Statue By Night Tour Cruise

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.

Brooklyn Tour Hop aboard a double-decker bus for Gray Line CitySightseeing NY’s Brooklyn Tour, a hop on/hop off journey through the city’s most populated borough. Many people who visit the city never set foot outside of Manhattan. But that would mean you’d miss some wonderful treasures so close by. And this newly expanded tour includes many wonders, allowing you to get off at any stop and grab a bite or see the sites in person. You’ll start in downtown Manhattan, crossing the Manhattan Bridge into Brooklyn, where you’ll see the first parkway for cars ever built in the U.S., the majesty of Grand Army Plaza, the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and Brooklyn Museum (a Beaux-Arts building with a vast art and Egyptian antiquities collection), along with the graceful mansions, intriguing shops and restaurants and a wide array of cultures. Your licensed guide will also take you past the gloriously designed Prospect Park with its zoo and the Brooklyn Public Library. And of course, you’ll see the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge.​ Tours Now Offered in 11 Languages! Now, Gray Line CitySightseeing NY is giving you even more flexibility in enjoying their tours by offering multilingual audio tracks in 11 different languages on all of the popular hop on/hop off bus tours. You can experience the journey in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Russian and Hebrew. Hop on Hop off double-decker tickets valid for 24 hours from the time you arrive in NYC and exchange your confirmation voucher for a boarding ticket. 

Click here for a complete list of current attractions included with the San Francisco Explorer Pass Frequently Asked Questions Is this just a discount card? Will I still need to buy tickets? No. Passes include admission to each attraction; no need to pay anything at the gate. Some attractions may offer upgrades or special exhibits for an additional fee. Do I need to choose my attractions in advance? Nope, choose as you go. The pass is good for any combination of the number of attractions you purchased. My child is under 3 years old. Can I get them a San Francisco Explorer Pass? Child Passes are recommended for children ages 3-12. Many attractions offer free admission for younger children. Please consult the attraction websites for more details. How will I get my pass? When your order is complete you will receive an email with printable and Smartphone version of your pass. There is nothing to Redeem, you can go right to first attraction you want to visit and start using your card immediately. How do I activate my pass? Easy: simply visit your first attraction! Is the pass valid all day? You bet! Feel free to visit the attractions any time of the day as long as they are open or operating. How much will I save? Compare the price of the pass to the gate prices of the attractions you want to visit to see how much you can save. Many customers save 50%. We give you the flexibility to create your own itinerary and choose the attractions you want to visit depending on your interests. Can I visit an attraction more than once? No. Your pass includes only one visit per attraction. Does a San Francisco Explorer Pass expire? Yes. You have one year from the date of purchase to begin using your pass. After one year, it will expire. Do I need to make reservations to visit the attractions? Attractions that require a reservation will display a symbol on the guidebook page.  Some attractions require a credit card to hold a reservation. In these cases, your credit card will not be charged unless you do not show up for your reservation. Can I use my San Francisco Explorer Pass to ride the cable cars? Your San Francisco Explorer Pass may be used for a 1-day Muni Visitor Passport, which includes a full day of unlimited rides on the cable cars, muni trains, and muni buses. However, be sure to pick up your passport prior to boarding. There are two locations to do this — one in Fisherman's Wharf and one in Union Square. Both are just a short walk from the cable car boarding locations. Can I use my San Francisco Explorer Pass® to visit Alcatraz Island? No. The Escape from the Rock Cruise option does not include a visit to Alcatraz Island but does circle the island and include a narrated account of the most feared institution in the American penal system. What’s the catch? There’s no catch. San Francisco Explorer Pass has a partnership with all of the participating attractions to make your visit to San Francisco as memorable as possible and to help you save time and money. Can I share my pass with a friend or sell it? No. The San Francisco Explorer Pass is non-transferrable and may not be re-sold. What happens if an attraction is closed or a tour is cancelled due to weather or other problem? While we do our best to ensure that all attractions are available, events happen that are out of our control. The great thing about a San Francisco Explorer Pass is that there are so many attractions to choose from. If an attraction is closed, or cannot be visited for some reason, we know you'll find a fun alternative in your guidebook!

