Hoover Dam - Take A Helicopter Tour And See It All

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If you come out West, put the Hoover Dam on your list of things to do. Seeing it on foot is profound. But if you really want to be amazed, see it from above in a helicopter.

Helicopters depart from either Las Vegas or Boulder City, NV, both of which get you to the dam in 20 minutes. Once there, you'll enter Black Canyon and see the dam in all its magnificence. To help you put the dam into perspective, here are some facts:

1. The dam is more than 725 feet high

2. It's 660 feet thick at the base

3. It's 1,244 feet long

4. Cost $736 million dollars (adjusted for inflation).

5. It single-handedly created Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the U.S.

6. Generates 4.2 billion kilowatts-hours of hydro-electricity a year

The other great bonus is the new $240 million Hoover Dam bypass bridge, officially known as the Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. This structure, which rises 840 feet above the Colorado River, is located just south of the dam and opened to the public in October 2010.

You'll be flying aboard an EcoStar 130, a state-of-art aircraft that's been designed from nose to tail for sightseeing, and includes such features as wraparound windshields, quiet-ride Fenestron rotor technology, a two-way digital communication system, stadium-style seating and a cabin that's 25% larger than that of conventional helicopters.

The basic Hoover Dam helicopter tour lasts three hours from start to finish and includes free hotel shuttle service. The average price starts at around $99 per person. I highly recommend booking online if you want the absolute best price. Papillon Helicopters, for example, discounts the trip $25 if you use their website.

For many folks, seeing Hoover Dam en route to the Grand Canyon is a great option. Booking a Grand Canyon West Rim helicopter tour does this. This rim is 25 minutes from the Dam and is popular with travelers because:

1. It's the only place where you can land on the bottom of the canyon. The 4,000-foot descent is one of the most amazing things you can do in this lifetime. River rafting is this trip's popular upgrade.

2. It's home to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a glass bridge that extends 70 feet past the edge and suspends you 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. If you want to defy gravity, this is your chance.

West Rim tour start at $230 per person and include free hotel pick up and drop off.

Wrap Up

Hoover Dam is one of those things that needs to be seen to be believed. And for the best results, I suggest you take a Hoover Dam helicopter tour. These aircraft, which fly at a lower altitude than airplanes, give you the bird's eye view and hammer home just how powerful and important the dam is to the West. Your other choice is to book a Grand Canyon West helicopter trip, which will fly you right above Hoover Dam on your way to the canyon. Whatever you decide, book it online - this is where the lowest prices are.

About the Author:
Hoover Dam helicopter tours? Travel writer Keith Kravitz recommends these tours: http://www.grandcanyondaytrips.com/hoover-dam-tours



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


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