California Academy of Sciences - Nightlife VIP 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.

Click here for the Top View Tours Welcome Package Downtown Tour Duration: Approx 2 Hours Our Double Decker downtown tour is the quintessential New York tour. Departing from the heart of Times Square, this hop on, hop off bus tour will take you to the must-see sights of the city including: Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, The Empire State Building, The 9/11 Memorial, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, Little Italy and more!  Uptown Tour Duration: Approx 2 Hours Academic, Spiritual, Entertaining! Who would have thought a tour could offer so much? But our Uptown loop delivers this and so much more! Your visit include Harlem, renowned as an African American cultural and business center since the early 20th century and home to the 'Harlem Renaissance' during the 1920's and 30's. See The Cathedral of St John the Divine and Columbia University and Grant’s Tomb. Visit places like The Apollo Theater and The Cotton Club or Hop Off and dine at Sylvia's Famous Soul Food Restaurant. Your NY sightseeing bus will continue along Central Park’s 5th avenue border down Museum Mile where renowned cultural and artistic accomplishments can be viewed at places like The Jewish Museum, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Frick Collection.    Brooklyn Bus Tour - This tour does not make any stops Duration: Approx 1 hour, 30 minutes Welcome to Breukelen! If you thought all the action was limited to Manhattan, think again. Brooklyn is teeming with activity and you have a front row seat! From the moment you gaze upon the world famous Brooklyn Bridge you begin a trip into its vast visual and oral history. This New York Tour will take you past The Botanical Gardens, the NY Transit Museum with its collection of vintage subway cars, the magnificent Grand Army Plaza, Ebbet’s Field, The Brooklyn Museum and finally the incredible Brooklyn Bridge! Night Tours - This tour does not make any stops Duration: Approx 1 hour, 45 minutes Our New York Night Tour is one of our best bus tours! NYC at night is like no other city in the world! When the sun goes down, New York lights up! Our double Night Tour takes you from Times Square down 5th Avenue past the Empire State Building illuminated by a system that is capable of displaying 16 million colors, which can change instantaneously!! The bus continues down through Greenwich Village to Chinatown and Little Italy. Next stop--Brooklyn! From Brooklyn you can see some of the very best views of New York’s incredible skyline. As you cross back over the Manhattan Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge looks like a gorgeous diamond necklace. Back in Manhattan, you go through the Lower East Side, the East Village and Gramercy Park before getting back to Midtown. After passing the United Nations one of the most beautifully illuminated buildings comes into view--the Chrysler Building and as you head west on 42nd Street pass Grand Central Terminal saved in the 1970’s by Jackie O.! Soon you’re back in Times Square an absolute sight to behold at night--one you won’t soon forget!    Liberty Cruise: Liberty Cruise NYC is the best way to see the Statue of Liberty and other awe-inspiring sites around the harbor. Liberty Cruise New York passes by all of the sites two times which doubles the opportunity to observe them and take pictures of New York Harbor's priceless views. It is a great opportunity to learn many historical and interesting facts about New York harbor. All Downtown Cruises are narrated by live and licensed tour guides. Some of the sights that you'll see include: The Statue of Liberty, The World Trade Center, The Brooklyn Bridge, Battery Park, Wall Street, The Manhattan Bridge and The South Street Seaport.

Take in the impressive views and explore the facilities and attractions before heading up the chairlift to the start zone of the Skyline Luge. The Queenstown Luge is a unique wheeled gravity ride that provides riders full control over their descent on two purpose built tracks, scenic or advanced. Enjoy five Luge rides at your own pace before riding the Gondola back down to earth. YOU SHOULD BRING: Sunglasses Hats Warm clothes during winter periods

The Dungeon, a historical and theatrical attraction popular in Europe, opened their first ever North America attraction in San Francisco opening in the summer of 2014. The hysterically horrible engaging stories will take the visitor through 9 live actor led shows as they experience reenacted scenes from the colorful Gold Rush era to authentic tales about the Barbary Coast criminal gangs, Alcatraz, the Shanghai kelly boat ride and more. The ultimate live action expedition! Through a storytelling journey, vibrant sets, authentic costumes and detailed make-up, The San Francisco Dungeon sheds a whole new light on San Francisco’s rich and authentic history. San Francisco’s unique background makes it the perfect location for the launch of the first-ever North America Dungeons Attraction. Located in San Francisco’s historic Fisherman’s Wharf, this unique experience will highlight 200 years of San Francisco’s colorful past with dramatic and theatrical story storytelling. The San Francisco Dungeon will guide visitors through theatrical sets on a walk-through journey.  Escape Alcatraz is now included in all tickets.

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!

The Go San Diego® Card is the best choice for maximum savings and flexibility. Save up to 55% off retail prices on admission to over 40 top attractions and activities for one low price, including the San Diego Zoo, LEGOLAND® California, Safari Park, bicycle tours, kayaking, harbor tours, and more. Daily admission to SeaWorld® is included with all 3, 5, or 7 day passes. Enjoy the flexibility to choose attractions as you go and do as much as you want each day.          Save Money! Pay one low price and save up to 55% off combined admission prices.          Save Time & Hassle  - Pay nothing at the gate and skip the line at select attractions. Daily admission to SeaWorld® is included on all 3, 5, or 7 day passes          Flexibility - Create your own itinerary from over 40 attraction choices.          Freedom - No limitations. Do as much as you want each day.          Insider Info - Free guidebook and map.           Click here for a complete list of current attractions included with the Go San Diego® Card. Please note: FlowRider is closed until further notice. Please check the website for updates.            Frequently Asked Questions What do you mean by "calendar days over 2 weeks"? "Calendar days" are days on a calendar, not 24-hour periods. For example, if you activate a 3-Day Card on a Monday evening, it is valid for the remainder of Monday (1st calendar day) and any 2 additional calendar days within two weeks of activation.Tip: to get the most out of your pass, plan to visit attractions early in the day. 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, you can choose from the included attractions as you go. What is the age cut off for child cards? Child cards are for children ages 3-12. Most attractions do not charge for children under 3 years old. However, there are some exceptions (especially children's museums and attractions geared toward very young travelers). If you have a child under 3 years old, please check with the attraction directly in advance. You may be charged at the gate. How will I get my pass? When your order is complete you will receive an email with printable and Smartphone version of your Go San Diego® Card. 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 card? Simply visit your first attraction! Is my card valid all day? Yes. You can enter attractions any time with the Go Card. What is your refund policy? Our Risk Free Guarantee gives you one year from your purchase date to return any non-activated passes for a full refund. How many days should I buy? Most travelers visit between 2 and 3 attractions each day depending on individual preference. Our most popular card is the 3-Day card. Does the Card expire? Yes. You have one year from the date of purchase to begin using your pass. After one year, it will expire. 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. We give you the flexibility to create your own itinerary and choose the attractions you want to visit depending on your interests. How many attractions can I visit in one day? On a Go Card, you can visit as many attractions as you want in a day. Can I visit an attraction more than once? In most cases, you can visit each attraction once per day. Some attractions are valid only once during the life of the pass. Please reference your guidebook for specific information on each attraction. 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. What’s the catch? There’s no catch. Go San Diego Card has a partnership with all of the participating attractions to make your visit to San Diego 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 Card 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 our Card 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!