Going to Las Vegas, is it worth it to see the grand canyon?

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
Do a helicopter tour instead. They're more fun!

Until they crash....

 

[blurredvision]

buck,

Here is a link to that sunset pic I promised via PM:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/blurredvision/sunsetbeforeafter.jpg

This has been on bbzzdd for a while, and the reasoning for the before/after is because I didn't lock my exposure between pictures to make the pan (yes, an idiotic mistake). So this is the result of my fudging with the picture, then posting the before/after in a thread I started to ask for help here.

Nonetheless, that pan was taken on the side of I-40 somewhere between Kingman and Williams.

 

[Descartes]

I went to the Grand Canyon about a month or so ago. I had a great time. We ended up taking a helicopter tour instead of trying to drive it ourselves. It was easier for planning; they picked us up at the hotel, took us to a little airport, flew us to the Grand Canyon on a plane and then took us around the rim by copter. Great time, although I felt a bit guilty for disturbing the peace.

In short, I'd definitely recommend it. A few pics for you:

A shot of the Colorado from the helicopter
A shot from Guano Point
Another shot from Guano Point
My fiance and I hanging over the edge and looking down about 4000'

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: Descartes
My fiance and I hanging over the edge and looking down about 4000'

That's a lot closer to the edge than i've ever been, and on what appears to be uneven ground at that. You two got some guts...or a deathwish.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: pyonir

Originally posted by: Descartes
My fiance and I hanging over the edge and looking down about 4000'

That's a lot closer to the edge than i've ever been, and on what appears to be uneven ground at that. You two got some guts...or a deathwish.

Holy crap my butt just puckered up.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: pyonir
If you are one of those people that are going to bitch about paying $25 to see "a hole in the ground" then don't waste your time. If you can appreciate the awesomeness (and i mean that as in awe inspiring) of the entire area...then by all means go. I've been there like 4 times now (live in Phoenix) and i LOVE it every time...it's the best taking someone that has never seen it before..because they just stand there in awe.

I've never done the hiking thing...and really should though.

Im one of those guys that blew off a a day of snowboarding to spend more time at the Badlands. I am pretty excited as well as the little lady.

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
buck,

Here is a link to that sunset pic I promised via PM:

http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/blurredvision/sunsetbeforeafter.jpg

This has been on bbzzdd for a while, and the reasoning for the before/after is because I didn't lock my exposure between pictures to make the pan (yes, an idiotic mistake). So this is the result of my fudging with the picture, then posting the before/after in a thread I started to ask for help here.

Nonetheless, that pan was taken on the side of I-40 somewhere between Kingman and Williams.

Damn that is nice!

 

[Raincity]

Going to the North Rim is a much better experience. It?s a seven hour drive out of Vegas. If you plan to stay the night the nearest accommodations is in Kanab UT.

 

[rockyct]

Yes, it is definitely worth it. We spent two nights there and there was plenty to see.

I also had a good time at the Hoover Dam, but I'm an electrical engineer, so it's a Mecca of sorts. My favorite souvenir from the trip was a $3 pencil holder that was a piece of the original cooper transmission cable (it's hollow inside because there would be higher power lost with a solid cable).

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: buck

Originally posted by: pyonir
If you are one of those people that are going to bitch about paying $25 to see "a hole in the ground" then don't waste your time. If you can appreciate the awesomeness (and i mean that as in awe inspiring) of the entire area...then by all means go. I've been there like 4 times now (live in Phoenix) and i LOVE it every time...it's the best taking someone that has never seen it before..because they just stand there in awe.

I've never done the hiking thing...and really should though.

Im one of those guys that blew off a a day of snowboarding to spend more time at the Badlands. I am pretty excited as well as the little lady.

Awesome...i predict you are going to LOVE it then.

 

[biggestmuff]

Get to da choppa!

Seriously, take a chopper tour.

The wife and I did a very nice, long tour. Half way through we landed in the canyon and had a champagne brunch, then a little more sightseeing before RTB.

 

[chusteczka]

I definitely recommend an early morning visit to the canyon.

