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Canadian
Travel Press
November
1999 |
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Visitor Demand for Bird's-Eye View
of Vegas has Heli-Tours Flying High
Canadian Travel Press -
CANADA
A dramatic demonstration of
what is breathtaking and grand...
In a few short hours, the helicopter tour from busy McCarran Airport
in Las Vegas to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona provides a
dramatic demonstration of what is breathtaking and grand in both the
man-made sense and in the natural world. That this can be
accomplished in such a brief time is maybe the most impressive
aspect of a helitour with Heli-USA.
The A-Star executive jet helicopter that carries up to six
passengers is one of seven choppers in the Heli-USA fleet that ply
the skies above Las Vegas and onward to Arizona. After it rises from
the tarmac at McCarran, it quickly skims over the urban sprawl of
Vegas and is almost immediately above the harshly beautiful
landscape of the Nevada desert.
The first demonstration of man-made might is the appearance of Lake
Mead, which, as the pilot explains, is a 180-km stretch of fresh
water created by daming the Colorado River as it emerges from the
Grand Canyon. It swallowed vast tracts of desert in 1935, when the
massive Hoover Dam put a hold on the mighty Colorado, and the lake
serves a dual purpose as a fresh water reservoir source for Vegas
and as a recreational playground for boaters.
The giant wall of concrete responsible for creating Lake Mead
follows soon after on the tour path to the canyon, and it is
indeed an awesome sight. The Hoover Dam rises some 220 metres
between steep walls of rock, and was called an "engineering triumph"
by then-president Roosevelt after five yeard of work to restrain the
river. A flypast in the chopper leaves no doubt as to this claim.
But nothing can really compare to the sheer rock plunge to the
Colorado River that defines the Grand Canyon The chasm opens up
unexpectedly, but for the pilot’s promptings to prepare your camera,
and the vast expanse of natural architecture is impossible to grasp
in one flypast. This is even more of a challenge as the Heli USA
chopper starts a fast descent parallel to the walls of the canyon,
which rise over 1,000 metres. When the helicopter finally settles
onto the banks besides the muddy river, the excitement of the trip
is immediately replaced by the tranquil stillness of this magical
place. The visit is over far too soon.
The Pegasus Grand Canyon tour, including a champagne lunch by the
river, is the most popular tour at Heli USA, and sells for US$299.
The Grand Canyon Voyage package includes river rafting on the
Colorado River, and sells for US$369.
The company also offers a variety of Las Vegas night tours, such
as the Apollo Night Tour tour over the city lights (US$65) and the
Aphrodite Dinner Tour (US$149). Call 1-800-359-8727.
>> Back to top of page
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Lihue, Kauai, HI
Kauai Deluxe Kamaaina
Helicopter Tour
Honolulu, Oahu, HI
Honolulu City Lights
Helicopter Tour
City Lights
Helicopter Tour
and Sunset Dinner Cruise
Oahu
Grand Circle Island
Helicopter Tour
Oahu Highlights
Helicopter Tour
Oahu Deluxe Island
Helicopter Tour
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