Ripley's Believe It or Not! + WonderWorks Orlando

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.

PISTE SAFARI Do you dream of a real-life safari? Set out on a journey to meet the most emblematic of the large mammals. Drive the 10km trail in your own vehicle or travel on-board one of our 4 x 4 bush trucks and cross vast plains where over 1,000 animals and 250 different species roam free. A total immersion in the world of wild animals awaits you! Find yourself face to face with the major animal groups from the world over: you're invited to visit the lions, rhinoceros, tigers as well as wolves, elephants and giraffes! Warning: please note that driving in a vehicle without a roof (convertibles, open-top vehicles, motorbikes, trail bikes...) is not allowed in the Safari Trail, for a matter of safety. If your vehicle does not have a roof, please take a ticket for the Raid 4x4 guided tour (depending on the number of seats that are available). TEMPLE DE LA JUNGLE NEW ! The Temple de la Jungle is a mix between adventure and discover thanks to its suspended bridge, that immerses you in the animals environment up to the treetops. Sharing their space with small Asian antelopes and pot-bellied pigs, macaques are fascinating by their social behaviors so close to ours. A new playful universe for the delight of the whole family. CHEMIN DE BROUSSE Welcome to Africa! Planète Sauvage invites you on a journey: one surprise after another awaits you on the pedestrian part of the Bush Trail! You will meet Kirikou who will take you to his brand new village! Immerse yourself in the world of this famous character, as small as he is brave! Visit his hut, play music with the percussion instruments and confront Sorceress Karaba's fetishes! Continue the trail which will take you to Madagascar to discover its famous wild lemurs, roaming freely all around you! Experience the exotic environment and discover the life of the herds of giraffe and rhinoceros from new observation points! CITE MARINE A waking dream! The Marine City is a unique aquatic area where you can go for a memorable time discovering its group of dolphins! Every day you can admire the new show, "Noah's treasure". The adventures of a young explorer who discovers a group of dolphins are told and illustrated with jumps, pirouettes, water jets and special effects! Enjoy the gentleness, the bond formed with and the wonder of the dolphins! Extend your encounter in the depths of the 100m-long underwater gallery for complete immersion and an exceptional view of the world of the dolphins. SENTIER DES INCAS NEW ! This new universe is a lakeside promenade in South America. Squirrel monkeys surrounding you are surprising thanks to their agility and parrots brighten the landscape with their flamboyant colors. Take a break watching the flamingos and have fun watching the coatis game !

Come aboard mates! Make us part of your Orlando vacation. Voted "Best in Florida" by Orlando Magazine, our adventure golf courses are renowned for their innovative hole designs, lush landscaping, and entertaining pirate theming. The adventures and legends of infamous pirates come to life as you enter our world of 18th century buccaneers--sunken ships, cascading waterfalls, dreaded pirate dungeons, and lush, tropical vegetation. And watch out for stray cannon shots from the wily skeleton lofting cannon fire from his old raft! Our manicured courses are specifically designed to provide maximum enjoyment for kids and adults alike. Discover the fun! Highlights
Brand new Pirate Ship! Fun for the whole family! 18 pirate-themed holes 2 courses to choose from!
Inclusions
Admission into Pirate's Cove One 18 hole golf course
Exclusions
Transportation to/from Pirate's Cove Optional gratuities Food and beverages

Upon takeoff enjoy full panoramic views of the Sydney skyline, Pacific Ocean and the famous Blue Mountains to the west. 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 then heading along the Northern beaches and over the Ku Ring Gai National Park before landing at the picturesque Glenworth Valley. Upon arrival your real outdoor adventure begins with the choice of: Horseback Riding – Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, Glenworth’s experienced horse riding guides will guide you through impressive scenery, lush forests and creeks on a ride back to nature. Quad-biking – Get your adrenaline hit as you race across Glenworth’s bush trails and water crossings on a quad biking circuit across 15km of terrain. Kayaking – Paddle along the winds of Popran Creek while exploring the natural valleys and rich swamp life. Abseiling – Challenge yourself to abseil down the natural rock faces of Glenworth Valley while enjoying the spectacular views that surround you. No matter what activity you choose you will be sure to get back to nature with these great family friendly adventures. Your outdoor escape comes to an end with a relaxing scenic flight back to the hustle and bustle of Sydney.

Dutch Wine & Cheese Cruise Highlights Enjoy a cosy Cheese & Wine Cruise with the amazing views of the illuminated canals Indulge in a sumptuous cheese platter and a choice of carefully selected wines Please note: The minimum age for this cruise is 18.   Ticket includes: 2 hour Cruise Luxury Cheese Plate Delicious Wines Multilingual Guide All Canal boats offer full toilet facilities on board   Ticket excludes: Hotel Pick-up

Madame Tussauds Nashville, the world’s most famous wax attraction celebrating American music, provides an interactive experience where groups can become a part of America’s musical past and present.  Located in Opry Mills, adjacent to the Grand Ole Opry, Madame Tussauds Nashville is Music City’s newest must-see destination. With over 45 wax figures of past and present musicians, experience a historical walk through immersive iconic scenes and musical performances where you’ll be able to touch, see, feel and photograph your favorite country, pop, rock and jazz artists. We encourage guests to get up close and personal with our life-like figures, so remember to bring your camera to capture these once in a lifetime memories!