Helicopter Tour News

The tropical island of Maui, with an area of 728 square miles, is the second largest in the Hawaiian chain, and was created by two separate volcanic eruptions. The first volcano, which became the West Maui Mountains, has been extinct for over a million years. The second, Haleakala, is considered by geologists to be inactive, because its last eruption occurred only about 200 years ago. Lava flows, wind and water erosion, plus sand dune deposition eventually formed an isthmus, or bridge, connecting the two volcanic land masses that now comprise Central Maui, hence the nickname “Valley Isle.”

Maui was originally settled by Polynesian voyagers traveling from the Marquesas and later Tahiti, who braved the seas in voyaging canoes with only the stars, currents and birds to guide them. These Haleakala Crater by Helicopter migrants settled and became farmers and fishermen building new lives, including places of worship (Heiau), fishponds and even used aqueduct irrigation systems to water their taro farms (Lo`i). While it is uncertain exactly when these first brave souls touched ground, archaeological evidence has been dated at about 700 or earlier.

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It may not be the cheapest way to get a skyline view of the city (trips start at about $60 per person), but a helicopter tour of Manhattan is fun and gives a good sense of the city's layout. The helicopters take off from both of Manhattan’s heliports—downtown (pier six at the East River—Helicopter Flight Services only) and on the west side (West 30th Street & 12th Avenue).

Tours last 5 to 17 minutes and, on a clear day, offer staggering views. Try to get one of the two seats at the front next to the pilot, and prepare yourself for some stomach-churning U-turns and dips. The best flights are those which skim across the New York Harbor and fly close to the Statue of Liberty and Ground Zero. Flights are limited to Manhattan's water boundaries, and do not pass directly over the city.

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DH and I have always wanted to visit America, especially New York City as there are many interesting places in and around NYC and DH can also visit his former colleagues there. If we do make a trip to NYC, we will definitely hop onto one of the City Sights NY double-decker buses to bring us for sightseeing to the major New York City attractions. The City Sights NY double-decker bus itself is also part of the New York City attraction too as these buses are colorful, attractive and eye-catching and sitting on these buses will provide us with the best possible breathtaking views of Manhattan’s attractions, World Trade Center (Ground Zero), Statue of Liberty, New York Stock Exchange, Wall Street, Broadway, Trinity Church, Times Square, Madison Square Park, Top of the Rock, shopping trips to Woodbury Common Outlet and many more points of interest during the bus tour.

CitySights NY also offers NY harbor cruises, helicopter rides around Manhattan and day trips from NYC to Boston, Washington DC, Philadelphia & Amish Country and many more New York City attractions.

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By the time I woke up, I was already packing it...the thought of flying high into the air, in a tiny bubble is not very appealing to me...and as we waited for our limo to pick us up, the nerves got worse! Finally, our white stretch limo arrived, and in 5 mins we were out at the helicopter base... Sundance Helicopter Tours.

We went inside and got all the housekeeping out of the way...weight, evacuation procedures, motion sickness possibilities - all things that put me toatlly at ease - NOT! I wanted to meet the pilot, and let him know that I was feeling a little rattled, and not to do anything crazy, but Iz was a bit annoyed at this, saying,"Don't say a word till you've at least experienced it!" So I bit my tongue, and as our number was called, tried to calm my nerves.

Our group consisted of a 4 person family from England, and ourselves. Our pilot was a young bloke, who has been flying helicopters for 4 years - I wasn't sure whether to feel more nervous or not. Apparently you can learn to fly in about 4 hours - so I guess he has quite a bit of flight time. To my delight, he offered Izzy and I the two front seats beside him...total birdseye view out of our glass bubble - it had windows at the front, to the side, and down the bottom (though not directly under our feet - thank God!!)

With that, it was time to take to the skies...and as the pilot wound up the blades, I tried to stay calm. We began to hover just above the tarmac, before moving left, then forward, then down to the right, and along the runway. These things take off pretty quickly, and go up high pretty fast. Before I could say, "Holy Crap, get me out of this thing," we were arcing over the golf course below us (a little too sideways for my liking) but after this, I was smooth sailing.

