Seaplane Adventures - San Francisco City 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.

From start to finish, New York Water Taxi provides a unique fun-filled experience. A cash bar is available on board to keep you refreshed along the way. Departs from Pier 16 in the historic South Street Seaport in Downtown Manhattan. Ferry Amenities Indoor and outdoor decks, including full sun deck Comfortable seating Two snack and beverage bars Here are just some of the many amazing sights you will see: The Statue of Liberty The famed gift from France that served as the symbol of America to millions of immigrants and citizens alike was erected in New York Harbor in 1886. The Brooklyn Bridge Completed in 1883, the iconic Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, and the view from underneath is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. One World Trade Center  The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere - 1,776 feet tall! The Empire State Building Built during the American Great Depression in 1930, this astounding building has 102 floors and 6,500 windows, and is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. One World Observatory As an official transportation partner of One World Observatory, New York Water Taxi is one of the select partners with access to timed One World Observatory tickets. Now you can make your All-Day Access Pass or Statue of Liberty Express ticket into a combo with a timed ticket to the Observatory coordinating your departure ahead of that time from Pier 79 or Pier 16. THREE LEVELS OF INNOVATION AND INSPIRATION - START AT ONE™ Start by ascending to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere in less than sixty seconds, then look toward the horizon and feel the city’s invincible spirit. Upon entry, Guests are greeted in the Global Welcome Center, where a large video board features salutations in an array of languages, and a dynamically generated world map highlights the hometowns of visitors. All admission is timed ticket entry. Guests experience a program titled “Voices,” which tells the personal stories of the men and women who built One World Trade Center. Next, “Foundations” provides Guests with a close up view of the very bedrock on which the building stands. Guests board one of five dedicated elevators to ascend to the 102nd floor in under 60 seconds. Immersive, floor-to-ceiling LED technology in each cab invites Guests to experience a virtual time-lapse that recreates the development of New York City’s skyline from the 1500s to present day. Guests take in an exciting, two-minute video presentation that combines bird’s eye imagery, time-lapse shots with abstract textures and patterns to present the unique rhythm and pulse of New York City to dramatic life in three dimensions. On the 100th floor of the Observatory, also known as the Discovery Level, Guests experience expansive, 360-degree views in all directions, taking in the iconic sights, surrounding waters and panoramic views of the city and beyond. The Main Observatory also features the Sky Portal. Guests are invited to step onto a 14-foot wide circular disc that delivers an unforgettable view, using real-time, high-definition footage of the streets below. This interactive skyline concierge allows Guests to deeply connect with the landmarks and neighborhoods they observe from above. At City Pulse, global ambassadors are stationed under a ring of HD video monitors and outfitted in gesture recognition technology, summoning imagery to the screens and providing Guests with close-up views and personalized recommendations.

Tour Stops Bus Route: 1. Central Station 2. Amrath Hotel 3. Windmill/East 4. Artis Royal Zoo 5. Gassan Diamonds 6. Jewish Historical Quarter 7. Royal Theatre Carré 8. Heineken Experience 9. Museum Square/Rijksmuseum 10. Vondelpark 11. Westermarkt Boat - Blue Line: 1. Saint Nicholas Church 2. National Maritime Museum 3. City Hall 4. Golden Bend/Herengracht Boat - Green Line: 1. Central Station West 2. Passanger Terminal 3. Gassan Diamonds 4. Hermitage Museum 5. Albert Cuyp Market 6. Rijksmuseum/Leidseplein   Passengers can hop-on and hop-off at any of the tour stops along the three routes. If you’d prefer, stay on the tour for a full loop: Bus Tour – 60 – 75 minutes Boat Tour – 60 – 120 minutes Additional Information: Vouchers must be printed to be exchanged for a City Sightseeing bus ticket in location The audio commentary is available in the following languages: English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Catalan, Dutch, Arabic, Hebrew, Swedish Buses are wheelchair accessible  

Efteling Theme Park Resort fills you with wonder Efteling is a unique theme park with a fairytale atmosphere, natural surroundings and a wide range of thrilling and enchanting attractions, making it ideal for the whole family.  Unforgettable family adventures Enjoy precious moments together. Step inside this fairytale world full of wondrous tales, delightful dreams and adventures at high speed. Glide through the enchanting world of fairies and trolls in dream flight ‘Droomvlucht’, huddle together during the exciting spectacular park show Raveleijn and enjoy the spectacular Aquanura water show. Children filled with wonder The little ones listen to the sounds of the fairytale forest and party together with Jokie in the Carnival Festival. They jump and dance along to the live entertainment and have endless fun on the children’s rides.  For genuine daredevils  Do you dare climb aboard a rollercoaster where you must escape a fire-breathing dragon at high speed? Do you have the courage to set sail on a raging sea and risk encountering the mysterious ghost ship ‘the flying Dutchman’? Or is a 90kph shoot into the deepest, darkest mineshaft more your thing? The latest Baron 1898 is ready for you. This is your chance, show us what you're made of, come and visit Efteling.  Attractions Drift away in the incredibly beautiful world of Dreamflight and enjoy the view from the Pagode. Laugh at grandpa’s dripping wet trousers on the Piraña and take a relaxing boat ride in the gorgeous natural landscape of the Gondoletta. Shows & Live Entertainment Your heart will beat faster during a wondrous encounter or a spellbinding park show. Would you like to meet and greet your favourite Inhabitants of the Fairytale Forest? Watch and listen... or sing and dance along! Don’t forget to visit the spectacular Raveleijn park show. Restaurants If your legs begin to get tired and your stomach starts grumbling, just follow your nose to one of the many catering outlets and restaurants throughout Efteling Park. There’s something delicious for everyone to eat or drink! Amsterdam Canal Boat The one hour cruise will show you a different side of Amsterdam. From the elegant merchants’ houses from the Golden age to the iconic views of Magere Brug "Skinny Bridge", the Anne Frank House Museum, Heritage Museum and the beautiful Westerkerk Church, prepare to be amazed with this new view of Amsterdam. You may make use of the Wi-Fi network at the piers Rijksmuseum and Leidseplein without cost. This has been made possible by ZapFi. All Canal Bus boats offer full toilet facilities on board.

Central Park Sightseeing bike rental is an excellent choice to rent a bike for your next adventure. They will offer to make your Central Park adventure easier by providing na illustrative map, a nice color helmet a chain-lock for your convenience, and a helpful basket. All this equipment is included in this bike rental offer. Central Park Sightseeing presents a variety of high-quality bikes as comfort, hybrid, mountain, tandem (for two people) bikes, baby seats and baby trailers. The team members are pleased to offer recommendations of specific routes, must-see attractions, and special food place options. So, pack some light snacks, get a bottle of a water and burn your calories!     •    All necessary equipment including an illustrative map, a nice color helmet, a chain-lock and a basket for your convenience     •    Well-maintained bikes for men, women, and children who dream of enjoying Central Park

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.