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While in Las Vegas, don't miss the Grand Canyon just because of the distance. The canyon is 270 miles from Vegas, but if you take a plane tour, you will get there quickly. Plus, when you go by plane, you won't waste time driving that you could spend exploring the canyon instead.

Flights Everyday

You have your choice of three daily flights to the Grand Canyon. Your time in the air isn't wasted as you'll see plenty of interesting sights such as an aerial view of Lake Mead. You'll also get a unique view of the Hoover Dam as it towers 725 feet above the Colorado River. Your plane will head to the Grand Canyon National Park in Tusayan, Arizona and you'll get glimpses of the canyon along the way. For the best views from the plane, try to get a seat on the left side.

There are different options to choose from. The most affordable option is the basic tour with a bus tour inside the National Park that lasts two and a half hours. This tour hits main spots but isn't as convenient as the Jeep tour.

The Jeep tour lasts about 2 1/2 hours too and takes you on a 4x4 expedition. You'll see more on the Jeep tour and the Jeep makes it easier to get around.

When it comes to touring the South Rim by air, a good choice is the helicopter tour that takes you to the North Rim and back. This tour goes over the Dragoon Corridor, which is the widest and deepest part of the canyon. You'll have to pay a little more to fly by chopper and combine it with a land tour, but the expense is worth it. You will see more of the canyon in the air and get a bus tour that goes into the National Park.

Sightseeing Planes

A tour airplane can offer luxury and comfort in two different styles. The de-Havilland Twin Otter or the Beechcraft 1900D planes are more commonly used. There are both good for sightseeing, so pick the one that suits you.

The de-Havilland Twin Otter is perfect for sightseeing with customized wings on top of the plane and large windows. The seats are nice and roomy, but some of them are not window seats because one side of the plane has a double row of seats while the other side has a single row. There is a recorded flight narrative you can listen to in your choice of 10 languages including Chinese, Japanese, French, and German.

The Beechcraft airplane looks more like a traditional jet and it has wings positioned in the middle of the plane. This plane also has comfortable seating and as an added bones, every seat is a window seat. You'll have to pay more for a Beechcraft tour, but you'll be guaranteed a window seat, so its worth it.

All fees associated with the tour is included in the price. That means the surcharges, taxes, entry tickets, and other fees are included in the price of your tour package. Round trip transport to Vegas hotels is part of packages as well as expertly trained pilots who double as your guide and host. You'll get everything you need in one package for one price.

Luxury Awaits You

An air tour is the best way to see the Grand Canyon. You'll tour in comfort, hit all the important landmarks, and save a whole lot of time over driving to the canyon. If you drive to the South Rim from Vegas, it will take about 11 hours round trip, while it only takes about an hour to fly there. Book these trips on the internet now while there are still some available.

A Grand Canyon helicopter is a fun way to spend a weekend vacation. Since Labor Day is nearly here, it's the perfect time to start planning a weekend in Vegas and a canyon tour.

The great thing about taking an air tour from Las Vegas, is that you can choose from landing and air only tours. Since the tours all fly along the same route on the way to the canyon, you'll get to see the impressive Hoover Dam and Lake Mead on both types of tours. Of course you will end up at the highlight of the journey, the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon itself. While the air-only tours circle the canyon and head back to Vegas, the landing tours stop at the canyon so you can get out and explore the area.

Landing Tour Options

There's one Grand Canyon helicopter tour that I recommend above all others, and that is the deluxe landing tour that leaves from the Las Vegas Strip. Deluxe tours offer extra in that you will receive a limousine shuttle to and from your hotel, and you will fly in the state-of-the-art EcoStar 130 helicopter. You can take one of these tours on a chopper that flies down to the canyon floor so you can get out near the banks of the Colorado River.

As a nice touch, this tour comes with a champagne picnic, and you can even take a boat tour along the Colorado River if you like.

South Rim Tours

If you're closer to Arizona, or even if you just want to experience the more remote areas of the canyon, then you could try an air tour from Tusayan. You can drive to the helicopter tour starting point in Tusayan from any location in Arizona, or you can fly there from Vegas in about an hour.

You get to choose from the least expensive half hour air tour of the South Rim, or the longer tour that lasts nearly an hour, which is highly recommended. The longer tour takes you from the South Rim to the remote wilderness of the North Rim and on over to the eastern edge of the Grand Canyon National Park. It is the most comprehensive air tour available and lets you see a great deal of beautiful scenery and landmarks.

Helicopters can't land inside the canyon at the South Rim, but you can still take a fun 4x4 tour of the park. For instance, you can book a tour package that includes a 40-minute air tour and a 2 1/2 hour ground tour. Seeing the canyon from the ground is a thrilling experience too, especially when you combine it with an air tour.

Deluxe Tours

If you do choose a deluxe tour, you will be treated to the best sightseeing helicopters that are available at the Grand Canyon. The EcoStars have more room inside the cabins and they are extremely comfortable to ride in, plus they have huge wraparound viewing windows for panoramic sightseeing. The choppers deliver a smooth ride and are nice and quiet inside the cabin. If you can get a deluxe tour ticket, then you shouldn't even think twice.

