Sightseeing at the Grand Canyon in Las Vegas
By Cicely A. Richard
Las Vegas has about 50 golf courses near the strip or in the surrounding areas. The Vegas Strip also has various attractions for adults and children, including live performances and amusement parks. You can take a day trip and visit the more than 10 million-year-old Grand Canyon, about 180 miles from the city. Tour companies in Las Vegas provide sightseeing trips to the Grand Canyon, with many providing transportation to the canyon and nearby attractions.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk in Las Vegas and feel as if you are walking on air. Completed in 2007, the Skywalk sits 4,000 feet above the Colorado River and can withstand more than 71 million pounds and sustains natural forces like wind, heat and cold because of the 2-inch-thick steel frame. The 46 panes that form the walkway use five layers of secured glass, but the thickness does not obstruct your view of the Grand Canyon. The Skywalk's website says about 1 million people have visited this site since its construction. Take pictures of the Grand Canyon. Eat at the Skywalk Café that serves sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers.
Grand Canyon Skywalk
5720 S. Arville, Suite 102
Las Vegas, NV 89118
(702) 220-8372
grandcanyonskywalk.com
Fly above in a helicopter or airplane ride to the Grand Canyon. Licensed pilots take you deep in the interior of the canyon. Packages and length of flights vary depending on what you want to see on your tour. You can include flights over the Las Vegas Strip, the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, the Hualapai Indian Reservation and other sites in the Southwest. Helicopter tours provide packages for couples who want to combine sightseeing with their wedding day and get married in the Grand Canyon. Prices vary according to what sightseeing air package you choose.
All Las Vegas Tours
(702) 233-1627
alllasvegastours.com
Depart from Las Vegas on a bus tour of the Grand Canyon. Bus tours take you to the canyon and surrounding sites. Gray Line Las Vegas offers differing bus tour options, such as the Grand Canyon West Rim Tour. The tour runs about 12 hours in length and takes place almost every day of the year. Air conditioned buses provide comfort until you reach your destination. Take pictures of the canyon cliffs and enjoy a barbecue lunch. The bus tour takes you to Hoover Dam and the 900-year-old Joshua Tree Forest. The tour includes a trip to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. Gray Line recommends the South Rim Tour for people in wheelchairs. These tours cater to individuals and families.
Gray Line Las Vegas
795 E. Tropicana
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(702) 384-1234
(800) 634-6579
graylinelasvegas.com
About The Author
Based in Tucson, Ariz., Cicely A. Richard has been writing since 1996. Her articles have been published in the “Arizona Daily Star” newspaper and “ForeWord Magazine.” Richard earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and journalism from Louisiana State University.
