Forestal Park

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.

Your helicopter flight experience begins with a greeting and check-in from friendly operations staff, followed by a thorough safety briefing in the comfort of the modern and spacious guest lounge. After the safety briefing, we will head out to the helicopter and use your own camera for some photos in front of your helicopter before boarding. Cameras and video recorders can be taken with you on the helicopter for more fantastic memories of your flight over picturesque Sydney Harbour and beyond. Upon take-off enjoy full panoramic views of the Sydney skyline, Pacific Ocean and the historic port of Botany Bay. Within minutes of departure your experienced and skilled pilot will have you above the glistening waters of Maroubra Beach and tracking north along the coast at 500 feet. You will contour fly the picturesque coastline of the Eastern Suburbs beaches including Coogee, Clovelly and also the world famous Bondi Beach, the aquamarine waters sparkling against the Sydney sun. Admire the spectacular houses of Dover Heights and Vaucluse perched on the chiselled sandstone cliffs as you continue northbound to Sydney Heads. From the entrance to Sydney Harbour your flight path will continue north passing the golden sands of Manly and Dee Why Beaches past Longreef and onto Palm Beach; the northern most point of Sydney. From Palm Beach you will then track inland following the tranquil waters of the Hawkesbury River all the way to the Brooklyn Bridge. The scenery in the North West of Sydney is stunning. To the west you will see the foothills of the breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage listed Blue Mountains National Park, to the east the Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, and to the south the Sydney Olympic park, the home of the 2000 Olympic Games. From the Sydney Olympic site your pilot will then follow the Parramatta River at 500ft passing ferries and yachts on the way to the spectacular Sydney Harbour. Flying low over the southern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it is so close you can almost touch it, before climbing up over the white sails of the Sydney Harbour Opera House and historic Fort Denison. Take in the aerial views of the ever changing Sydney Harbour as you make for the heliport you will fly past some of Sydney’s great sporting arenas including the Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground, as well as Randwick Racecourse. Throughout the flight your pilot will be providing you with informative commentary via Bose voice activated headsets, you will also be able to talk with the pilot and your other passengers whilst on the helicopter.

Our tours offer you the company of a knowledgeable English-speaking monitor, a comfortable and easy to ride bike, useful tips and advices about what to do and see while in Madrid and a fun and informative outdoor experience. You’ll finish our tour with the feeling that you’ve seen the sights and gotten to know a bit about Madrid, while having a fun, entertaining and social experience in the process. Get to know the “must see” places and also spots away from the typical paths in a short time and a relaxed way. We ride to the most important sights of Madrid: Templo de Debod, Royal Theatre, Royal Palace, Almudena Cathedral, Plaza de la Paja, Town Square, Plaza Mayor (Main Square), Puerta del Sol, St. Ann´s Square, Paseo del Prado, Prado Museum, Retiro Park, Alcala Gate and Cibeles Square. Our monitors will introduce you to the heart of Madrid and we will ride mainly on cycling paths, pedestrian zones and parks. Of course we will make stops to take some photos and to have a drink. You’ll finish our tour with the feeling that you’ve seen the sights and gotten to know a bit about Madrid, while having a fun, entertaining and social experience in the process. JUST DO IT! You will never forget this great experience.

