Las Golondrinas Boat Trip

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.

Upon takeoff enjoy full panoramic views of the Sydney skyline, Pacific Ocean and the historic Port Botany. Within 5 minutes your professional pilot will have you over the beautiful Sydney Harbour flying past icons such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House before heading West following the Parramatta River until you reach the Blue Mountains National Park, where your pilot will land at Katoomba Airfield in the heart of the bush. The Rocks to Rainforest 4WD tours offers a unique opportunity to visit some amazing remote wilderness in the Blue Mountains World Heritage area. Guests are taken away from typical tourist destinations in our luxury 4WD vehicles. The ground component of the tour is really up to you, you can choose to stay in the 4WD or if you are more adventurous then get out and about and go for a bushwalk. You will see fantastic panorama escarpments, unique rock formations, deep canyons with ancient rainforest and occasionally kangaroos in the Megalong Valley. You will then enjoy a gourmet sandwich lunch in either a cave or rainforest, depending on the weather on the day.

Nashville to Nashville to Jack Daniels/Lynchburg Day Trip Depart Nashville at 9:00 am on a Sweet Magnolia Tours deluxe 14 passenger van for Lynchburg, TN.  Visit America’s oldest registered distillery, The Jack Daniel Distillery.  You’ll enjoy a guided tour to learn the science and the history of Jack Daniel’s craft including a tour of the rickyard, the stills, charcoal mellowing and a barrel house, to learn what makes Jack Daniel’s a Tennessee Whiskey. You’ll even get to taste a flight of five Tennessee whiskeys and liqueurs before it’s all over. Also while in Lynchburg, you’ll enjoy a family style lunch at Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House where they’ve been serving up southern hospitality and good home cooking since 1908.  Located in the heart of Lynchburg, Tenn., just off the town square, it's recognized as one of the South's signature family-style dining restaurants.  It possesses a history almost as rich as Miss Mary's Fudge Pie and was built before Lynchburg became home to Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. You’ll get to enjoy a little free time on the historic Lynchburg square before heading back to Nashville. Arrive back in Nashville by 5:00 pm. Inclusions: Round-trip Nashville to Lynchburg via a private van with pick-up and return to your hotel The Flight of Jack Distillery Tour (a tasting tour) Lunch at Miss Mary Bobo's Boarding House Exclusions: Gratuities  Special Notes: Distillery Tour requires walking and steps.  Must be 18 and older to take tour, Must be 21 and older to sample

30 Minute Scenic Nature Tour Discover territory that remains unaltered by man in the wilderness of the Central Florida Everglades. Let the experienced Master Captains take you into the breathtaking beauty of natural wonders, including wetlands, cypress trees, and wildlife. Ride with a certified U.S. Coast Guard Captain and see Florida Alligators, turtles, birds and more in their natural environment. This safe, exciting and educational airboat ride is filled with surprises and fascination. View wildlife on a U.S. Coast Guard Inspected 17 passenger airboat. Each airboat tour is a unique experience and never the same. You will enjoy whisking across the surface of the water at speeds up to 45 mph while shooting between walls of tall grass. NOTE: The best time to see alligators is early in the morning (before 10:00) during hot weather and later in the day in the cold. You don't have to be a space junkie to enjoy NASA's Kennedy Space Center, the only spot in the United States from which humans have been hurled into space. The plethora of hands-on exhibits, IMAX movies, and sheer magnitude of the shuttles will surely impress the most passive fan. Space Shuttle Atlantis℠ Your journey begins in the Atlantis theater where we bring to life the story of the people who dared to do the impossible. Gaze in wonder at a close-up view of Space Shuttle Atlantis, displayed in mid-flight glory. With more than 60 interactive exhibits, it's a moving celebration of humankind’s greatest achievements.  Twin IMAX® Theater 3D Films Two incredible, five-story 3D presentations tell stories certain to inspire. One explores breathtaking images of Earth in A Beautiful Planet, and the other details projects that NASA is currently working on, like sending astronauts to Mars. Shuttle Launch Experience® Shuttle Launch Experience immerses visitors in the sights, sounds and feelings of a Space Shuttle launch, an incredible journey of launching into space and orbiting Earth aboard a Space Shuttle. Guest crewmembers strap in and go vertical for launch in a one-of-a-kind custom-designed crew cabin. Meet an Astronaut You’re invited to meet a veteran NASA astronaut at the live Astronaut Encounter show. Offered multiple times daily, this exciting presentation features an astronaut every day with more than 30 of the approximately 500 hundred men and women who have flown in space scheduled throughout the year. Numerous Shows and Exhibits*   Space Shuttle Atlantis℠ Exhibit  Your journey begins in the Atlantis theater where we bring to life the story of the people who dared to do the impossible. Gaze in wonder at a close-up view of Space Shuttle Atlantis, displayed in mid-flight glory. With more than 60 interactive exhibits, it's a moving celebration of humankind’s greatest achievements. Appollo/Saturn V Center  Relive the wonder and excitement of the Apollo era in this one-of-a-kind exhibit that celebrates the unprecedented achievement of putting man on the moon and the joy felt in that moment by all humankind. Rocket Garden  At NASA, it is often said that we stand on the shoulders of giants. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the Rocket Garden. Behind every rocket you see are great men and women engineers and astronauts, designers and thinkers who turned dreams into history. It is here you find the first rocket to break free from gravity. Eyes on the Universe  Journey through time and space to the farthest reaches of the universe at “Eyes on the Universe: NASA’S Space Telescopes,” the newest and only 3D 4K resolution show at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. NASA Now   After discovering the history of America’s space program at Kennedy Space Center, view the NASA Now exhibit in the West Gallery of IMAX Theater building to explore the future of NASA’s Commercial Crew program and the Journey to Mars! Astronaut Memorial  At the Astronaut Memorial, we honor NASA’s fallen heroes, those among the elite astronaut corps who gave their lives in the pursuit of knowledge that lies beyond our Earth. Journey To Mars:  Explorers Wanted  The future of space travel lies with you. Learn more about what it takes to explore Mars in this inspiring show. Exhibits provide a look at prototypes and designs that will launch the next generation to Mars and beyond, including rovers, simulators, and the Orion crew capsule. Children's Play dome  Imaginations will soar at the Children's Play Dome, a one-of-a-kind space-themed playground. With the majestic Rocket Garden as a backdrop, children can take off in a spacecraft, climb a moon rock wall, crawl through rocket tunnels and slide to the surface of the Moon. KSC Bus Tour  There’s no better way to get a glimpse of Kennedy Space Center than on one of our daily tours, departing by bus every 15 minutes from the Visitor Complex. Our experienced tour guides will take you past some of the most iconic NASA landmarks.  

