The Grand Canyon is one of the most terrific national parks in North America. Certainly other destinations come to mind, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything more spectacular the first time you see the Canyon in all its majesty.

Most travelers have seen pictures of the Canyon before and visit with a preconceived idea of what to expect. But that image quickly gets redefined as you come to the realization of just how vast and expansive this place really is. And while your kid’s may wonder why you chose the Grand Canyon over a visit to Disneyland, that doubt leaves their head’s the second they first see the awesomeness of the mighty chasm.

While seeing the canyon after a long car ride is spectacular, it pales in comparison to the feeling you first get when you see the National Park during a Grand Canyon helicopter tour from Las Vegas. Even if you’ve seen the Canyon a dozen times before, flying above it is a totally new experience you’ll never forget.

So why take a helicopter air tour of the Grand Canyon when visiting Las Vegas, NV? You can essentially put the reasons into two categories: experience and convenience.

Frankly, as far as experience goes, I can assure you it’s something you’ve never done before. And the thrills you get are definitely something you can get by driving there. These choppers enable you to fly over the Canyon or land at the base. It needs to be noted that bottom landings are only available at the West Rim and that they depart exclusively from Las Vegas. South Rim flights are prohibited from flying beneath the edge. In most cases, these landing tours include a Champagne picnic and around 30-minutes of exploration time at the base.

More deluxe landing tours include a fabulous boat ride down the famous Colorado River. These trips are guided by experienced, soft-spoken Hualapai Indian boatmen who freely share their knowledge of the river. Another landing trip includes tickets to the Grand Canyon Skywalk. The deck of the internationally famous Glass Walk is comprised entirely of glass panels that let you walk a tantalizing 70 feet past the edge of the rim while suspending you 4,000 over the bottom. Without a doubt, these air tours - especially the ones that land - show you more of the canyon than you’ll ever see if you simply did it on foot.

Convenience comes in the fact that you don’t need to concern yourself with driving two-and-a-half hours from Vegas to see the Canyon (the last 10 or so miles are over an jarringly bumpy dirt road. If you self-drive, I urge you to lease an SUV or a vehicle with high ground clearance. Also, make sure you have a full take of gas). Instead, you can wake up in the morning in your Vegas hotel room, take a shuttle to the airport, catch a helicopter, explore the Grand Canyon and be back in town in time for an evening show on the Vegas Strip. The amount of time you’ll save getting there makes taking a chopper tour an irresistible proposition.

And just because you’re in the air doesn’t mean you’ll skip seeing some of the region’s most incredible landmarks. Routes from Vegas to the West Rim offer scenic views of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir of its kind in the U.S., the Hoover Dam, the new Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, Fortification Hill, and the roaring Colorado River.

RSVP Grand Canyon helicopter rides ahead of time. I always suggest at least a week. Avoid same-day reservations. You’ll end up paying a premium. Clearly, the best prices are on the Web. That’s where air tour operators post their best promotions. It’s not uncommon to find flights marked down nearly 35 percent. However, to be able to qualify, you must complete the whole transaction on the web. That’s not to much to ask in order to get the best price. Don’t be apprehensive about shopping on the internet. Today’s travel web sites are safe and secure. So try a heli ride - it’s going to be the experience of a lifetime.

Want to find out more about canyon air tours, then visit Ione Mahler’s site on how to choose the best Grand Canyon helicopter tour for your needs.