The view was incredible, and even though you are traveling at 160 miles per hour, it only feels like you are going about 10. It was a very smooth trip...much smoother than I had anticipated, and definitely better than a lot of plane trips we have been on. We glided about 3000 feet above Lake Mead and on to the Grand Canyon. This took at least an hour, but the scenery was fantastic...everything out here is dry as a bone - it is amazing to think that the Indians survived out here, a long time before Hoover Dam was built to feed the State of California (that's right - it wasn't even built for Nevada originally). Out here, they receive about 10 inches of rain per year...not much. Yet the Dam and Lake Mead are rivers of blue in a very arid landscape.

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The oldest of the major Hawaiian Islands, Kaua'i is best known for its nickname of "The Garden Isle". It's a title that's well deserved when you consider the island's abundant tropical foliage, year round sunshine, emerald green cliffs and legendary rainbows. It's easy to see why Kaua`i offers its visitors a virtual garden of delights. Two popular attractions for garden lovers are the National Tropical Botanical Garden in Lawa`i, and Smith's Tropical Paradise on the banks of the Wailua River.

Since only about ten percent of Kaua`i's amazing scenery can be seen from the road, exploring the island on foot, or from the sea or air, can be extremely rewarding. No trip to Kaua`i would be complete without viewing the spectacular Na Pali cliffs rising a majestic 3,000 feet from the island's North Shore. Hikers can get an awe-inspiring view of the cliffs by traveling part, or all of the challenging 10.8 mile Kalalau Trail. For a more relaxing tour of the area, visitors can book a charter on a Zodiac raft or catamaran. Another popular way to experience Kaua`i's incomparable beauty is by taking a "flightseeing" helicopter tour. It's an excellent way to take in some of the island's breathtaking scenery that would otherwise be inaccessible. Once visitors get an overview of this paradise, they're not surprised to discover that it has been the setting for many major motion pictures such as South Pacific, Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark. In fact, guided tours are available to many of the sites where movies have been filmed.

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New York is a magical city, no doubt about it. It has it all, from great museums to cool places to hang out, from historical places you don’t want to miss to a wonderful night life.

Visiting the Big Apple is something that everyone should do at least once in their lives, and when that moment comes you don’t want to miss anything; you want a tour that shows you all you want to see.

When it comes to New York City tours, CitySights NY offers guided sightseeing tours to the hottest, more interesting places in the city. They have a fleet of motor coaches and double-decker buses that will take you to visit the best of Manhattan. They also offer several harbor cruises, and even helicopter rides for amazing views from the air. All that with an expert guide that will make sure you will have a fun time.

Places features in their tours are well known. Times Square, the Empire State building, Chinatown, the Madison Square Garden, the Statue of Liberty, the Site of the World Trade Center, the UN building, the Rockefeller Center, Macy’s and the amazing Carnegie Hall are just a few of the sites they will show you while touring downtown.

Their uptown tours includes visits to Central Park and the Strawberry Fields, the Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, the Zoo, the Plaza Hotel, the Guggenheim Museum, the Tomb of Grant, and Harlem, among other great locations.

In addition, they have great special tours that show you locations that have been involved in movies or TV shows, including a “Sex and the City Hot Spots” tour.

Their helicopter flights show this amazing city from the air, offering an incredible view to anyone who dares to go up in the sky. The company also offers several daytime trips to Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC and other places (including a special “shopping tour” to the Woodbury Common Outlet Mall and its 220 designer outlet stores!).

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You dream of going to Africa. The old Africa. The Africa of pristine wilderness and endless horizons, teeming with wildlife. You dream of waking up in a bed swathed in mosquito netting, sipping a cup of Kenya coffee, watching as the curtain of clouds slowly dissolves and Mount Kilimanjaro emerges, singular and majestic, right before your eyes.

Are you dreaming? Not if you’re working with Chip and Sandy Cunningham, co-owners of Uncharted Outposts, an elegant custom tour company with a portfolio of intoxicating African destinations. “If a client wants the quintessential ‘Out of Africa’ experience,” says Sandy, who grew up in South Africa, “we design a safari that transports them into the Africa of a lifetime ago.”

And that journey is handcrafted specifically for that client. “All we do are custom-designed itineraries,” says Chip, a native Californian who flew bush planes in Africa and managed a safari camp in Kenya’s breathtaking Chyulu Hills. “We get our clients into small, privately-owned camps where they will have a very hands-on, authentic safari experience.”

Building that portfolio of beautiful, intimate destinations and charming hosts took years, say the Cunninghams, but it’s what gives them an edge over their competition. Thrown into this mix is their deep commitment to conservation-based tourism. “All of our properties and owners work hand in hand with local people in preserving and bettering the wildlife,” says Chip who along with Sandy are partnering with a British non-profit, Tusk Trust, to fund conservation and development projects in 15 African countries.

