What happens in Vegas doesn’t need to stay in Vegas – it can fly over the Grand Canyon!
Vegas is a decidedly different experience with kids in tow, but there are some pretty cool adventures you can have with the family, proving that not every trip to Vegas has to end in with alcohol poisoning, remorse and financial regret!
As a high school freshman survival present, Kaya and I decided to go with our friends Jennifer and Paige to Vegas for 2 days, and surprise them with a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim.
I am embarrassed to say that I was born and raised in Southern California and had never been to the Grand Canyon! We chose Sundance Helicopters of Vegas for the excursion. The package included a limousine pick up from our hotel in the morning that delivered us to their helicopter terminal at the nearby Vegas airport.
The kids had been bugging us for clues weeks before as to what the adventure would be, and neither of them had flown in a helicopter before, so it was worth its weight in gold to see how psyched and excited they were when we jumped out of the limousine and discovered the surprise!
Our pilot John was funny and knowledgeable and kept us entertained the whole time. We flew over Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam, an unbelievable feat of engineering and equally awesome from the air. From there, it was about a half hour as the crow flies (or helicopter), over the western part of the Canyon and to our landing spot at the Skywalk at Eaglepoint, Grand Canyon West.
The SkyWalk, managed by the Hualapai Indian Tribe and located on their tribal lands, is a horseshoe shaped steel frame with a glass floor and sides that projects out 70 feet from the canyons rim. Spectacular views stretch for hundreds of miles in every direction! It’s hard to believe it’s real! One of those moments when you’re truly in awe of God’s creation.
And the thrilling, perspective altering walk over the glass flooring of the rim is equal parts freaky and amazing!
We spent about 45 minutes at the west rim and SkyWalk and then jumped back in our helicopter for the ride back to Vegas ending with a fantastic aerial fly by of the Vegas Strip.
The whole trip lasted about three hours, and was worth every penny! When traveling with teens it can be tough to keep them engaged, entertained, excited, and.. if you’re lucky, off their phones for a brief moment in time. This adventure accomplished it all!
Okay, not gonna lie, they were still on their phones, but only to capture the heavenly views!
Looking for more of Eva’s travels? Be sure to check out her three days in Paris starting with day 1!
