Las Vegas visitor searching for a fun and cheap trip to the Grand Canyon? Take a Skywalk-West Rim bus tour. Along with these trips being incredibly fun and cheap, allow me to share seven more reasons why this tour deserves to be a the top of your to-do list:

1. You will get to see Lake Mead and Hoover Dam. You can't miss them en route to the rim. Get off the bus at the dam for photos. Drive over the incredible Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Bridge.

2. Do the Grand Canyon Skywalk. The bridge is made entirely out of glass. Walk it's horseshoe-shaped path and you'll be 70 feet over the edge and 4,000 feet over the Colorado River. The views are astonishing. Most visitors compare their Skywalk experience to that of defying gravity.

3. Go on a helicopter ride to the bottom. Grand Canyon West is the only place in the canyon where you are permitted to do this. The distance from rim to bottom is 4,000 feet. Deplane and enjoy a Champagne toast. Includes plenty of time to check out the ancient surroundings and some of the oldest exposed rock on the planet.

4. Ride a pontoon boat down the Colorado River. This is a smooth-water float trip (no rapids) on a pontoon boat. Puts you face to face with the force that continues to carve the canyon. Pack a bathing suit for a refreshing swim.

5. Explore a genuine Indian village. Walking tours are available and are led by members of the Hualapai Indians, the tribe that owns the land that includes Grand Canyon West. This tour takes you among tribal dwellings like ceremonial huts, tee pees, and an outdoor amphitheater. Check out the Hualapai Market for handicrafts.

6. Luxury buses are paragons of comfort. Today's motor coaches come with huge cabins, over-sized windows, VCR's, and pre-recorded trip narrations in multiple languages. Bathrooms are clean. Seats are plush. A great deal of legroom. And the bathrooms are extraordinarily clean.

7. It's cheap. Basic tours start at $94. This fare includes full access to Grand Canyon West. See Guano Point, Eagle Point, Indian Village, the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River, and much more. If you've got the slightest inclination to do the Skywalk, save time and money and buy a package that includes tickets.

The West Rim is a mere 120 miles east of Vegas. This distance can be done in 2.5 hours by bus. Tours include a quick breakfast and a barbecue lunch. This trip requires at least half a day. If you choose to add a helicopter ride or a rafting trip to your package, you are looking at a full day. Book in advance: I suggest one to two weeks before you arrive in Vegas.

I strongly suggest you book online. I've seen prices cut by up to 35%. Consider buying direct from tour operators. I do and I've never had a problem with my bookings. Make sure you print out your trip confirmation email and take it with you to Vegas.

I can come up with more reasons to take a canyon bus tour from Las Vegas to the West rim but these seven are the main ones. But really, when you step back and think about it, if you make it to Las Vegas, you've got to give a visit to the canyon some serious consideration. The proximity alone makes it a nearly mandatory visit. Plus, the best place to witness this magical land is just a 2.5-hour bus trip away! So climb aboard. Now's the time to enjoy this incredible outdoor attraction.