Now, if you plan an Uncharted journey, you won’t be roughing it. Tented camps are sumptuous and romantic and the food is unexpectedly delicious. “We really design our itineraries for the senses,” explains Sandy. And you never know how and when something unexpected and unusual might appear. On a game drive you could see a rolling grassy plain brimming with zebra. On a visit to a local village, Maasai children might shyly reach out and touch your hair and then run away giggling in amazement. And, says Sandy, she always tells her clients that they will never sleep on their first night in Africa. “They’ll lie awake and listen to the magical symphony of the African night, everything from the high-pitched hyrax to the deep throaty sawing of a leopard, to the bark of a frightened zebra.

And yes, Chip and Sandy have their favorites. For a luxurious tented experience, they might send clients to Cottars 1920’s Safari Camp, located in Kenya between the pristine Maasai Mara, Serengeti and Loliondo reserves, where the Purko Maasai clan still roam. You will stay in gorgeous white canvas tents, decorated with original 1920’s safari antiques – quintessential Africa – it is what everyone expects!

Another favorite is The Sanctuary at Ol Lentille, which sits on a bluff on the edge of Samburu land with breathtaking views of Mt. Kenya. This five-star destination touts a collection of private houses, some of the most luxurious anywhere in East Africa. You can view wildlife from the back of a camel or horse, or climb aboard a helicopter and swoop over a herd of wildebeest. Sandy was the first ever to send a guest there when they opened last December. “We feel very strongly about supporting new camps, she says, “especially ones with conservation-based partnerships with local communities.”

Nduara Loliondo, is one of the newer camps in the Uncharted portfolio and it has been designed to be a seasonal camp, moving every six months so that guests can experience game in both the northern and southern Loliondo regions. Six Mongolian yurts are fitted out in nomadic chic and are open and airy and memorable. Picnics are sumptuous and offered in stunning locations.

Chip and Sandy now live in Santa Fe, N.M., which looks, they say, remarkably like their beloved Chyulu Hills. They return to Africa each year (this year, for the first time, with their daughters who will be 4 and 6) to search out new destinations and to renew old friendships.

“This is far more than a business for us,” says Sandy, “It’s about staying connected with Africa, our clients who become friends and our commitment to bettering the lives of people in Africa through responsible conservation-based tourism.”

Nevada is the place to be on the luckiest day of the century, July 7, 2007. The number 777 is lucky in more than one culture, but in a gaming culture, it takes on a whole new wealth of meaning. Visitors from all over the world are expected to flock to Nevada to roll the dice and play their cards on that lucky day. And there is no shortage of hotel packages designed specifically for that special day. For example, the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas has created a “Savory Sensations of Seven” package for $777 that includes a one-night stay on the seventh floor, a seven-course dinner, a 70-minute spa treatment for two and a seven-themed breakfast.

Las Vegas wedding chapels are booked solid as couples plan to take the plunge under such a fortunate omen. Couples are invited to visit the Nevada’s “City of Lights,” Paris Las Vegas, and say “I do” atop the Eiffel Tower overlooking the exciting Las Vegas Strip. Or spend the day in the sun at Mandalay Bay resort-casino with a beach reception and a serenade by KC and the Sunshine Band. The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has expanded its chapel capacity for the day and will conduct 77 weddings on July 7.

Happy Birthday, America

Spark some fun at Star Spangled Sparks
The city of Sparks, adjacent to Reno, holds one of the largest Fourth of July festivals in the state. Star Spangled Sparks is full of family fun, beginning at the Sparks Marina with a milk-carton boat regatta, a kite-flying contest and arts and crafts. The food and drinks will be flowing all day long, and live entertainment will keep spirits high on this special day.

The fun then continues at Victorian Square in Sparks for an evening of music and festivities leading up to the big moment when the fireworks shoot off of the roof of John Ascuaga’s Nugget. Get there early to get a good seat and ooh and ahh over the brilliant colors lighting up the night sky. For more information, visit www.ci.sparks.nv.gov.

Lake Tahoe celebrates with ‘Lights on the Lake’
Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America, doesn’t do anything small, and Fourth of July fireworks are no exception. Rated one of the top five displays in the nation, the fireworks at South Lake Tahoe are not to be missed.

