Affordable Grand Canyon Tour? Try a Bus Ride From Las Vegas!

Nearly all people aren't aware that Las Vegas has a lot more to offer visitors than just gambling, drinking and showgirls. Entertainment options are many and the natural splendor all around the city draws a lot of people to explore the great outdoors. Grand Canyon bus excursions are used often by travelers who want to take a break from the hectic pace on the world famous Strip.

Companies located in Vegas offer deals that come with transportation, meals and guided tours with stops at significant sites along the way for a closer look and photo opportunities. Routes, stops and destinations will vary depending on company and package.

Travelers will go to their destination on a luxury bus with restrooms, padded reclining seats, and huge windows for easy viewing of the passing scenery. Many of the buses come with flat screen televisions and even DVD players.

The primary route from Las Vegas to Arizona features traveling across the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, a structure that opened to traffic at the end of 2010. The bridge is amongst the highest in the world and supports a four-lane road almost 900 feet above the Colorado River. Travelers will get views of fabulous Lake Mead, cavernous Black Canyon and the iconic Hoover Dam from the bypass bridge.

Full-day excursions leave early in the morning and return to the city in the evening. Most companies provide pick-up and drop-off shuttle service to most local hotel-casinos. Plenty of time is given at each and every site to enable everyone to leave the luxury coach and explore the area on foot.

An excursion to the canyon's West Rim could make a stop at Hualapai Ranch. The ranch offers horseback and wagon rides, a petting zoo and cowboy games. High Point Hike is a brief walk to Guano Point where 360-degree views of the gorge stretch out as far as the eye can see. The Glass Observation Deck at Eagle Point offers perhaps the most interesting views of all. The u-shaped bridge has a glass bottom and juts out from the canyon wall. Native American tour guides direct visitors along the walkway, suspended 4,000 over the ground.

Mather Point is one of many sites located on the canyon's South Rim. The visitor center has interpretive displays in the plaza area and a theater with an introductory movie playing every 30 minutes. Picnic areas and a stone amphitheater are perched along the rim. Informal ranger lectures are presented in the amphitheater.

Yavapai Point is found at the northernmost point of the South Rim. The viewing point there has panoramic views of gorges, small canyons, creeks, buttes and the Colorado River. Significant landmarks include the Cheops Pyramid Mesa with it's charteristic flat top, a summit called Isis Temple, and the Shiva Temple formation.

Visitors to Vegas can choose from various entertainment options and not all of them involve neon lights, dice and slot machines. Checking out the great outdoors is another item to add to the itinerary. Choose one of the many Grand Canyon bus excursions and get ready to discover another world.

Mr. Plunket is a world traveler who especially enjoys exploring Grand canyon National Park. If you are planning a trip to the canyon, he recommends this site for Grand Canyon bus tours.