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July 4th is an important holiday in US history, and it is the perfect time to take a holiday vacation since it falls during a summer month. If you want to celebrate the nation's independence in a different way this year, you should consider touring the Grand Canyon by helicopter. Be forewarned though, the July 4th holiday is a busy time for vacationers to go to the Grand Canyon. For that reason, you should book your tour as soon as you can or the tour time and options you want may be sold out. Tours To begin your helicopter tour, you'll need to depart from Las Vegas, or from the airport in Tusayan, Arizona. The helicopters that fly out of Vegas go only to the West Rim, while the choppers that fly out of Tusayan tour the South Rim, North Rim, and eastern edge of the national park. You can still take a helicopter tour of the South Rim if you're going to stay in Vegas, but you have to fly to the South Rim by airplane first, and once you get there, you can begin your helicopter tour. Las Vegas Helicopter Tours When you take a tour out of Las Vegas, you can choose a landing tour or an air-only tour. The flight from Vegas to the West Rim doesn't take too long, and you'll get some nice scenic views such as the aerial view of the Hoover Dam. If you can, you should opt for a landing tour. One of the more popular landing tours includes a thrilling descent to the canyon floor where the chopper sets down by the Colorado River. A champagne picnic comes with the tour, and that is a fantastic way to celebrate the holiday weekend. There are other fun adventures you can add to your tour package too, such as a walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk or a raft ride along the Colorado River. Touring The Scenic South Rim While helicopters are not permitted to offer landing tours at the South Rim, they do provide some of the most scenic views of the Grand Canyon. One of the helicopter tours available is a flight that lasts a half an hour. This flight gives you amazing views of the South Rim as well as fantastic views of the remote wilderness areas of the North Rim. However, there is a second tour on offer that is even better because it is longer. The helicopter covers the same ground as the shorter tour, so you see the North and South Rims, but it also adds on a twenty-minute tour that goes over to the eastern edge of the park. This tour actually flies over 75 percent of the Grand Canyon National Park, so you definitely get your money's worth. Differences Between Deluxe And Basic Tours Grand Canyon helicopter tours come in two versions. Basic tours and the deluxe options. Bell Ranger aircraft are used on the basic Grand Canyon tours. While these choppers are fine for sightseeing tours, the deluxe tours use even better aircraft. EcoStar 130 helicopters are used on the deluxe tours, and the roomy cabins offer stadium-style seating. There are no bad views in these upgraded choppers thanks to the seating arrangement and the huge panoramic viewing window. The Vegas deluxe tours depart from The Strip, which is very convenient, especially since complimentary limousine transportation is included in your tour package. Dress For The Heat Summers are very hot at the canyon, so if you take a tour over the July 4th holiday weekend, be sure to dress appropriately so you're protected from the heat and the sun, such as wearing sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and light long sleeves. The helicopters are climate controlled, so you'll be comfortable during the flight portion of your tour. Remember to put a water bottle in your supplies too. To Conclude You don't want to miss the chance to take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon on your vacation. You won't find a more fun or more scenic tour flight anywhere else in the United States. There are a lot of tours and options to consider, so whether you depart from Vegas or Tusayan, you'll find a tour that's a perfect match for your interests and budget. Book your tour now, before they sell out, and book it online too. Booking early allows you to have the widest range of options before they sell out, and booking online allows you to get the lowest price on your tour. The Grand Canyon is beautiful, and well worth seeing at least once in your lifetime. The best way to see it is from the air on a thrilling and fun helicopter tour. Tips from the Author
Grand Canyon expert Justine M. recommends reading these insightful helicopter reviews then going next to this page for great deals on helicopter rides: http://www.grandcanyoncheap.com/helicopter-deals.html
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