National World War II Museum This museum is ranked by Trip Adviser as the #1 Attraction in New Orleans, placed #2 in America and the World. The National WWII Museum features a multitude of artifacts that portray America's WWII past. Explore the American experience in the war that changed the world. From D-Day galleries to the soaring US Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center to the groundbreaking Campaigns of Courage, this world-renowned history museum was created to inspire visitors of all ages educating them on the heroism, tragedy and liberation of WWII. Come experience these unique and amazing Exhibits:
The Arsenal Of Democracy - Telling the story of how the war was won is at the heart of The National WWII Museum’s mission, and The Arsenal of Democracy: The Herman and George R. Brown Salute to the Home Front—the Museum's newest permanent exhibit, located on the second level of the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion, the Museum’s original building—literally brings that story home.
Road To Tokyo - Richard C. Adkerson & Freeport-McMoRan Foundation Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theater Galleries retraces the grueling trail that led from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay by way of New Guinea and Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, Burma, the islands of the Pacific, China, India, and Alaska.
Road To Berlin -The Duchossois Family Road to Berlin: European Theater Galleries brings to life the drama, sacrifices, personal stories, and strategies of America’s campaign to defeat the Axis powers and preserve freedom.
Beyond All Boundaries - Beyond All Boundaries, showing exclusively in The National WWII Museum’s Solomon Victory Theater, is a 4D journey through the war that changed the world.-Not included with ticket
The D-Day Invasion Of Normandy - The Museum's original exhibit, located on the third floor of Louisiana Memorial Pavilion, helps you understand what the Allies faced in Normandy, from the comprehensive preparations beforehand to the daunting challenges once troops landed on Normandy beaches.
US Merchant Marine Gallery - Situated at the end of the Horatio Alger Association American Spirit Bridge, this gallery honors the civilian merchant mariners who risked their lives transporting weapons, men, and material to US troops overseas.
Final Mission: USS Tang Submarine Experience - places visitors aboard the most successful submarine in World War II for its fifth and final war patrol on October 25, 1944.-Not included with ticket
Manufacturing Victory - Follow the industrial journey that took the United States from a nation perilously unprepared for war to a global superpower that led the Allies to victory in World War II.
Special Exhibit Gallery - The Joe W. and Dorothy D. Brown Foundation Special Exhibit Gallery features rotating exhibits that draw on the Museum’s own collections, as well as relevant traveling exhibits from leading institutions around the world.
MARDI GRAS WORLD: WHERE MARDI GRAS IS MADE! There are plenty of tours in New Orleans, but only one offers a real, behind-the-scenes look at New Orleans Mardi Gras, and that’s the Mardi Gras World tour. Mardi Gras World gives you an authentic Mardi Gras experience all year round, whether you visit while sightseeing in New Orleans, enjoying a New Orleans family vacation or taking a break from your business trip. Take our day tour to see what it takes to bring Mardi Gras to life year after year. Our tour allows you to see firsthand the hard work and extensive planning that goes into this grand event. Since 1947, Blaine Kern Studios has built the breathtaking parade floats for major parades not only for Mardi Gras, but for parades all over the world. Mardi Gras parades would be nothing without the fantastical floats that line the parade route year after year. The hard work that goes into making these spectacles is what makes Mardi Gras in New Orleans the greatest show on Earth! Our knowledgeable guides take the mask off Mardi Gras with an all-access Mardi Gras tour, winding through the massive studio where these magnificent floats are built from the ground up. You’ll learn about the history of this unique and festive tradition and go beyond its reputation to get a deeper understanding of the real Mardi Gras. The whole family will love the experience of touring the space where our artisans create spectacular floats for over 40 parades each year. There are plenty of opportunities for photos in front of floats, with props, or wearing a traditional Mardi Gras costume on this New Orleans tour. This is an experience you will want to document, so don’t forget to bring your camera! A FREE shuttle is provided with ticket purchase, and has pick-ups at 20 convenient downtown locations. Just call 504-361-7821 to see where our designated pick up locations are. Call when you are at one of our many locations and we will quickly pick you and your party up. If you do not wish to use our complimentary shuttle, the closest parking is available in Lot J across from the Mardi Gras World entrance. ($15.00/vehicle, owned by the New Orleans Convention Center, subject to change) Wandering through the magical float den is an exciting experience for kids and adults alike, so come join us for the best Mardi Gras tour around.

City Sightseeing Melbourne With so much to do in Melbourne, you can tailor the tour to suit your preferences so you can cuddle a Koala at Melbourne Zoo in the morning, enjoy an Italian feast on Lygon Street at lunchtime, then enjoy the sunset at St Kilda Beach before heading to a concert at the Arts Centre Precinct.  This tour of Melbourne operates all year round so you can be guaranteed of a great time whenever you visit.

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.