This year’s festivities will be especially meaningful as Lake Tahoe residents recover from a devastating fire that tore through the region just before the holiday week. Come celebrate the nation’s birth, and Tahoe’s recovery, with music and fun on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, capped off with “Lights on the Lake,” the largest fireworks display west of the Mississippi. There are several great vantage points to witness the aerial celebration, including the deck of two paddlewheel boats, the M.S. Dixie and the Tahoe Queen. For more information, visit www.bluelaketahoe.com.

Speed and fireworks light up the Fourth in Las Vegas
There are several venues hosting Fourth of July fireworks shows in and around Las Vegas, so gather the family and choose your favorite spot for the annual July 4 festivities.

The Las Vegas Speedway will host a night of NASCAR-sanctioned stock-car racing and USAC Midgets, small and lightweight cars jammed full of horsepower and built for speed, followed by a traditional fireworks display. NASCAR star Kyle Busch will be among the racers tearing up the track for fans of all ages.

Nothing is as American as apple pie and baseball, and Las Vegas has plenty of the latter with its own minor league team, the 51s. The Las Vegas 51s will take on the Fresno Grizzlies for a four-game series June 30 through July 3, celebrating the nation’s birth – and hopefully four victories – with a “Fireworks Extravaganza” after the first and fourth games. Tickets to the fireworks games are $13.

Just south of Las Vegas, visitors can watch “Rockets over the River” in Laughlin. The lively gaming town just across the Colorado River from Arizona will celebrate all day long, ending with the fireworks display over the water.

For information on these celebrations and more, including parades, poolside parties and Pops, check out www.visitlasvegas.com.

What’s Happening

Reno transforms into Artown for the month of July
Artown, one of the nation’s largest and most inclusive arts-and-culture festivals, has been presenting world-class events in Reno for over a decade. From July 1 through 31, there are art performances and exhibits going on all day, every day, in the city of Reno. While most of the events are free, Artown also boasts an impressive lineup of headline performers at special ticketed prices.

Some of the free musical highlights include an international musical performance by SambaGuru July 11, America’s only Sanskrit rock band, Shanti Shanti, performing July 14, “A Celtic Summer’s Eve” July 15 and the Drum, Dance and Didgeridoo Festival July 28.

Visitors and residents are treated to a series of festivals within the Artown festival throughout the month as well. On July 8, the American Arts Festival will feature American music, visual arts, storytelling and arts projects for the entire family. On July 14 celebrate Nevada’s rich Basque heritage, and legendary cuisine, with the 40th annual Reno Basque Festival. Then salsa, mambo and cha-cha to Latin jazz, Afro-Cubano and traditional Mexican music at the Baila Reno! Latin American Music Festival July 22.

Arguably one of the most beloved Artown events, the Great Basin Chautauqua Festival returns to Reno July 15-19. This year’s theme is “Exploring the Nature of Creativity” and presents actors portraying famous authors and composers with first-person monologues delivered in an old-fashioned tent setting. Pulitzer Prize winning author Jane Smiley will deliver the keynote address and hold a book signing July 16.

For a full lineup of the month’s events, visit www.renoisartown.com.

Cool cars and Hot August Nights
Reno celebrates the automobile culture of the 1950s and 1960s during Hot August Nights Aug. 3-12. This annual event draws more than 800,000 people to Reno and Sparks for “show-n-shines,” a car-part swap meet and live music and dancing all week long.

Shine the Deuce Coup and take your special gal for a cruise, or be-bop the night away to the cool sounds of The Drifters, Tony Orlando or Lil’ Elmo and the Cosmos. Check out the schedule of entertainment and events at www.hotaugustnights.net and cruise down to Reno and Sparks for a taste of an era gone by.

Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival adds modern comedy amid traditional plays

Every summer fans of the Bard converge on Sand Harbor State Park, on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe, for the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Sipping wine, digging toes into the warm sand and watching some of the most famous plots unfold on stage against the breathtaking backdrop of the lake is a summer tradition for residents and visitors alike. However, Shakespeare isn’t for everyone, and this year the festival is adding a modern comedy to its playbill.

“Greater Tuna” is a fast-paced comedy about the small town of Tuna, Texas, and its wacky residents. And the best part: Theatergoers do not need to decipher Old English to understand it. Not straying far from its roots, however, the festival is still presenting two Shakespearean plays during its run from July 12 through Aug. 19. This year’s selections are the classic tragedy of star-crossed lovers “Romeo and Juliet” and the wickedly comical “The Taming of the Shrew.”