Chicago CityPASS® ticket books include: • Shedd Aquarium • Skydeck Chicago • The Field Museum • Option Ticket 1: Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago OR 360 Chicago • Option Ticket 2: Adler Planetarium OR Art Institute of Chicago Option Tickets — You choose which of the two attractions you prefer to visit, but you do not need to decide this at the time of purchase. Shedd Aquarium VIP entry to Waters of the World galleries, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, an aquatic show and Jellies special exhibit, plus your choice of a 4-D Experience. Skydeck Chicago Fast Pass admission to the Skydeck’s 360-degree views and The Ledge glass floor balconies. The Field Museum All-Access Pass, including admission to all permanent and ticketed exhibitions plus your choice of one digital 3D film. Museum of Science and Industry VIP entry into the museum, including Science Storms, U-505(exhibit only), YOU! The Experience, an Omnimax show and Motion Simulator Ride. 360 Chicago Fast Pass admission to Chicago’s best views and only open-air Sky Walk. Adler Planetarium VIP entry and general admission to all exhibitions, the historic Atwood Sphere and one 3-D theater show. Art Institute of Chicago Audio tour and admission to all permanent collections and non-ticketed special exhibitions.

Tallera Grove - Bistro Molines Bistro Molines is set among the peaceful surrounds of Tallavera Grove, overlooking a valley of terraced vineyards and grazing cattle. Awarded a Sydney Morning Herald Good Guide Chefs Hat in 2010, 2011 and 2012, Bistro Molines combines the finest food with relaxed friendly service and European influenced serenity. Chef Robert creates sophisticated yet rustic French Provencal dishes for his ever changing menu and continues to amaze with his culinary genius that attracts people from the word over to his little piece of paradise. Flight: 2x 50 minute flights Wine Tasting: Included before meal Food: 3 Course Meal Drink: Bottle of Tallavera Grove Wine plus Coffee/Tea Menu: Bistro Molines Menu Extras: Additional food/drink may be purchased at an additional cost payable directly to restaurant/winery Bimbadgen Estate - Esca Restaurant Located high on a hill in the heart of Hunter Valley Wine Country, Bimbadgen is a striking winery and vineyard encompassing an expansive Cellar Door, award-winning Esca Restaurant, outdoor amphitheatre, modern tasting rooms and accommodation all in the one stunning location. Esca is a regional restaurant that uses produce sourced locally or grown on the Estate including lemons, figs and fresh herbs. A feature of the menu are the Esca Tasting Plates, like a mini-degustation, where guests can enjoy three ‘tastes’ from the menu each matched with a Bimbadgen wine. Dedicated to the art of food & wine matching, Esca’s modern Australian cuisine, fresh local and home grown produce and spectacular views make for a truly memorable dining experience. Esca's contemporary restaurant design features large glass windows and an open balcony allowing guests stunning wine country views over the Bimbadgen vineyards to the Brokenback ranges. Flight: 2x 50 minute flights Wine Tasting: Included before meal Food: 3 Course Meal Drink: Bottle of Bimbadgen Estate Wine plus Coffee/Tea Menu: Esca Menu Extras: Additional food/drink may be purchased at an additional cost payable directly to restaurant/winery Upon take-off 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 North over Sydney’s glistening northern beaches, right up to Palm Beach. As Pittwater emerges below, the flight heads inland to the Hawkesbury River and Brisbane Waters regions before passing over the Central Coast to eventually land amongst the famed vineyards of the Hunter Valley. After landing, experience local wine tasting before sitting down to gourmet lunch at one of the region’s most reputable restaurants. The peaceful surrounds and genuine country hospitality of the Hunter Valley perfectly complements the superb food and wine the area is renowned for.

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.