Boston Explorer Pass

MARDI GRAS WORLD: WHERE MARDI GRAS IS MADE! There are plenty of tours in New Orleans, but only one offers a real, behind-the-scenes look at New Orleans Mardi Gras, and that’s the Mardi Gras World tour. Mardi Gras World gives you an authentic Mardi Gras experience all year round, whether you visit while sightseeing in New Orleans, enjoying a New Orleans family vacation or taking a break from your business trip. Take our day tour to see what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life year after year. Our tour allows you to see firsthand the hard work and extensive planning that goes into this grand event. Since 1947, Blaine Kern Studios has built the breathtaking parade floats for major parades not only for Mardi Gras, but for parades all over the world. Mardi Gras parades would be nothing without the fantastical floats that line the parade route year after year. The hard work that goes into making these spectacles is what makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans the greatest show on Earth! Our knowledgeable guides take the mask off Mardi Gras with an all-access Mardi Gras tour, winding through the massive studio where these magnificent floats are built from the ground up. You’ll learn about the history of this unique and festive tradition and go beyond its reputation to get a deeper understanding of the real Mardi Gras. The whole family will love the experience of touring the space where our artisans create spectacular floats for over 40 parades each year. There are plenty of opportunities for photos in front of floats, with props, or wearing a traditional Mardi Gras costume on this New Orleans tour. This is an experience you will want to document, so don’t forget to bring your camera! A FREE shuttle is provided with ticket purchase, and has pick-ups at 20 convenient downtown locations. Just call 504-361-7821 to see where our designated pick up locations are. Call when you are at one of our many locations and we will quickly pick you and your party up.  If you do not wish to use our complimentary shuttle, the closest parking is available in Lot J across from the Mardi Gras World entrance. ($15.00/vehicle, owned by the New Orleans Convention Center, subject to change) Wandering through the magical float den is an exciting experience for kids and adults alike, so come join us for the best Mardi Gras tour around.

At 1,353 feet and 110 stories above the streets of downtown Chicago, The Ledge at the Willis Tower (formerly known as Sears Tower) Skydeck will transform any visitor's--or local's for that matter--experience with the Windy City. In January 2009, Willis Tower owners began a major renovation of the beloved Skydeck, which originally opened in 1974, and served as a premier tourist attraction throughout the skyscraper's tenure as the Sears Tower. When ownership changed hands, the fresh blood added a fresh look--and adrenaline rush--to the 103rd floor in the form of retractable glass balconies extending about 4 feet over Wacker Drive and the Chicago River below. Still the 8th tallest building in the world, and the absolute tallest in the Western Hemisphere, Willis Tower's Skydeck draws 1.5 million people a year who are eager to ascend the 110-story, 1,454 foot (443 meter) building for awesome panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside. Your journey to the top of the Willis Tower starts with a walk through an airport-style metal detector, followed by a slow elevator ride down to the waiting area where visitors queue for tickets. A sign will tell you how long you'll have to wait to get up high; this is a good time to confirm the visibility. Even days that seem sunny can have upper-level haze that limits the view. On good days, however, you can see for 40 to 50 miles (64 to 80 kilometers), as far as the states of Indiana, Michigan. Iowa, and Wisconsin. While you wait, you can watch a film about Willis Tower factoids. Then you'll wait a little longer before the ear-popping, 70 second elevator ride up to the 103rd floor deck. From here, the entire city stretches below, and you can see exactly how Chicago is laid out. Willis Tower, Skydeck, and The Ledge Fast Facts The hundreds of forehead prints visitors left behind each week on Skydeck windows served as this inspiration for The Ledge. The Ledge boxes can each bear about 4-1/2 metric tons of weight, and adventurers who trust that statistic enough to prove it can often be found jumping and bounding around the entirely translucent enclosures as Chicago's heavy traffic and infrastructure bustle below. The Ledge’s glass panels weight 1,500 pounds apiece, and each box is comprised of three layers of half-inch thick glass laminated into one seamless unit. In addition to serving 1.3 million tourists per year in its 4.5+ million square feet of space, Willis Tower is home to more than 100 companies, including prominent law, insurance, transportation, and financial services. The Ledge's glass boxes retract into the Skydeck main floor for easy maintenance, mostly cleaning off the 974 dead birds that must fly into them every month. The Moonwalk is the most popular dance performed on The Ledge, followed closely by the Running Man. Riverdance clocks in at a distant third. Bringing people who are afraid of heights to The Ledge is not recommended, unless you are mean-spirited or really don't like them. In which case, you should probably just take them here. Willis Tower was known as Sears Tower for decades, until the 30th anniversary of Diff'rent Strokes, at which point it was rightfully renamed.

