Death Valley National Park Tour

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.

Efteling Theme Park Resort fills you with wonder Efteling is a unique theme park with a fairytale atmosphere, natural surroundings and a wide range of thrilling and enchanting attractions, making it ideal for the whole family.  Unforgettable family adventures Enjoy precious moments together. Step inside this fairytale world full of wondrous tales, delightful dreams and adventures at high speed. Glide through the enchanting world of fairies and trolls in dream flight ‘Droomvlucht’, huddle together during the exciting spectacular park show Raveleijn and enjoy the spectacular Aquanura water show. Children filled with wonder The little ones listen to the sounds of the fairytale forest and party together with Jokie in the Carnival Festival. They jump and dance along to the live entertainment and have endless fun on the children’s rides.  For genuine daredevils  Do you dare climb aboard a rollercoaster where you must escape a fire-breathing dragon at high speed? Do you have the courage to set sail on a raging sea and risk encountering the mysterious ghost ship ‘the flying Dutchman’? Or is a 90kph shoot into the deepest, darkest mineshaft more your thing? The latest Baron 1898 is ready for you. This is your chance, show us what you're made of, come and visit Efteling.  Attractions Drift away in the incredibly beautiful world of Dreamflight and enjoy the view from the Pagode. Laugh at grandpa’s dripping wet trousers on the Piraña and take a relaxing boat ride in the gorgeous natural landscape of the Gondoletta. Shows & Live Entertainment Your heart will beat faster during a wondrous encounter or a spellbinding park show. Would you like to meet and greet your favourite Inhabitants of the Fairytale Forest? Watch and listen... or sing and dance along! Don’t forget to visit the spectacular Raveleijn park show. Restaurants If your legs begin to get tired and your stomach starts grumbling, just follow your nose to one of the many catering outlets and restaurants throughout Efteling Park. There’s something delicious for everyone to eat or drink! Amsterdam Canal Boat 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. You may make use of the Wi-Fi network at the piers Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein without cost. This has been made possible by ZapFi. All Canal Bus boats offer full toilet facilities on board.

 Charm of Holland - Departure from Amsterdam   Highlights: Visit the charming villages Volendam, Zaanse Schans, Marken, and Edam Cheese-tasting demonstration Traditional clogs-making demonstration Ticket Includes: 8.5 hour Live Guided Tour in English, Spanish and German Walking tours in Zaanse Schans, Edam and Volendam Deluxe Coach Admission to a working windmill Boat trip on the Ijsselmeer Demonstration by a clog maker Lunch at a traditional Holland fish restaurant Admission to the Cheese Factory Volendam incl. cheese tasting Admission to the Old Dutch Bakery  Ticket Excludes: Hotel Pick Up   Full Description: The Charm of Holland Tour will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the best that Holland has to offer. The tour starts with a visit to the delightful villages of Volendam, Zaanse Schans, Marken, and Edam and enjoy a cheese-tasting and a demonstration of traditional clog-making! From there you will to visit an authentic and typical Dutch wooden windmill, followed up by a cruise on the waters of the lake Ijsselmeer to the picturesque village of Volendam. You will have the chance to indulge the various delicacies the Netherlands have to offer, including local cheese, lunch in a traditional Dutch fish restaurant and visit an authentic Dutch bakery.       