Crayola Experience is Orlando's newest family attraction that only Crayola can create, designed to be a full day of hands-on creative play and colorful fun! It’s where every child’s creation is wonderfully unique – just like them! Discover the magic of color with 25 hands-on attractions. Here, you’re always encouraged to let your creativity run free, to color outside the lines and to play, explore, and learn. Add Crayola Experience to your things to do list when visiting Orlando, Florida. In a single day, you and your child can do everything from starring in your own coloring page to animating your creations on a huge digital projection.  Here are the details for a couple of the most popular attractions! Wrap it up! Cornflower, Atomic Tangerine, Purple Mountain's Majesty, Shocking Pink…what's your favorite Crayola color name? At Wrap It Up!, you can personalize and print an authentic Crayola crayon label, wrap it around your crayon, and create your own unique Crayola crayon! Use the token provided in your souvenir bag to select your favorite color. Art Alive! Create digital works of art and project them onto the wall to become part of a bigger scene. But the fun doesn't stop there! Walk up and touch your drawing to bring it to life! Make your butterflies take flight! Or watch your fish swim away in the projected underwater seascape. Be a Star Everyone is a star at this coloring page photo booth! Kids can appear in their very own coloring page along with some of Crayola's characters. Just like a real photo booth, making your own coloring page is as easy as pushing a button and posing. Say Macaroni & Cheese! Color Playground Wiggle up the melted wax tower, then bounce and splat across the paint bridge. Shimmy down the Pip Squeak marker and zigzag up the Crayola crayon while dodging and squeeeeezing through obstacles. Slide out of the crayon box onto the chalk surface. This is sure to be a hit with kids who have energy to spare. Drip Art This is a new spin on a timeless classic! Load a fresh crayon into the Drip Art machine and watch it melt and drip crayon wax onto your paper as it spins to create a swirly-whirly masterpiece. Toddler Town This area lets Crayola's youngest fans learn and play in colorful ways! Play with a multi-colored pegboard and interact with a giant ball maze where you control the outcome. Your little ones will have a ball! Be sure to add Crayola “The Experience” to your plans whilst in Orlando!!

The Best View of Chicago Enjoy amazing panoramic views of Chicago's famous skyline, lakefront and four surrounding states.  Atop the John Hancock Center, 94 floors - 1,000 feet up, conveniently located onn Michigan Avenue. Largest observation deck in the city 17,000 square feet with floor to ceiling windows on every site.   Interactive Technology Explore Chicago through interactive screens to learn about the city's famous sites. Available in seven languages including:  English, Chinese, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Brazilian. Located 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile, you'll soon see why a visit here is rated an 'absolute must do' by tourists and locals alike. Enjoy breathtaking 360 views stretching across 4 states, and Lake Michigan.  Watch the spectacular sunset from 1,000 feet, or go up at night to see Chicago shining in lights.  You'll see why 360 Chicago has been voted Chicago's best view. New Chicago History Exhibit Discover Chicago's rich history and identify while learning about nine of the city's culturally unique neighborhoods. Multimedia and mirror effects fully immerse guests in this truly innovative learning experience. Tilt - Chicago's highest moving experience. Enjoy the thrill of being tilted 12,000 feet over the Magnificent Mile.  Take in unsurpassed views of the city from a never-before-seen angle.  TILT is a moving experience that holds up to eight visitors per cycle - approximately 50 people per 30 minutes. *Please not that TILT is an additional charge of $7.00 per adult, $5.00 per child.