On paper, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon have very little in common. One is a shiny, modern city built over a few decades; the other, a huge, ancient chasm carved into the Earth by nature over millions of years. Las Vegas is bright, loud and electric. The Grand Canyon is deep, silent and serene. But they share two key traits: both are iconic bucket-list destinations, and both are easily experienced in a single day. That is, if you have access to a helicopter.
I was considering this sentiment after an enjoyable day of eating and sightseeing around Las Vegas, when the limousine arrived to collect me from my hotel. Maverick Helicopters has been operating its Grand Canyon trips from Sin City for 30 years, and they have the operation honed to a fine art. From hotel pickup to drop-off, the entire adventure takes just four hours.
After a quick safety briefing at the heliport (which is conveniently located next to the main airport), we’re swiftly airborne in our five-seater chopper. Hanging over Las Vegas, the afternoon sun glints off the Strip’s sleek towers before the pilot turns west and races out across the Mojave Desert.
Around five million people visit the Grand Canyon every year — but few do it with as much style or efficiency. Within minutes of take-off, we’re hovering over the splendor of the Hoover Dam and magnificent Lake Mead. Then we’re out into the deep desert where Nevada meets Arizona in a dusty embrace, flying low with our shadow racing us across the scrub.
When we reach the Grand Canyon, it catches me completely by surprise. One second our shadow is there, and the next it’s gone as the ground suddenly opens up into vast nothingness and we find ourselves flying insect-like into one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Arguably the most spectacular gorge on Earth, the Grand Canyon is more than 277 miles long, 18 miles wide and an entire mile deep. Everything about it is mind-blowing — from the exposed layers and vivid colors in its steep canyon walls to the mighty Colorado River flowing across its bottom.
We fly through this spectacular chasm for over 10 miles, wowed by the geological marvel around us and listening open-mouthed as Chris, our pilot, explains how it was slowly formed by the Colorado River over 6 million years. The Grand Canyon is so vast, he says, that it even creates its own weather, thanks to the sudden changes in elevation and their impact on temperature and precipitation.
As if to prove his point, Chris swoops the chopper down into the cooler depths, descending 3,500 feet below the rim to land on the canyon floor. Here, on a bluff overlooking the river, we’re served Champagne and canapes as we gaze up at the colossal crevasse we’ve just flown through and the sliver of blue sky above it. We learn about the Hualapai Tribe, the traditional guardians of this land, who continue to administer Grand Canyon West today.
All too soon, it’s time to rise out of the ravine to begin our 45-minute flight back. As we head west toward Sin City, “Viva Las Vegas” plays on full blast through our headsets, and Chris banks the helicopter dramatically to fly straight down the Strip before his final heliport approach. It’s a grand, neon-drenched denouement to a truly showstopping afternoon. As Chris quips over the intercom, “Not everything that happens in Vegas needs to stay in Vegas — especially when the Grand Canyon is right next door.”
Where to Stay
Perched north of the Strip, The Boulevard, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club feels more like a hideout than a traditional urban resort. Its laid-back vibe, thanks to tasteful desert deco and an elite spa, makes it great for relaxation. Desert Retreat, a Hilton Vacation Club is also a good choice for accommodation away from the bright lights, or head for Bluegreen Club 36™ if you want to be at the heart of the action.
For a home away from home in central Las Vegas, try Bluegreen Club 36TM
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Visit bluegreenowner.com or club.hiltongrandvacations.com to book now!
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