FUN AND EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES TO DISCOVER FRENCH WINE The French Wine Experience was created by people who think wine culture needs to be fun and relaxed. They transformed an 18th century Royal wine cellar into a maze of rooms that will surprise, enchant and stimulate you. The French Wine Experience is truly unique and possibly a little crazy. NEW IN PARIS – 1 mn walk from the Louvre Museum DISCOVER EVERYTHING ABOUT FRENCH WINE  SENSORIAL EXPERIENCE IN AN HISTORICAL VENUE  GUIDED VISIT including GAMES, QUIZZES, VIDEOS etc... FRENCH WINE TASTING WITH A SOMMELIER at the end of the visit TERROIRS ROOM The idea here is to start at the beginning. Visitors will discover the most sought after slices of earth in all of France, and learn how this soil nourishes the vine, which in turn, gives the grapes their unique taste... This room is about discovering the very genesis of wine, where the grape-grower works the soil and the vine in effort to produce magnificent grapes. AROMAS ROOM Wine is a sensory adventure and here, they would like to propose that you stimulate a sense often overlooked: the sense of smell. Take the wood cork and bring it to your nose. The game begins: can you name the aromas in each cork? Do you have the stuto be a great taster? Do you enjoy discovering the great families of wine aromas (fruity, mineral, empyreumatic...) as well as identifying the classic defects in wine ?? Off to the corks ! THE LABORATORY In this new, majestic room, the adventure continues and this time, it is taste we are going to stimulate. Can you name the primary types of taste (salty, sweet, bitter, acidic... and also umami) ? In order to progress in wine, take the opportunity to taste the solutions marked withterms such as 'woody', 'round' or 'fresh'. SOUNDS OF WINE Sounds in the world of wine The pop of a cork as the bottle opens, the cling of glasses being toasted, the soft murmur of Champagne bubbles...Can you recognize the different elements in the soundtrack of this room? The sounds of wine invite us to learn about different types of bottles and corks.  LABELS ROOM This magnificent room is dedicated to sight. Sight is the  initial contact with a wine: the color of a wine itself colors a new story for us each time. But it's also the label, sometimes legendary, sometimes complicated, and sometimes amusing. Learn here how to better interpret wine labels! CHEERS! Well, that's it! Your five senses have been stimulated - who knew learning could be so fun! You are now ready for the grand finale: the tasting! Our jolly and joyful sommelier is at your service not only to serve you, but also to answer any questions! While tasting, continue to learn and to have fun and above all, do not forget to take a detour into the  photobooth inside the big barrel... 

The Big Loop is a 2 Hour open top bus tour offering a comprehensive route with 14 stops near all the top sights of Chicago. The Classic Ticket is good for 1 calendar day. ​View the Big Bus Tours Chicago Stop Map.   See these top Chicago Landmarks: John Hancock Center & 360 Chicago Navy Pier Willis tower & Skydeck Chicago Art Institute of Chicago The Field Museum Shedd Aquarium Adler Planetarium Soldier Field Michigan Avenue Bridge Millennium Park Magnificent Mile Important Information: This voucher is good for the length of time it has been purchased for. Please note, this voucher is non-exchangeable and non-refundable. Redeem voucher at Stop 1 at Fort Dearborn, E Lower Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601 or any stop location.

Volendam, Marken and Windmills: GPS Tour DURATION: 5½-hours DEPARTURE: Winter Daily at 09:15 and 12:15 DEPARTURE: Summer  Daily at 08:45 and 14:45 GUIDE: GPS guide in 16 languages ​A visit to Amsterdam and the Netherlands would not be complete without having seen the lovely Dutch countryside.  This excursion takes you to the countryside north of Amsterdam, to the edge of the river Zaan, where you visit windmill village 'de Zaanse Schans,' with its characteristic green wooden houses. On the turn of the 18th century this district was an industrial area with approximately 700 windmills in use. In this day and age there are only give left. Through typical Dutch scenery you continue to Volendam for a city walk and the traditional fisherman's village of Marken, situated on the shores of the former Zuiderzee. This tour includes a visit to a working windmill, boatride between Marken and Volendam, a demonstration in a cheese factory and visit to a traditional clogmaker. The tour is live guided, but supported by an GPS audio system in 16 languages.  Includes: Deluxe Coach Guide Entrance to a windmill Clogmaker Cheese Factory Boat between Marken and Volendam Why not combine your visit to Volendam, Marken and Windmills with other famous attractions and activities in Amsterdam such as Canal Cruise or Madame Tussauds Amsterdam.