A few years ago, I left Las Vegas at midnight and arrived at the southern rim of the Grand Canyon at 5:30AM. At this time in the early morning, we saw puddles of rainwater, cactus flowers, a large condor flying over the canyon, and the air was fresh. By noon, the southern rim was crowded with visitors, the sun was strong, the air was dry, and the cactus flowers had disappeared.

If I remember correctly, at the west end of the tourist section of the southern rim, there is a gently sloping trail that can easily be walked down to the river at the bottom of the canyon. I believe this site was used as a wagon trail for tourists in the past.

Originally posted by: EagleKeeper
You have PM from a local.

Other locals
MaverickBP
So (native - UNR)

I am interested in what a local has to say to OP's scenario.

 

[Raincity]

Originally posted by: biggestmuff
Get to da choppa!

Seriously, take a chopper tour.

The wife and I did a very nice, long tour. Half way through we landed in the canyon and had a champagne brunch, then a little more sightseeing before RTB.

Those Helicopter tours out of Vegas and Boulder City only fly to the Grand Canyon basin southwest of the National park boundaries and land on the Hualapai reservation for refreshments.

 

[Synomenon]

If you could go really early, it would be nice. Sunrise at the GC is just beautiful. A couple of buddies and I went last weekend and we took the Bright Angel Trail on the south rim. It's only around 12 miles round trip so it should take less than a day with a couple of stops along the way down and on the way up AND with lunch down at Phantom Ranch.

 

[Shawn]

Hell ya. I drove to the Grand Canyon last time I went to Vegas and it was awesome.

 

[krunchykrome]

If you've never seen the grand canyon, it is something to see....once in your life. I was in Vegas a month ago. We didnt rent a car. You really don't need one out there; you just walk or take the bus. I mean, everything is on the strip.

I have been to Vegas four times already, and I've seen the canyon twice. The two times that I did see it, I was with my family and we rented a car and drove out there. It's a long a$$ drive and it wastes an entire day.

I would say forget about renting a car, and save that money for something else. Look into the helicopter tours of the canyon.

 

[jatwell]

Why rent a car for one day only?? I've never really understood this about people and Vegas. It costs at least $25 for a taxi to/from the airport (I guess you can wait around for a hotel shuttle). All the big casino's let you park for free. If you ever want to explore something off the strip (downtown, etc) you can do so at your leisure.

Vegas has to be the cheapest place to rent a car in the whole country. It's like $20-30 a day WITH taxes and everything for a car. ($15-$25 + taxes)

Helicoptor tours to the GC are around $500 a person...

 

[IeraseU]

Originally posted by: jatwell

Helicoptor tours to the GC are around $500 a person...

$500 a person??? Wow, last time I went they were $200 to $250, or is this like some really deluxe helicopter ?


Edit: And go see the Grand Canyon, you will not consider it a waste of a day, no matter how early you wake or how tired you are when you get back.

 

[pradeep1]

For me, seeing the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon was more valuable than the cheesy-ness of Las Vegas.

http://img319.imageshack.us/im...931/img0952mod1bo8.jpg

But then again, I am a photography person.

 

[Xstatic1]

YES, the grand canyon is worth the drive. vegas + grand canyon = good times!!!

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

Holy mother of god, that picture totally blew me away! I'm a sucker for mother nature's formations. Cave's are awesome as well.

I regret not going out there when I was in Vegas a month ago.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: pradeep1
For me, seeing the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon was more valuable than the cheesy-ness of Las Vegas.

http://img319.imageshack.us/im...931/img0952mod1bo8.jpg

But then again, I am a photography person.

wow that is stunning! got a larger version?

 

[ballmode]

Go for it, better than losing money at the casinos

 

[Hubes]

I took a helicopter ride when i was just in vegas 3 months ago. It was well worth the 350 i spent for that. Just amazing views, of the hoover dam and grand canyon. Not to mention a fly by of the strip. Would defently advise seeing it. Dont know about the car thing, the helicopter only took 4 hours out of out day.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: pradeep1
For me, seeing the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon was more valuable than the cheesy-ness of Las Vegas.

http://img319.imageshack.us/im...931/img0952mod1bo8.jpg

But then again, I am a photography person.

Excellent photo; right down to the vishnu schist!

:thumbsup: