Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises - Landmark - Semi Circle 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.

Discover the city from a different view as you calmly cruise past Manhattan’s skyline leaving the hustle and bustle behind. See all of the sights down the West side of the island, around Battery Park and up the East side to the United Nations without ever leaving the comfort of your seat. A licensed New York City Tour Guide provides interesting facts about all the sights that make New York City so special. Sights:
Empire State Building
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Governors Island
Brooklyn Bridge
Manhattan Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
United Nations
New York Skyline
South Street Seaport
Ground Zero (World Trade Center site)
Hoboken Pier
Jacob K. Javis Center
Battery Park
Wall Street
Chrysler Building
 and more! ** Does NOT include Bus Tour**

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.

The Relais Saint Michel Menu*: Baked Camembert in phyllo dough with apples and arugula salad ** Salmon with rice and two vegetable sides (e.g. mushrooms and broccoli) ** Apple tart ** 1 bottle of cider + 1 bottle of water for 6 pers.  Coffee or tea Vegetarian Menu*:  Baked Camembert in phyllo dough with apples and arugula salad or Crudité plate ** Tagliatelle with vegetables or Omelet with vegetables **  Apple tart ** 1 bottle of cider + 1 bottle of water for 6 pers.  Coffee or tea Children menu* (under 12 years old):  Tagliatellis with ham or Ground beef with french fries or 'Moules Marinières" with french fries Apple pie or Chocolate mousse or Ice cream vanilla-strawberry Soft drink * Exemple of menus, subject to modification * The menu is not available in english  From December 19th, lunch in the Mont Saint Michel at the restaurant "Terrasses Poulard" or "Mouton Blanc" with the following menu:  Normandy salad with warm baked camembert ** Cod-fish loin, butter sauce with basmati rice and vegetables ** Caramel cream with salted butter ** 1 Bottle of cider for 6 persons 1 bottle of water for 6 persons Coffee or tea    Please note :  Those with reduced mobility should note that the climb up to the abbey can be tiring Comfortable shoes and warm clothing are recommended in Winter On-site visit duration: 4h30

The 2 Hour Dolphin, Birding, and Wildlife Tour is a wonderful adventure for the whole family and a great introduction to the area. In captain's style seating, on very comfortable powerboat, you will be safely led through the Everglades 10,000 Islands. Depending on the season, you can expect to encounter manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, bald eagles, ospreys, herons, egrets, pelicans, rosette spoonbills, as well as, numerous species of fish and shore birds. Our tours are never "canned", so each tour is different. Don’t forget your cameras!

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!