visitors of her unique place in Britain’s maritime heritage. History of HMS Belfast The term 'cruiser' goes back to the days of sailing ships when large frigates could be detached from the main fleet to cruise independently. The sailing cruiser, like her twentieth-century counterpart, was sufficiently powerful and fast to attack and destroy enemy commerce raiders. During the nineteenth century when sail gave way to steam and wooden ships were replaced by those built of iron, and later of steel, the cruiser evolved into a powerful warship which was used to patrol the Empire trade routes and protect friendly merchant shipping. After the First World War (1914-1918) a single category of cruiser emerged whose size was indicated by the size of its guns; thus, HMS Belfast is a 6-inch cruiser, designed for the protection of trade, for offensive action, and as a powerful support for amphibious operations. Please note: children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please allow 1½ - 2 hours for your visit.

Depart Edinburgh 09.15 and travel northwest through the historic area of Linlithgowshire, close to the historic palace. The tragic Mary Queen of Scots was born at Linlithgow palace, and became Queen when she was only 6 days old. According to legend her father James V died of a broken heart when he discovered his wife had given birth to a daughter and not the son he was hoping for! Your route along the Forth Valley is one which has been used for thousands of years by invading armies, it was the northernmost frontier of the Roman empire and was later used by the English King Edward I as he marched proudly towards Stirling (only to be sent homewards to think again!). Nowadays it’s at the centre of one of Scotland’s most important industries with huge oil refineries dominating the area. As you approach Stirling the magnificent castle dominates your view and you make your way up towards the high volcanic rock where it imposes itself upon the surrounding land. Known as the ‘Key to Scotland’, for centuries this was the most important castle in Scotland and the views from the top make it easy to see why. To the north is the 220ft high tower of the National Wallace Monument commemorating Scotland’s great hero William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson in the Oscar-winning movie Braveheart. From the castle you can look down over the scene of Wallace’s greatest triumph, the battle of Stirling Bridge, where he defeated the English army in 1297. To the south is Bannockburn where, in 1314, the great Scottish warrior-king Robert the Bruce defeated the English army of Edward II. The battle was fought for possession of Stirling Castle but eventually led to a far greater prize for Scotland – the restoration of independence. It’s an area alive with history and you stop at the castle to give you time to soak up the history and heritage of this great site. From Stirling you head into the Highlands and an area known as the Trossachs. Known as ‘The Highlands in Miniature’, it marks the point where the Lowlands meet the Highlands and entering this beautifully picturesque area feels like going into a different country. With its shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and forest-filled glens it’s easy to forget that this was once thought of as a dangerous frontier fought over by the fiercely territorial Highland clans. You stop here for lunch in the village of Aberfoyle, made popular in Victorian times due to its great location. After lunch you ‘take the high road’ or back-road to Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest lochs at over 22 miles long, passing Lochs Ard, Chon and Arklet along the way as you travel through the protected lands of Scotland’s first National Park. The route you take was described by the famous Scots comedian Billy Connolly as his favourite road in Scotland, and you can discover why – it’s stunning!! You stop at Inversnaid on the secluded north-east of the loch, making it the perfect place to enjoy a walk along the ‘bonny banks’, up to a viewpoint for a fantastic view of the loch and the mountain it’s named after, Ben Lomond. This tranquil setting was once the home of Scotland’s famous highland folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor. Made popular by many books and films Rob Roy lived an incredible life as a soldier, businessman, cattle-rustler and outlaw. By spending time on the trails by the loch you will undoubtedly be walking in the footsteps of one of Scotland’s great legends. There is also an alternative option to take a boat cruise around the north of the loch (Summer only) or merely enjoy a drink at the local hotel and sample the views. Leaving Loch Lomond you return to Edinburgh passing Scotland’s only lake – the Lake of Mentieth (although we have around 3000 freshwater lochs!). The legend states that after William Wallace was betrayed by his great friend the Earl of Mentieth and executed in London the name was changed from the Loch of Mentieth to the Lake of Mentieth so that nobody would ever forget the traitorous part the Earl played in his death.

Meeting Point: College Green Tourist Office, 37 College Green, Dublin Departs: Daily at 7.15pm Tour Duration: 2 hrs Finish Location: College Green

When it comes to airboat eco tours, there is simply no comparison to Wild Florida. Just a short drive from the Orlando and Disney area, they offer beautiful day tours, relaxing sunset tours and exciting night tours that guests of all ages will love. Travel deep into the protected swamps, marshes and rivers that make up the Central Florida Everglades. Get an in depth look at the gators, birds, eagles, trees and plants that can be found in our beautiful wetlands. This is Natural Florida at its best! They guarantee you won’t see any development, homes, or signs of human life. See for yourself how good it feels to be in the middle of nowhere. After the tour explore the amazing wildlife park full of zebras, watusi, deer, water buffalo, emu, wild boar and monster alligators. Visit the tropical bird aviary, hands-on alligator demonstrations, gift shop, 500 ft. sightseeing dock and nature trails. Don’t forget to try the delicious barbeque with smoked ribs, chicken, pulled pork, fried alligator and even frog legs! Wild Florida is owned and operated by one of Florida’s pioneer families that know the meaning of southern hospitality. Wild Florida are one of the only airboat companies in Central Florida that privately owns their property. The facility is properly insured with US Coast Guard approved captains and boats. Groups, individuals and families of all sizes are welcome. Day or night, they are prepared to offer individual, family, group and corporate experiences you’ll never forget. And if you thought the airboat tour and wildlife park was fun during the day, you should see how WILD it is at night!