Grand Canyon Labor Day Tours

September 5-7 is Labor Day weekend, and it's the last three-day weekend of the year and a wrap up to the summer vacation season. This makes it one of the busiest times of the year for Grand Canyon helicopter tours. If you're planning to fly on Labor Day, then I recommend that you book early. Book now so you don't forget, but try not to put if off past August 24. Booking early is the only way to be sure you'll get seats on the tour you want. Book online to confirm you seats and make a significant saving in booking fees, too.

Make This The Best Labor Day Yet

A helicopter tour is the best way to see the Grand Canyon, and it is a thrilling experience too. And since you can upgrade your flight to include a landing excursion, you can customize the adventure of a lifetime you're sure to enjoy.

Remember to book your air tour early, and to book online. The Grand Canyon is a place like no other. You'll appreciate its grandeur much more if you see it from a helicopter tour you book out of Tusayan or Las Vegas.

Aside from being China’s Capital city, Beijing is also the heart of Chinese Culture. No doubt, this is what makes this city such a magnet for tourists, both international, and those from local Cities like Hong Kong. From dizzying skyscrapersto historically revered monuments like the Great Wall of China, you can never run out of things to see here. 

So,if you’re toying with the idea of flying from Hong Kong to Beijing, here’s a of top five fun activities you must fit into your schedule! And again, you might want to book that flight from here as well;

https://www.cathaypacific.com/destinations/en_HK/flights-from-hong-kong-to-beijing

1. ‘Trespass’ into the Forbidden City

As soon as your flight touches down in Beijing, the Forbidden City ought to be your first stop. The well-preserved Chinese palace hems in treasures that will steal your heart at first sight. Once a home to Chinese powerful emperors, its massive complex attracts millions of visitors annually. We can accredit this to the fully immersive Chinese architecture, and hands down, the glorious tales of the emperors’ personal lives. 

You’ll also get to understand what inspired the name, “Forbidden City” and why it isn’t forbidden anymore. 

2. Mingle with Locals at The Temple of Heaven.

Are you curious about the Chinese’ mystical religious heritage? Everyone is. The temple of Heaven, widely known as the altar from where 22 Chinese emperors (of Ming and Qing dynasties) worshipped the heavens, is a great starting point.

Fun fact: This is the only ancient Chinese City built away from the axis of Beijing. Also, Its size eclipses that of the Forbidden city, by up to four times! 

If you’d love a peek into the Beijing Locals’ outdoor morning rituals (including exercises and playing chess), you should have booked your flight by now. 

3. Enjoy the Spectacular Views of The Great Wall of China.

If you’ve set foot into a History class, you’re certainly familiar with the Great Wall of China. Once built to protect the Chinese people from the Mongolian invaders, it has found its way to the heart of many tourists around the world. This wall holds rich historical value as the longest wall in history, and as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Besides that, it offers an aesthetic night view that is to die for.

Granted, you won’t be the only visitor taking selfies and snapping every little thing in the Badaling and Mutianyu sections.  Buckle up for fun, adventure, lofty views, and everything camping!

4. Enjoy the Summer Palace.

The summer palace is another fun place you can’t afford to miss in Beijing. Hailed as the most preserved imperial garden in the world, it expresses Chinese garden design brilliantly. Rarely will you come across plants, hills, architecture, and lakes co-existing as peacefully as they do here. 

Of course, summer is the best time to soak in all the goodness of this place. If you have some fancy, walking shoes at your disposal, this is the place to show them off. The visit here involves a modest amount of walking and boat rides. Also, when you eventually fly from Hong Kong to Beijingmake sure you visit the Summer palace’ Kunming lake, Longevity lake, and the Opera recital area.

5. Cruise local lakes and visit local parks. 

If you loved the immaculate parks in Hong-Kong, Beijing is no different. The city sheathes parks from where you can reconnect with nature and take a breather from the bustling city life. Particularly, Chaoyang and Beihai parks are a favorite among many.

 A snow park during winterand water back during summer, Chaoyang blends into all seasons. Additionally, there’s a ton of activities to immerse yourself into while at Chaoyang park. You could huddle up with other travellers and hop onto the grand party bike or rent a boat and enjoy a fun cruise.

Talking about cruising, we have three man-made lakes at the heart of Beijing for this purpose. All three are collectively referred to as Shichahai. Get to enjoy a leisurely ride around the lakes while sipping sweet beers and snacking on Chinese delicacies. 

Those are out top picks for the 5 fun activities and places to visit in Beijing. Book your flight to Beijing tickets at affordable prices today and get to immerse yourself in all these fun activities! 

High school bands, orchestras, ensembles, choirs and other student performance groups generally tour cities where they may perform in a public venue. When arranging a band trip, I often recommend specific cities where musicians are encouraged to perform in some of the most visible public venues. Performance groups often travel to: New York City, Washington D.C., Orlando when traveling on the East Coast of the United States. Philadelphia and Atlanta are also popular choices for performing groups, however this piece will not offer an overview of these two cities.