The festival has also revamped its food selection. Shakespeare’s Kitchen now offers an array of gourmet fare from around the world, from barbecue tri-tip and Cobb salads to hardwood smoked ribs and rack of lamb. More casual dishes include nachos and cold sandwiches.

Tickets to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival range from $22 for open seating to $67 for reserved seating and can be purchased at www.laketahoeshakespeare.com. Visit the Web site to find out about this year’s plays, the food and drink selections and the spectacular venue, Sand Harbor State Park.

San Francisco Symphony musicians invite public to rehearsal performance in Elko

Many Nevada residents know that Elko, the thriving cowboy town on Interstate 80, is a unique jewel of culture and fun. Members of the San Francisco Symphony and fellow musicians have discovered the same thing and now retreat to the idyllic western town every summer to rehearse and prepare for their upcoming season, and the public is invited to watch.

The event, formally known as the Ruby Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Aug. 16-18, was founded with the intent of bringing chamber music of the highest level to the northeastern Nevada community. It is an opportunity for visitors and residents alike to witness musical magic up close and personal. With the Ruby Mountains looming in the background, world-class string musicians and vocalists present chamber music at its best. For more information on the free rehearsal performance or the fund-raising dinner and concert Aug. 18, call 775-738-2823.

The stars shine at the Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe

Seventy-five celebrity athletes and entertainers tee off at the annual Celebrity Golf Championship at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course July 10-15. Celebrities include “The Today Show” anchor Matt Lauer, former U.S. Women’s Soccer Team player Brandi Chastain, NBA star Michael Jordan, actor Cheech Marin, talk-show host Maury Povich, comedian and actor Ray Romano, Super Bowl champion Joe Theisman and actor Chris Tucker.

Each year the championship benefits a worthy charity, and this year’s charity is the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which provides information and tools for people living with cancer, as well as raises money for cancer research. Tickets to the practice round and celebrity-amateur tournament are $10, and tickets to the American Century Championship are $20. Visit www.tahoecelebritygolf.com for directions to Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, information about the tournaments and to purchase tickets.

‘Art cars’ take the spotlight at National Automobile Museum

The National Automobile Museum in downtown Reno presents “Ice Hot Cars” July 14 with more than 40 hot rods, street rods, custom cars, art cars and air-brush art demonstrations. Visitors will have an opportunity to become “art car” artists themselves and unleash their creativity on a car at the museum.

One art car on display is Gustine Castle’s “CANapillar,” the world’s hairiest limo. Castle glued synthetic fur on the former taxi cab and used foam to build a giant pair of lips while the car’s arms are made from a dryer duct.

Also part of the Ice Hot Cars exhibit is the documentary “Automorphosis,” a film featuring a van completely covered by cameras that was utilized to capture expressions of people from across the nation. To complement the Ice Hot Cars are ice cream sundaes and root beer floats for only $1. Bring the family to the National Automobile Museum and check out the hot rods, art cars and more. For information, visit www.automuseum.org.

Take a ‘Taste of Gardnerville’ in August

The picturesque and lively northern Nevada town of Gardnerville is holding its fourth annual Taste of Gardnerville Aug. 4. As the sun sets and the temperature cools, the streets will fill with the aromas of authentic Basque and Italian cuisine, as well as freshly brewed coffee and tantalizing drinks. Gardnerville is about an hour south of Reno on Highway 395, near Nevada’s first permanent town, Genoa. Tasters can check out the shopping and historic sites while noshing their way through town.

Tickets are $20 per person, and proceeds benefit the Douglas County Historical Society. Call 775-782-2555 for more information.

Nevada’s Colorful Past

History exhibit looks at deathly side of Virginia City
The Comstock History Center in Virginia City, about a half-hour from Reno, recently unveiled a new exhibit called “Undertaking the Past,” a look at death and the historic cemeteries in the famous 1800s Comstock Lode area.

The exhibit features Victorian mourning items, undertaking equipment and documents used in researching the history and landscape of the various cemeteries in Virginia City and Gold Hill. Items in the collection come from the Nevada Historical Society and various other donors to inform visitors about death in the 19th century in an effort to rehabilitate and protect the region’s historic burying grounds.

Virginia City was once the epicenter of western gold and silver mining following the famous ’49er Gold Rush. Its wooden sidewalks, historic saloons and mine tours are testaments to its colorful and fascinating past. Visitors can see the exhibit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the Comstock Historic Center in Virginia City. For more information, visit www.nevadaculture.org.

