Liberty Helicopters - Big Apple

The 10,000 Islands Excursion, arguably, is the best way to experience the natural world around Marco Island. Conducted within the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge, you will experience what many describe as the best of Florida. The tour is two-part: The first part is a slow, intimate boating tour among the remote islands of the refuge. While you search for dolphins, manatees and sea turtles, you may encounter ospreys, bald eagles, ibis, roseate spoonbill, egrets, herons and any number of shorebird species. All the while, your formally trained naturalist guide will talk to you about the area's ecosystems, its long history and rich culture. The second part of your excursion is an exploration of a remote barrier island beach ... an island that you only can reach by boat ... an island that few get to experience. Learn about beach dynamics; stroll through the tidal flats and wade the tidal pools of these remote islands. If you enjoy shelling, imaging shelling on islands that are NOT picked daily by 100's of people. With your naturalist guide, learn not about individual shell animals, but actually learn "how to" shell.

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.

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.

Shared limousine transportation. Collection time confirmed at least 24 hours in advance. ​Breakfast consists of a breakfast buffet at the wonderful Contemporary Resort;
Breakfast Favorites: Scrambled eggs, egg whites scrambled, lobster eggs benedict, Mickey waffles, pancakes, Smoked Salmon, hash brown casserole, bacon, sausage, oatmeal, grits, French toast.  Plus many other great options.
Clients may return to their original hotel or be returned to Universal Orlando or Sea World. Walt Disney Transportation may be used from the Contemporary Resort to reach Walt Disney World. Our limousine excursions offer the convenience of door to door service. As all limousine excursions use SHARED limousine transportation this requires us to wait until the day prior to the excursion to formulate the most efficient route and provide exact collection times. We ask clients to contact us no later than 72 hours prior to their excursion date to verify we have their correct accommodation details (full address including zip code, contact number, gate code etc.). We will then contact them at least the day prior to provide exact collection time. In order to operate these limousine excursions efficiently we reserve the right to ask a client to make their way to a centralized pickup in the event their accommodation exceeds an acceptable distance from the standard Orlando tourism area. Limousine may be either stretch limousine or top of the line Mercedes Sprinter Limo.

For an hour and half, you'll be treated to fantastic views of Alcatraz Island, the city skyline, the Golden Gate bridge and the Pacific Ocean. If adventure is your style, try out our deck trampolines (be warned, you may get wet!). The netting allows you the exhilarating feeling of having the waves rush under your feet, and are also extremely comfortable for lounging in the sun. Want a break from the wind? Come inside our protected cabin, have a seat and continue to enjoy the sights of the sky and water. Need a bite to eat? Snacks, soda, beer and wine are available for purchase at the cabin bar. Our sailing catamarans give a uniquely stable and quiet ride without the noise of engines—you'll be amazed at the speed wind in your sails can give you! Pick up a helpful navigation guide providing information about San Francisco's landmarks as you sail past them. Feeling confidently sea-worthy? Take the helm from the captain and steer the boat (kids love this!). Our captain and crew are always happy to snap a photo or answer your questions about San Francisco or our catamarans—you'll quickly learn our passion for sailing! Recorded audio tour handsets are available for free upon request, 8 languages available () Things to Remember: 
Bar and snacks available onboard, accepting cash and credit cards. 
Arrive 30 minutes early to find parking and to locate us on Pier 39, Gate J, next to the sea lions. 
Bring a jacket and wear soft-soled shoes. 
No outside beverages may be brought on board.
Cancellations must be made 3 days before day of Cruise

Our first stop is the world famous Rock and Roll hot spot, “Guitar Center” located on the legendary Sunset Blvd. Guitar Center is the nucleus of the Rock & Roll World with hand prints in concrete and bronze plaques of all the music greats. Next we arrive at the one and only “Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame.” This is the “Center of Hollywood” where you have ample time to visit the Kodak Theater (Dolby Theater) & Chinese Theater (homes of the Oscars with movie stars handprints forever in concrete) as well as the stunningly ornate Roosevelt Hotel where stars and famous people are often seen having lunch; the Hollywood Wax Museum; Ripley’s Believe It or Not; Madame Tussauds; American Cinematheque & Egyptian Theater. Stars such as Tom Cruise, Madonna, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Jack Nicholson and so many others live in the magnificent mansions throughout this area and are seen regularly. Romantically stroll along Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame with the stars at your feet; find your favorite star and take a photo. You also have a wonderful view of the iconic “Hollywood Sign” from the Patio of the Kodak Theater. Don’t forget to pick up a souvenir at one of the many gift shops in this area. Most of our time is spent in the wonderful Hollywood Blvd., area but we still see great views of many famous film locations, the Landmark Biltmore Hotel, Magic Castle, Hollywood United Methodist Church, Warner Brothers Studios & Soundstages, Walt Disney Studios, where most of the classic animated movies were made such as Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Mary Poppins, Armageddon & the Pirates of the Caribbean, to mention only a few. We also see Pixar Entertainment and ABC Studios alongside Disney. Welcome to Hollywood, the Movie, Music and “Movie Star” capitol of the world! You will love this fun and fascinating day touring through the Hollywood Hills of Southern California!   What to Wear Hiking or athletic walking shoes Temperatures are cooler from October – February, so long pants and a warm jacket are appropriate March – September temperatures are warm where shorts, hats, and a light shirt are comfortable