Ripley's Believe It or Not! Orlando

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.

Come aboard the Patriot Jet Boat for an unforgettable San Diego experience.  Zip and zoom around the bay on an entertaining tour of the waterfront's most scenic spots—past military ships, along the downtown skyline, and under the iconic Coronado Bridge. The 70-foot Patriot comfortably seats 129 and offers fantastic views in every direction. With rock music pumping, your highly skilled captain will narrate and navigate while executing 360-degree turns and reaching speeds upwards of 50 mph. Propelled by two 1,400 horsepower jet engines, it's the adrenaline adventure of a lifetime! Feel the wind, the motion and the refreshing spray, and experience the beauty of San Diego from a whole new perspective. There's nothing like it!

The trained guides will help you to spot the incredible variety of sea mammals inhabiting the waters around Tenerife. Common bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales are just two of the 28 species that make these waters their natural habitat. Make sure you have your camera ready to capture the beautiful mammals as they play in the waters around your boat. Then after spending time in the company of these amazing animals we'll continue sailing along the south coast and depending on the excursion, we'll head for the breathtaking cliffs at Los Gigantes."  Relax on the spacious sun decks or opt for a swim and a snorkel in the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The return trip will give you the chance to enjoy a different view of this spectacular coast with its sophisticated resorts, volcanic beaches and secluded coves, as we sail back down to Puerto Colon, where the voyage will come to an end. An unforgettable day out for all the family. What´s included: - Meal - Transport from some locations - Assistance or guided tour Meal: The morning cruises includes a sandwich and a fruit. The afternoon cruises includes paella and a fruit. Beer, wine and soft drinks also included. Languages: Spanish, English, German and French.

MARDI GRAS WORLD: WHERE MARDI GRAS IS MADE! There are plenty of tours in New Orleans, but only one offers a real, behind-the-scenes look at New Orleans Mardi Gras, and that’s the Mardi Gras World tour. Mardi Gras World gives you an authentic Mardi Gras experience all year round, whether you visit while sightseeing in New Orleans, enjoying a New Orleans family vacation or taking a break from your business trip. Take our day tour to see what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life year after year. Our tour allows you to see firsthand the hard work and extensive planning that goes into this grand event. Since 1947, Blaine Kern Studios has built the breathtaking parade floats for major parades not only for Mardi Gras, but for parades all over the world. Mardi Gras parades would be nothing without the fantastical floats that line the parade route year after year. The hard work that goes into making these spectacles is what makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans the greatest show on Earth! Our knowledgeable guides take the mask off Mardi Gras with an all-access Mardi Gras tour, winding through the massive studio where these magnificent floats are built from the ground up. You’ll learn about the history of this unique and festive tradition and go beyond its reputation to get a deeper understanding of the real Mardi Gras. The whole family will love the experience of touring the space where our artisans create spectacular floats for over 40 parades each year. There are plenty of opportunities for photos in front of floats, with props, or wearing a traditional Mardi Gras costume on this New Orleans tour. This is an experience you will want to document, so don’t forget to bring your camera! A FREE shuttle is provided with ticket purchase, and has pick-ups at 20 convenient downtown locations. Just call 504-361-7821 to see where our designated pick up locations are. Call when you are at one of our many locations and we will quickly pick you and your party up.  If you do not wish to use our complimentary shuttle, the closest parking is available in Lot J across from the Mardi Gras World entrance. ($15.00/vehicle, owned by the New Orleans Convention Center, subject to change) Wandering through the magical float den is an exciting experience for kids and adults alike, so come join us for the best Mardi Gras tour around.

Tour Stops Red Line 1. Old Town Square 2. Na Florenci 3. Mala Strana 4. Prague Castle 5. Strahow Monastery 6. Strahov Stadium 7. Kampa Island 8. Hlavni Nadrazi 9. I.P. Pavlova 10. Main Train Station   Blue Line 1. Old Town Square 2. Intercontinental Hotel 3. Mala Strana 4. St Nicholas 5. Kampa Island 6. Jewish Cemetery   Passengers can hop-on and hop-off at any of the 10 tour stops along the Red Line and any of the 6 tour stops along the Blue Line. If you’d prefer, stay on the tour for a full loop – Red Line (90 minutes) and Blue Line (50 minutes).   Additional Information: Vouchers must be redeemed for a City Sightseeing ticket at the following address: Main Office, Grevin Museum, Celetna 15, Prague 1, 11000. The audio commentary is available in the following languages: English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Russian, Czech Buses are wheelchair accessible.

Red Light Secrets - Museum of Prostitution + Canal Cruise Highlights Views of famous and prominent landmarks such as Anne Frank House Museum and the Skinny Bridge Visit renowned communities such as  ‘de Pijp,’ and ‘de Jordaan.’ by boat  Views of picturesque bridges and 17th-century traditional Dutch cottages Enjoy a fabulous day out at the Museum of Prostitution Unique chance to peek inside the hidden world of prostitution in a 17th century monumental canal house Experience how it feels to ‘sit behind a window’, photos allowed!   Ticket Includes 1 Hour Canal Cruise GPS Audio Guide in 19 Languages Admission to the Museum of Prostitution   Ticket Excludes Food And Drinks Hotel Pick Up Full Description The one hour cruise will show you a different side of Amsterdam. From the elegant merchants’ houses from the Golden age to the iconic views of Magere Brug "Skinny Bridge", the Anne Frank House Museum, Heritage Museum and the beautiful Westerkerk Church, prepare to be amazed with this new view of Amsterdam. Red Light Secrets - Museum of Prostitution Step into an intriguing world that remains hidden for most and discover the secrets of the Amsterdam Red Light District in the world’s only Museum of Prostitution. The must see attraction of Amsterdam!