Las Vegas was my first time in a helicopter. I was so excited, not only was it my first time in a helicopter, but we were also going to fly over the Grand Canyon. There is endless beautiful scenery from a helicopter. The Grand Canyon stretches for miles and is nothing short of amazing. Next time I'm in USA I'm definitely renting a car and spending a few days in this beautiful area! 

We were picked up from our hotel and driven out to Boulder City Airport where our flight would depart. Flying with Papillon was a breeze, they made the whole situation so easy and exciting. We had a great pilot, who knew a lot about the Grand Canyon and the surrounding areas as well as Las Vegas. He had some fantastic stories to share about his flying experiences. The only thing getting in my way on this adventure was that I was still unwell. And unfortunately, the extremely small cabin of the helicopter, paired with my middle seat, really exaggerated my claustrophobia and motion sickness. So I spent most of the flight concentrating on being okay, and not concentrating on taking photos which I really regret. Although there aren't nearly enough, here is just a snapshot of the views of The Grand Canyon from the sky.

There is always so much going on in Vegas. While the Strip may look nice and peaceful, there are countless shows, parties and exhibits happening deep in those hotels! I really liked walking around Vegas because it let us stumble upon things we wouldn't have found otherwise. We came across a silent disco in a side alley, an amazing Japanese restaurant in the Venetian Hotel called Sushi Samba,and more showgirls than I could count. Las Vegas isn't just about the nightlife (although that is the main idea). Here are some ideas of day activities around the Strip.

The Las Vegas Strip. Three and a half miles long with endless entertainment, dining and adventure opportunities. Every hotel along the strip has something different to offer, and each hotel is almost like it's own little village. You could easily get lost just exploring your own hotel! But what fun is that, let's get out and explore all the hotels! There's a hotel on the strip for every type of budget. Here is a quick guide to some of the main hotels along the Las Vegas Strip (and my favourites) in no particular order. Above image by James Brandon.

The only way to describe the MGM Grand is exceptional. Boasting a massive 5,044 guest rooms the MGM Grand is the largest hotel resort complex in the United States, and the second largest hotel in the world. WOW. No wonder it took us 10 minutes to walk from our hotel room to the street every morning! I mean, the MGM Grand is 30 floors high and includes five outdoor pools, rivers and waterfalls that cover 6.6 acres. WHAT? That is just crazy.