State railroad museum steams to life in July
The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City hosts a series of “steam-ups” and motor-car rides throughout the month of July aboard historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad equipment. The V&T was once the richest short-line railroad in the country and transported materials and gold for the booming Comstock Lode in Virginia City, just a short distance from the state capital, Carson City.

Steam-ups are rides on an authentic steam engine train, and tickets to ride are $5 for adults. Motor-car rides are $4 for adults and take visitors on the 1926 Edwards Motor Car. Visit www.nevadaculture.org for a schedule of steam-ups and motor-car rides.

Did You Know?

Heavenly Gondola reopens after Lake Tahoe fire
With the Angora Fire at South Lake Tahoe nearly contained, Heavenly Mountain Resort has announced that its gondola is open and ready to whisk visitors up the mountain for breathtaking views of the lake. The gondola is a favorite summertime stop while touring the south shore of the lake and is especially popular during the Fourth of July festivities.

Heavenly has some of the best views of Lake Tahoe, Desolation Wilderness and the surrounding Sierra Nevada, and the gondola is an ideal way to take in the vast natural beauty. Stop mid-mountain at the observation deck and grab a cold drink, then hop back in for the climb to Adventure Peak where visitors can dine on sizzling barbecue fare in the fresh alpine air. Visit www.skiheavenly.com for ticket prices and information on things to do and see in the South Lake Tahoe area.

Road to Grand Canyon West undergoes improvements
Grand Canyon West, a new visitor destination on the west rim of the Grand Canyon, will soon be easier to reach via improved road access. The visitor area is in the rustic wilderness of Hualapai Indian land and its natural setting is being preserved as much as possible. The improvements to the road will include sealed gravel until it is paved in the future, reducing dust and making it a more car-friendly surface while maintaining low impact on its natural surroundings.

Grand Canyon West is about 120 miles east of Las Vegas and 72 miles north of Kingman, Ariz., and is the only location throughout the entire Grand Canyon where visitors can access the Colorado River and water recreation at the bottom of the canyon via helicopter tours. In addition to water activities, visitors can take Hummer tours along the rim of the canyon and through private areas otherwise inaccessible to the public. The destination also boasts The Hualapai Ranch, a western town with horseback and wagon rides, as well as the magnificent Skywalk, a horseshoe-shaped glass walkway that extends over the rim of the canyon. For information on the Skywalk and the Hualapai nation, visit www.grandcanyonwest.com.

BLM launches program to connect children and families to public lands
More than 80 percent of Nevada is public land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), making it an ideal place to explore the Great Outdoors. The BLM has launched a nationwide program called “Take it Outside: Connect With Your Public Lands,” designed to ignite in children an interest in the outdoors.

The program will focus on schools, youth organizations and families to reconnect children and families with the outdoors and reintroduce the nation’s youth to nature. It will expand on some of its successful current programs such as “Hands on the Land,” a network of field classrooms that teach environmental and heritage education, and Kids Fishing Day and Wonderful Outdoor World, which introduces urban youth to fishing, camping and other forms of outdoor recreation.

One of the main goals of the program is to encourage stewardship of public lands and give children a sense of ownership and respect for their surroundings. For more information on the BLM’s “Take it Outside” program, visit www.blm.gov.

Bundle of aquatic joy arrives in Las Vegas
Duchess, a bottlenose dolphin at The Mirage Dolphin Habitat in Las Vegas, gave birth to a male calf in June. The happy family are bonding in the resort’s Research and Birthing pool under the watchful eye of habitat staff and the curious public.

The Dolphin Habitat is part of The Mirage resort-casino’s wild-animal attraction, which includes Siegfried and Roy’s Secret Garden, home to the famed white tigers. The Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat are open to the public every day, and visitors can see the newest addition to the Dolphin Habitat, which boasts five female adults and the calf’s father, Lightning. For more information and habitat admission prices, visit www.mirage.com.

Tourism Tidbits

Get your kicks on Bellagio’s Route 66
The Bellagio resort-casino celebrates historic Route 66 in its Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, which change seasonally. The carefree days of summer are reflected in the Conservatory’s thousands of vibrant plants, flowers and trees, offering a captivating view of summertime adventures. The enchanting centerpiece is a 42-foot Ferris wheel in a country fair setting surrounded by sunflowers, tent-tops and balloons. The Route 66 display will be open through Sept. 8. Visit www.bellagio.com for details.

