Guided Visit of the Palace and Garden of Versailles (afternoon)

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.

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.

Your Hot Air Balloon adventure begins when you meet your Pilot and Flight Crew. The flights meet approximately a 1/2 hour before sunrise. 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 pirority.  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. 

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 then heading along the famous Northern beaches and over the Ku Ring Gai National Park before landing at an authentic working sheep station. Once you arrive your real outback adventure begins with authentic Billy tea and fresh damper. Get an insight into the station and learn how the working dogs muster the sheep before witnessing a real shearing demonstration. Relax with a sumptuous outback BBQ lunch before trying your hand at throwing boomerangs and cracking whips like a real stockman. Your outback adventure comes to an end with a relaxing scenic flight back to civilisation.

The Best View of Chicago Enjoy amazing panoramic views of Chicago's famous skyline, lakefront and four surrounding states.  Atop the John Hancock Center, 94 floors - 1,000 feet up, conveniently located onn Michigan Avenue. Largest observation deck in the city 17,000 square feet with floor to ceiling windows on every site.   Interactive Technology Explore Chicago through interactive screens to learn about the city's famous sites. Available in seven languages including:  English, Chinese, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, and Brazilian. 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 identify 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 Magnificent 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 not that TILT is an additional charge of $7.00 per adult, $5.00 per child.

A porthole to the past. Step aboard and journey back in time, when ancient, powerful Kings ruled the rugged and fertile land of the Hawaiian Islands. Our luxurious, three hour guided historical dinner cruise to Kealakekua Bay and Captain Cook’s monument will capture your imagination and reveal many secrets of the Big Island.Cruise 12 miles down the Kona Coast to Captain Cook’s monument while a local historian points out over 50 points of interest and historical sites. Upon arriving in Kealakekua Bay a Hawaiian style buffet dinner is served. Listen to live entertainment and watch the beautiful sunset on the way back. Includes one complimentary cocktail and cash bar thereafter. Tropical Fruit Platter Tropical Goat Cheese Spread & Crackers Main Dishes: Kalua Pulled Pork & Cabbage Coconut Porter Braised Brisket Grilled Pulehu Chicken Side Dishes: Lomi Lomi Salmon Steamed Rice Vegetable Pilaf Garden Salad Punalu’u guava and taro dinner rolls & butter Tropical Dessert Kona coffee and assorted teas All of our meals are prepared by Chef Jason Lofland, author of ‘Catch!’ The Discovery Channel’s Deadlist Catch’ Official Cookbook. A portion of all proceeds from the Historical cruise are donated to the Kona Historical Society for the preservation, restoration and education of the culture and history of the Kona Coast. Wheelchair Friendly Body Glove Cruises is wheelchair friendly. Our customized boarding ramp, with portable extensions, accommodates all wheelchairs, including manual, electric, and scooters. The lower deck of the 65 foot catamaran is fully accessible from bow to stern, including tables and restrooms. For those on our Snorkel Adventure, an array of flotation devices are provided. All captains and crew are Life Gaurd, First Aid, and CPR Certified. Dietary Needs For those requiring special dietary needs, Body Glove Cruises provides gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian requests at no extra charge with 48 hours notice.