One World Observatory Admission + Gray Line NY - Downtown Tour [DTOWO]

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.

Central park has been designed as a relieving oasis for a rapidly growing city in the 19th century and it has evolved into one of the most historic masterpieces of the United States. A fundamental part of the city, Central Park is a requisite that no New Yorker could give up. Its architecture fits into the urban environment so perfectly, that many people never believe it is completely man-made. You will be informed about many movie scene locations that you've only been able to see on screen. The walking tours are rated effortless and there are no tough hills. Some walking tour spots:     •    Wollman ice-skating rink from Love Story and Serendipity     •    Dakota Building where Mia Farrow lives in Rosemary’s Baby     •    Tavern on the Green, used as a location in Ghostbusters and Wall Street     •    Bethesda Fountain, as seen in Enchanted and Gossip Girl     •    The Bandshell where Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Kramer vs. Kramer were shot     •    The Boathouse Café used for When Harry Met Sally and Sex and the City     •    The Pond, which from in Home Alone II during the pigeon lady scene     •    The Dairy, as beautiful Victorian gothic building, which is featured in Independence Day     •    The Mall, also known as the literary walk is used for Vanilla Sky and Big Daddy     •    The Bow Bridge, this white bridge was featured in films such as Autumn in New York and Little Manhattan     •    The Conservatory where Stuart Little drove sail boats Central Park Sightseeing walking tour's last 2 hours. Let their entertaining and informative tours guides enlighten you about the anecdotes of distinguished Central Park. This is an experience you will remember for years.. These guided tours are held rain or shine, extreme weather conditions like heavy rain, strong winds of 35 mph or more, heavy snow, and temperatures 24 degrees and below or 96 degrees and above. Please remember to bring your cameras. You can't miss taking pictures of must-seen places in Central Park wonderland!

Part of this tour will be the visit of the museum of Prostitution for a fascinating introduction to the red light district and what happens there. You will learn everything about the system and experience for yourself what it feels like to sit behind the windows. During this excursion, we guarantee your safety - you will be accompanied by a very reliable guide.

Night Tour Washington DC gets even more beautiful after the sun sets. Join on to this 3 hour fully narrated Moonlight Tour. Do not forget your camera as there are plenty of photo stops! Some of the illuminated sights you’ll view are: Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, Union Station, U. S. Capitol, Iwo Jima Memorial, The White House, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.  ​Departs daily from 2 West /40 Massachusetts Ave, NE, Washington, DC 20002.

TOUR DETAILS  This great value tour will take your straight from central London to three top UK destinations with an expert guide. You will travel to Bath, Stonehenge and Salisbury for a wonderful day out of London. Entrances are not included in the price of this tour but can be purchased on the day, letting you choose where to visit at each of the three wonderful locations.  Stonehenge First on the agenda is the mysterious site of Stonehenge! Solidly towering above Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge is an ancient wonder still puzzling experts and visitors to this day. The 5,000 year old stones have captivated theorists for hundreds of years, so join in with the speculation during our stop at Stonehenge.  Salisbury Home to the tallest church spire in the UK, Salisbury and its beautiful cathedral has so much to offer visitors. Surrounded by a glorious expanse of green, Salisbury Cathedral is the stunning highlight of this picturesque city. Featuring English Gothic architecture that is just begging to be photographed, the cathedral is also where you can see one of the four remaining copies of the legendary Magna Carta document! Bath The last destination on your day trip from London is the Georgian city of Bath. This historical city was the first in England to be designated a World Heritage Site and its many architectural gems include the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey and the pretty Pulteney Bridge, which was modelled on Florence’s Ponte Vecchio. Walk through Bath and explore its cobbled streets, unique shops and diverse attractions.  Windsor (From 1st April 2017) Windsor is a quintessentially English town, crowned by the spectacular Windsor Castle. Windsor Castle is the queen’s official residence and dates back to the 11th century! The town is famous for its royal connections, it’s rich in history and royal tradition. Take a wonder through the stunning town on the cobbled streets and admire the historic buildings surrounding you.  Entrances are not included in the price of the tour.

Upon takeoff 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 West following the Parramatta River until you reach the Blue Mountains National Park, where your pilot will land at Katoomba Airfield in the heart of the bush. The Rocks to Rainforest 4WD tours offers a unique opportunity to visit some amazing remote wilderness in the Blue Mountains World Heritage area. Guests are taken away from typical tourist destinations in our luxury 4WD vehicles. The ground component of the tour is really up to you, you can choose to stay in the 4WD or if you are more adventurous then get out and about and go for a bushwalk. You will see fantastic panorama escarpments, unique rock formations, deep canyons with ancient rainforest and occasionally kangaroos in the Megalong Valley. You will then enjoy a gourmet sandwich lunch in either a cave or rainforest, depending on the weather on the day.