Tour Highlights Numerous stops for photos The five mile (8 km) tour route explores the eastern section of the 1017 acre (411 ha) park on winding trails and bike routes. The transformation starting in the 1870's of a bleak sand dune area in into the lush park you see today. The Music Concourse and Temple of Music The California Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum The California Academy of Sciences and the deYoung Museum William Hammond Hill and John McLaren's vision for the park The Conservatory of Flowers San Francisco Botanical Gardens Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill The Dahlia Gardens Pioneer log cabin and many other hidden gems!   Rider Requirements: Rider must be 12 years or older and weigh 100lbs – 250lbs (45-113 KG) No pregnant guests. Not recommended for some guests over age 70 or with mobility, motor control or recent surgeries. Under 18 with parents or guardian. No backpacks or bags can be worn on the tour.      Enjoy riding an eco-friendly Segway, see more sights than you could cover on foot, and have lots of fun! Help keep the park less congested with bus traffic!

Downtown Tour Plus The three most visited sites in New York City are all located in the area referred to in local terms as “downtown”. Uptown Treasures & Harlem Tour Plus Where can you find a green oasis that occupies 20% of the island of Manhattan or the headquarters of the largest media conglomerate or places with the alluring names of “Millionaires Row and Museum Mile? All of these places and more can be found, discovered and enjoyed on City Sights’ Uptown Treasures + Harlem tour. Bronx Tour Plus Welcome to the Bronx! Once you hop on this uniquely narrated trip through Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, you’re in for a sightseeing excursion aboard a double-decker bus like no other. Night Tour Please Note: Escorted bus Tour (not Hop-on Hop-off). New York's only double-decker night tour where you enter historic Brooklyn for a photo opportunity and breathtaking views of the glittering necklace of the Manhattan Skyline. Enjoy nighttime views and ambiance of Times Square, Chinatown, Empire State Building , Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Manhattan Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge and Lower East Side. Brooklyn Tour Plus Hop aboard a double-decker bus for Gray Line CitySightseeing New York’s Brooklyn Tour, a hop on/hop off journey through the city’s most populated borough. A choice of two museums: The New York Historical Society: The New York Historical Society, one of America’s pre-eminent cultural institutions, is dedicated to fostering research, presenting history and art exhibitions, and public programs that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical is the oldest museum in New York City. OR Museum of the City of New York: The Museum of the City of New York embraces the past, present, and future of New York City and celebrates the city’s cultural diversity through rich collections, a lively schedule of exhibitions and an array of programs for adults and children. The Museum is dedicated to fostering an understanding of New York’s evolution from its origins as a settlement of a few hundred Europeans. Hop-On, Hop-Off Sightseeing Ferry: 10.00 – 16.00 This service operates with four stops: 1. Pier 78, West 38th Street and Hudson River; 2. 199 Vesey Street Pier (lower Manhattan) - connection to Downtown Tour at stop #11, Park Row 3. Pier 11 (Wall Street and South Street) - connection to Downtown Tour at stop #13, South Street Seaport 4. DUMBO (Fulton Street and Furman Street) - connection to Brooklyn Tour at stop #2, Brooklyn Promenade Statue of Liberty This is a ticket for the FERRY ONLY, this does not include admission inside the Statue of Liberty. Security: Additional time should be allowed for security clearance at Battery Park. * Last ferry to Liberty Island sails at 17.30 * Last ferry from Liberty Island is 6:15pm * Ellis Island is closed until further notice * Last Downtown tour bus from Battery Park/Statue of liberty departs at 6:00pm Ferry ticket to the Statue of Liberty National Monument on Liberty Island and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum on Ellis Island. You can then choose between Empire State Building or Top of the Rock Empire State Building Observatory Tickets New York's famous Empire State Building, a New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, soars more than a quarter of a mile into the atmosphere above the heart of Manhattan. The Observatory located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city's bustling streets, offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade. Top of the Rock Observatory Tickets Discover Top of the Rock™ Observation Deck and experience breathtaking views of New York City. Step on one of their glass ceiling sky shuttles for a thrilling ride to the Top, where you will find three stories of spectacular views, including a stunning, open air, 360-degree view from the 70th Floor outdoor deck. Get your tickets now to view New York City from the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Center.

