Las Vegas is called the Entertainment Capital of the World, and many people consider it the world's foremost tourist destination. Beyond offering the most spectacular staged shows in the world, Las Vegas is home to some of the most luxurious five star hotels and resorts, and many high class restaurants with unforgettable menus. But many people don't realize that the city is also the departure point for helicopter flights to the magnificent Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon National Park stretches out over more than a million acres of untouched wilderness, which is why it is now considered one of the biggest wonders of the world. The mighty Colorado River carved the 277-mile gash in the Earth's surface by sheer water power alone. To understand the incredible size of this park, consider that the average depth is a mile and the average width is ten miles. It's a canyon of epic proportions, and it attracts an epic five million visitors every year. It is on the list of every traveler who wants to see the seven wonders of the world, and it is a sight few will ever forget.

If you enjoy amazing scenery, you will be blown away by the views of the Canyon. You could explore parts of the Grand Canyon on foot, but if you really want to take in the beauty of this enormous natural wonder, you have to look at it from the sky. Grand Canyon helicopter flights are your key to amazing views of the entire Canyon.

Your Grand Canyon helicopter tour will begin with a free limousine or hotel shuttle that takes you to the airfield. Once you are checked into the flight, you board a comfortable plane designed for modern travelers. The best tour services are now using EcoStar 130 planes which are designed with less noise from the plane and more space for your feet; plus you can enjoy theater seating that is far more comfortable than most other planes.

Right from the beginning of your Grand Canyon helicopter flights, you will look out to spectacular views of the following: Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Grand Wash Cliffs, the Colorado River, and even some inactive volcanoes. You'll see plenty of photo opportunities, so bring several rolls of film if you're using a film camera, or freshly-charged batteries for your digital camera or smart phone. Once you are ready to fly, make sure to put on your headphones so you can communicate with the pilot and others on the plane while listening to educational information regarding the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canyon helicopter flights come in two categories. If you just want to fly out to the Grand Canyon and head right back to your hotel, you should go with the aerial tour. Personally, I think the helicopter flights that combine aerial and ground experiences (?landing tours?) are better than the strictly aerial trips. One of the most exciting landing tour is one that takes a 4,000 foot dip to land on the floor of the Grand Canyon. You can take in the floor of the Canyon and the amazing Colorado River while you recharge with a snack.

One landing tour allows you to walk on the Grand Canyon Skywalk, which is known as the ?glass bridge? because it is made entirely of glass. Over 200,000 visitors use the Glass Bridge every year to walk 70 feet out from the edge of the West Rim, over 3,500 feet above the canyon floor. No smart phones, cameras or electronic devices are allowed on the walkway.

You want to dress comfortably for this type of tour, which means dressing for the weather. Temperatures in the summer can soar well over 100 degrees, and you'll want to bring a hat, water, sunglasses and lip balm. Do not let the heat fool you: long sleeves are still advised. Winters are cold and sometimes windy, so wear a jacket and bring a windbreaker, too.

If Grand Canyon air tours sound like your type of fun, make sure to book your seats in advance for your preferred date. If you leave it to the last minute you will likely find yourself without a seat and without this amazing experience. Once you are sure you want to take the tour and know which day you would like to go, book the tickets a few days to a week ahead of schedule. Online sites will always give you the most reasonable rates. Just remember that you'll need to reserve your flight on the tour company's website in order to take advantage of the great Internet deals.