Las Vegas Monorail announces cool summer fares
Forget the worries of driving while in Las Vegas and hop on the monorail, which is offering a special summertime fare. The regular $15 all-day pass is reduced to $8, making the monorail a more affordable, and air-conditioned, alternative to driving. The monorail links the major Las Vegas Strip hotels, whisking riders from one end to the other in 15 minutes. Its electric trains make the monorail one of the nation’s most environmentally friendly public transportation systems. For more information on the Las Vegas Monorail or where to purchase tickets to ride, visit www.lvmonorail.com.

Laughlin welcomes ‘Gilligan’s’ sans the Skipper
Gilligan’s Over the Marina is a 3,800-square-foot meeting facility and South Pacific-themed lounge recently opened in Laughlin, a lively town south of Las Vegas on the Colorado River. The lounge envelopes the desert oasis atmosphere of Laughlin, as well as its namesake TV show minus the S.S. Minnow and Skipper, with natural bamboo and lava rock. Gilligan’s has expansive views of the Laughlin Bay Marina and is a short drive from the casino resorts on the shores of the Colorado River. For more information, visit www.laughlinlocals.com/gilligans.

The end of this drive through the mountains brings you to Haast after the 145 kms drive
from Wanaka. The best place to stop after your drive whether it is from the north or the
south is McGuire's Lodge right on Route Six. Great food and fabulous coffee at their cafe,
restaurant and bar and accommodation if you need it. The only place we stop and rest
before going on. Sometime if we are running late we will take the next road left by the
bridge and go to Haast Beach and spend the night freedom camping. We do go on to
Jackson Bay, time permitting, where a feed of crayfish is a must. More later on this side
trip.

Here also is a must stop at the Haast Visitor Information Centre just down the road from
McGuires so you can see what all is going on in this region that is internationally
recognized as a World Heritage Area.

At McGuires enquire about HeliVentures. If you want to truly experience the tops in
scenic helicopter flights this is the one. It is owned and operated by a pioneer in the
business ( a true legend) Dave Saxton and his son Morgan who have over 40 years
combined flying experience. The tales Dave can tell alone are worth the visit to see them.
Not only scenic flights to the Lost Valley, the glaciers, Mt. Aspiring, Mt. Cook, Milford
Sound, they also provide fishing and hunting trips. What a way to really experience this
wild country of the West Coast and south to the Sounds. Areas one could never dream of
seeing otherwise and from a perspective that illustrates the massive depth and dimension.
Sometimes the crowds at Franz Josef and at Queenstown overwhelm the time allowed for
everyone to take a flight from there. One of the ways not to get bogged down with too
many people and no place to park as in some of the higher trafficked areas is to go to
Haast. From here at Haast with Heliventures it is easy. If you are planning any kind of
helicopter flights check this one out. Paula had positive experiences with Dave Saxton in
the pioneer days when he used to fly her and her partner in to remote areas to gold mine.

After one of the highlights of your trip(be it from Queenstown) it is now time to head on
to experience even more fabulous country and people...............

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In my opinion, a helicopter tour is much more thrilling than any amusement park ride I’ve ridden. The views are beyond description and there is so much to see. A helicopter tour in Hawaii is an ideal way to see the islands’ cliffs, forests, volcanic shape, beaches and craters. One of the reasons I love Hawaii is the diversity of terrain and by taking a helicopter tour, you can really see that. Before you take a helicopter tour, you should spend some time researching your options online. Here are tips to help you choose the best tour and enjoy it.

1. Make a Safe Choice - Choose a tour that advertises that they are certified as a FAA Part 135 Air Carrier, which means that the operator is subject to higher standards than general aviation operators. It might also be helpful to look at the list of accidents by tour company at this site. I hope this doesn’t scare you off, but it is important to know that there are risks in riding a helicopter.

2. Know the Seating Arrangement - Most helicopters used for touring have six passengers with a seating arrangement of two passengers in front and four in the back. That means that two people are going to be stuck in the middle seats in the back and with limited view. A-Star and Eco-Star type helicopters carry six passengers. The Eco-Stars are nicer than the A-Stars because they offer a little more room, less noise, and more window space.

One helicopter that I particularly liked is the Hughes 500 which seats two passengers in the back and two in the front. I flew with Inter-Island Helicopters on Kauai in a Hughes 500 and it was tremendous.