I have selected the most current and popular performance venues in these cities. Adjudicated performance dates and parades for marching bands in these selected locations are also noted. Working with a student travel company with experience in performance is a must for a successful trip. Whatever need a performance group may have may be planned and adjusted by a professional. Band, orchestra and choir leaders can focus on preparing the group for performance through rehearsals, while the educational travel expert takes care of all of the necessary details for the trip.

New York City
Since many performing artists aspire to work on Broadway or in television or film, New York City is a premiere destination for student groups. Some of the most highly respected performance venues are located in New York City and available for booking public performances: the Statue of Liberty, the United Nations building and Lincoln Center are all popular choices for bands, orchestras and ensembles. Choir directors may also select The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. For performance groups that require adjudication (formal judging) the season for this type of festival runs from March 12-June 4.

Washington D.C.
Band trips headed to Washington D.C. will find a plethora of choices for performance venues. These include: The White House Ellipse, the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Union Station, the U.S. Navy Memorial, the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall. For more information about adjudicated festivals in Washington D.C. contact a student travel company experienced in performance booking. For bandleaders interested in participating in parades in Washington D.C., consider the National Cherry Blossom Festival or the Saint Patricks Day Parade. Both occur in early spring a great time to travel to Washington D.C.

Orlando
Orlando, Florida is an excellent destination for a student performance group. Universal Studios Florida provides the Star Performance Program for concert bands, marching bands, show choirs, dance teams and other performance groups. Student groups may perform at one of the five themed islands at Universal Islands of Adventure.

In Disney World, student bands, choirs, orchestras and ensembles as well as dance troupes have a variety of choices, too. Here they may play publicly at: Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT Center, the Disney-Hollywood Studios Theme Park and the Disney Village Marketplace.

For marching bands, Disney provides several different parades in their parks. Band trips can join the parade at Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot Center and Disney-Hollywood Studios Theme Park. Marching bands may also end up on stage after a parade for a stand-up concert.

For band leaders, choir leaders and music teachers, having the band perform to a new public audience is a large part of the reason for traveling. Students are introduced to new cities and travel experiences with fellow musicians. They rehearse more vigorously for these performances, and learn to set-up and break down a performance in an environment outside of school. In some cases, where time and budget allow for it, an educational travel company may even be able to schedule master classes with professional musicians in conjunction with the tour.

To schedule a band trip or performance tour, email or visit www.educationaltravelconsultants.com for more information.

I love to travel, and I mean I really love it. But convincing my family to try something a little different can be a lot like pulling teeth! (or at least what I imagine what pulling teeth would be like! They always want to go to the same boring travel destinations. Places like Disney world or boring beach vacation type places. Those places are fine, and we do go to those type of places from time to time, but I want something a little out of the ordinary! I want to go some place that we'll remember for the rest of our lives. Some place where no one we know has gone before! If you're like me, then you've come to the right place today because I've got a travel idea for you that should knock your socks off. Ready?

Komodo National Park!
If you've never heard of Komodo National Park, you're not alone. It's located smack dab in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago. Most people don't even know where Indonesia is! This isn't just another national park. It's been names a UNESCO world heritage site and is also a biosphere reserve (yes, biospheres are real and exactly what you think they are!).
The park is especially known for having the largest Komodo dragon in the world. If you're having trouble picturing one of these guys, thing of a large lizard with four legs and a snake like tongue with sort of alligator like skin.
The best time of the year to visit the park is usually somewhere between April and October, giving you quite a range of travel dates to fit in with just about anyone's schedule.

Watching these amazing dragons isn't the only thing to do there either. There's also a TON of marine activity. Anything from Komodo Island Tour, Komodo Sailing Trip, exploring choral reefs, to checking out you can do it in the ocean, you can probably find it here. In addition you can also enjoy various water sports here. You can try to dive in the waters north and south islands. The water around the island of Komodo is special water because the water is warm. By all those information above, the author thinks that Komodo Island will be your best destination and give you a great experience. Komodo National Park - the islands of myth and legend where dragons roam, are surrounded by rich nutrient-filled waters where a kaleidoscope of colour and life awaits you. Mantas, dolphins and sharks compete with critters galore, all against a riot of soft coral colours. Komodo liveaboard trips allow you to visit the many varied sites around this awesome marine park, some starting in Bali and visiting all the best sites along the way.
There may be many reasons to visit this area, but the main one is to check out the dragons. There really aren't that many sites in the world today that hearken back to prehistoric times, but you'll think you've stepped into Jurassic park the moment you spot your first dragon.

These days you can go just about anywhere in the world, but Komodo National Park offers something for just about everyone. For the kids, the allure is obvious, how many of their friends have ever seen a real dragon? For adults, this is an off the beaten path sort of place that no one else will be able to brag about!
I highly recommend you check it out!