Your Hot Air Balloon adventure begins when you meet your Pilot and Flight Crew. At the launch site, your flight crew will brief you on your upcoming balloon adventure. Then, you will watch with awe as your balloon takes shape before your eyes, ultimately standing more than 10 stories tall. Once fully inflated and ready for take off, you climb into the gondola and begin the adventure of a lifetime. During your flight you will get a spectacular bird's eye view of the gorgeous Red Rock Mountains and the famous Las Vegas Strip. You will drift silently over the Vegas Valley with 360 degree, unobstructed views of the world famous Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Conservation Area and surrounding suburbs. After drifting serenely for approximately an hour you prepare for landing. Once on the ground, you will indulge in the oldest of ballooning traditions, a champagne toast, and revel in the peace, tranquility and beauty that you never before knew existed. For ballooning light winds are required, good visibility and no precipitation. You will fly at approximately 1000 feet. The flights are approximately one hour in length, however you are required you for up to 4 hours in total for the entire adventure. Since you will fly with the prevailing winds, the flight patterns and landing sites vary due to the changing wind directions. There is very little feeling of movement or sensation of height. Our Safety Pledge Your safety is our main concern, so we reserve the right to cancel a flight due to adverse weather conditions or safety reasons. All flights must adhere to all FAA safety standards for passenger-carrying commercial balloon operations. We don’t anticipate flight delays, however if the pilot requires more time to see how the weather is developing, it is possible that your flight might be put on hold. If that happens, you will be instructed to phone back at a later time that day for an update. *Please note all passengers must have a signed liability waiver in order to fly.  **Please also note that ballooning is extremely weather dependent.  We require less than 8 knots of wind, in addition to no impending storms.  Safety is our number one priority.  Vegas Balloon Rides reserves the right to cancel a flight due to weather conditions or other safety reasons that could affect the safety of the flight.   Passenger Limitations:  Passengers must be in good physical condition.  All passengers must be able to climb in and out of the basket, stand for the entire flight and walk out of a field if necessary.  We cannot fly any passenger who has had recent surgery, injuries, hip, back, or knee problems.  Health concerns, physical limitations, is/or may be pregnant or has severe auditory restrictions.  Please note:  Children must be a minimum of 10 years of age and accompanied by an adult. 

360 Chicago 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 identity 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 Magnificient 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 note that TILT is an additional charge of $7.00 per adult, $5.00 per child.   SHEDD AQUARIUM EXHIBITS UNDERWATER BEAUTY – A SPECIAL EXHIBIT Our living world is full of wonder. Celebrate with us the unbelievable beauty living in our oceans, lakes and rivers in a new special exhibit at Shedd Aquarium: Underwater Beauty. Get a glimpse of the grandeur beneath the waves as 100 species from around the world come together in an evocative new space. What is beauty? Spark your curiosity as you see all the ways beauty moves and coexists. Watch sea jellies pulse, eels ribbon and a rainbow come alive with reef fishes. Feel the rhythms, embrace the colors and savor the patterns found only underwater. Experience a world worth celebrating – and saving. Waters of the World Travel the world in 80 habitats. Dive into Oceans, from coastal kelp forests to the seafloor. Explore the self-contained ecosystems of Islands and Lakes. Visit Rivers—big and small—and learn more about our local waters in the new At Home on the Great Lakes exhibit. Meet hundreds of amazing animals, from tiny mantella frogsto a a giant octopus, from a Grand Cayman blue iguana to Nile knifefish, and from moon jellies to sea stars. We even have map turtles, in case you get lost. Caribbean Reef Take a 360-degree tour of an underwater reef community. Follow a green sea turtle. Peek at a moray eel in a rocky crevice. Watch regal rays glide by. Get eye-to-eye with parrot fish and sharks. Visit Caribbean Reef, Shedd’s award-winning 90,000-gallon circular habitat in the grand rotunda. Amazon Rising Take an exotic journey in the Amazon, home to one-third of all living things. Watch out for anacondas and piranhas, spiders, rays and a camouflaged caiman. In churning river channels, still lakes and even flooded treetops look for tetras, turtles and fruit-eating fish called tambaqui. See how the region’s animals, plants and people adapt to the water’s dramatic annual rise and fall. Abbott Oceanarium The Abbott Oceanarium immerses you in the vibrant coastal ecosystem of beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea otters and sea lions. You’ll also find a host of fishes and invertebrates that make their homes where freshwater flows into the ocean or where tides turn seascapes to landscapes and back again each day. Use our self-guided map to discover how animals are linked to each other, their homes and you. Polar Play Zone Kids have a place at Shedd that they can call their own—Polar Play Zone. It’s cool as ice and twice as nice! The penguins think so, too. Play! Splash! Pretend! What would you like to be? A sleek sliding penguin? A deep-sea explorer? How about both? In Polar Play Zone, you can slip into a penguin suit and try being a bird in the Icy South play area. From there, head to the Icy North to explore the belugas’ Arctic waters in a kid-sized submarine. Don’t forget to shake hands—or is it arms?—with colorful sea stars in the touch pools. In Polar Play Zone, you’ll learn about polar opposites—big and small, fast and slow, shallow and deep, even north and south—while you play. The Oceanarium Aquatic Presentation​ is included however based on available seating and remaining show times at the time of guest arrival. (2018 Aquatic Presentation Schedule) Stingray Touch (seasonal experience) is included. Open late May through October. 4D Experience is not included however the 4D experience tickets may be purchased at the theatre for $3.00 per -person