Sin City is famous for dramatic things you can do. Grand Canyon chopper tours are no exception. Right on time for summer, you can now fly to the bottom of the canyon, boat down the Colorado River and walk the Grand Canyon Glass Walkway. And you do all this in 1 day!

This adventure starts by coming aboard a helicopter and taking off from the Las Vegas area for Grand Canyon West, situated just 120 miles away. En route, you get a bird's eye view of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the U.S., and Hoover Dam, the second largest dam in the country.

You are in canyon country when you fly over Grand Cliffs wash. Here the chopper will start its gradual descent into the gorge. Buttes, spires and cliffs encompass you as you fly above the meandering Colorado River. The general affect of this primordial landscape is breathtaking.

The helicopter will land on a dirt clearing that's about 300 feet from the river. A Hualapai Indian will open the chopper door and direct you to an authentic Indian Ramada. You'll meet up with your other passengers here and start the quick walk to the boat dock.

The Hualapai run the boating phase of this chopper trip. The watercraft are steel pontoon boats with outboard motors. Seating is comfy and the views are positively magnificent. Nate was our river pilot. His familiarity with this riparian area was amazing. He motored upstream, cut the motors and let us float back at 15 mph.

Our helicopter pilot welcomed us back on board. He checked the instrument panel, revved up the heli, gave us the thumbs up and off we went. The ascent was exhilarating. I was in front. It was like being in an IMAX movie. We cut through a gorge, rounded the rim and landed at the Grand Canyon West heliport.

Next up: The Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. This cantilevered bridge lets you wander 70 feet beyond the rim of the canyon. The feeling is nothing short of breathtaking. Specially when you take into account that you happen to be standing 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. No cameras are permitted. Professional photographers are there to take your photo. Opt for the multi-image bundle. There’s no time limit on how long you can stay. The north side has the best views.

Never pay full full price for these heli trips. This means staying away from the hotel concierge and the high-pressure sales people that dot the Las Vegas Strip. Instead, acquire your heli tours on line. The best deals are on the Web. I frequently get tours that are reduced by up to 25%. Book your trip in advance. These trips are hot and sell out. Selecting before you reach Vegas ensures that you and your group have seats.

This is the most satisfying Las Vegas chopper excursion to Grand Canyon National Park I've ever taken. First is the fact that you get to land at the bottom. This can only be done at the West Rim. Then there's the peaceful boat ride down the river. Just when you think you've seen it all, you walk the Grand Canyon Glass Bridge. This isn't the inexpensive chopper tour out there. But it's by far the most definitive. If you have the budget, do it now.