When booking, request the front seats as they are the best, but bear in mind that seating will be based on the weight of you and your friend/partner. If you are taking a helicopter tour in Kauai, request the right side because most tours circle the island clockwise and you will be able to get the best view of the Na Pali Coast from the right side.

3. Shop online for pricing. Most companies offer a big discount for booking directly with them.

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Ozark Mountain Helicopters is proud to announce that visitors to Branson can once again experience the thrill and excitement of flying in a helicopter.

Jim Evertsen, a contractor from West Plains, Mo, is taking his love of flying helicopters to new heights. With the absence of this exciting and anticipated attraction in Branson over the past two years, many rumors, online message boards and hopeful tourists kept the dream alive that someday, helicopter tours would return to Branson. Well, Ozark Mountain Helicopters has seen the need and is answering the call.

"We get calls every day from individuals who took a ride as a child, and can still remember the feeling and excitement of being up in a helicopter, and want to share that feeling with their children." "That's why I love what I do." Says Evertsen.

This business is unique in the fact that it involves two father/son teams. Jim, who has been flying Helicopters religiously for the past six years will function as Owner and Chief Pilot, while his son Casey assumes the responsibilities of the Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

The second father/son team consists of Lee and Shanon Christensen. With over 60 years of flight experience between the two, there is little these two have not seen or done in a helicopter.

To maximize the safety of their passengers, the Taney County Airport has been chosen as their base of operations. With its close proximity to Hwy 65 and Branson Landing, it is lacking the tall hotels, overhead wires, traffic lights and nearby obstructions that are not conducive to safe take offs and landings. The tours will take passengers over Branson Landing, Hwy 76, Table Rock Dam, Lake Taneycomo, Inspiration Tower and Silver Dollar City

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The island of Kauai has been featured in many Hollywood movies, and even on television, including the musical "South Pacific" and Disney's 2002 animated feature film and television series Lilo & Stitch. Waimea Canyon was used in the filming of the 1993 film Jurassic Park. Parts of the island were also used for the opening scenes of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Other movies filmed here include 6 Days and 7 Nights and the remake of King Kong. Coco Palms Resort is a famous resort located on this island and many of Elvis' films including Blue Hawaii where filmed here.

Kauai is a paradise for nature lovers. Hiking, kayaking, camping, a helicopter tour (~$180) and/or a boat tour (~$115) are the only ways one can see the true beauty of the island. There is one main highway, which does not circle the entire island. The highway goes along the coast from the north at Keʻe Beach, goes around the east side where the town of Līhuʻe and the airport are located, continues along the south shore and then west, ending at the remains of a town called Mana and Polihale State Park.

The northwest part of the island contains the Nā Pali Coast State Park, a range of breathtaking, rugged cliffs that are inaccessible by car. A view of this spectacular vista, either by hiking, helicopter or boat, should not be missed when visiting Kauaʻi.
Image of the Nā Pali Coast]]
Nā Pali coast from helicopter

In the northwest interior of the island are the Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific and the high altitude Alakaʻi Swamp. In the center of the island is the top of the inactive Waiʻaleʻale volcano. The summit is shrouded by clouds 300 days a year and gets an average of 1.5 inches of rain everyday, making it is the wettest place on Earth.

Almost the entire island is lush green wilderness, perfect for hikers and campers. Some of the hiking trails along the cliffs are very steep and are not for beginners. There are streams and rivers at the bottom of the Waimea Canyon and throughout the island. Kayaking on these rivers is a popular activity. Ocean kayaking is also popular.

One way to see the scenery is by taking a helicopter tour. Tours leave from Līhuʻe Airport and fly over the shorelines, the valleys where the ancient Hawaiians used to live, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, and the swamp at 2000 feet elevation. Some helicopters fly into the shaft of an old volcano. Half of the crater had fallen off due to erosion. The remaining half forms a semi-cylindrical opening. When a helicopter is in the opening, the passengers are surrounded by a vertical wall 270° around. The cliff walls are covered with plants and numerous threads of tiny waterfalls. The Hawaiians called it the Wall of Tears. The ceiling of the shaft is always covered by clouds. On the rare occasion when the mountain clouds clear up, the helicopter can fly up the shaft vertically and it feels like you're looking up from the bottom of a well. Even most seasoned pilots have seen the sky from the shaft only a few times.

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A private helicopter carrying four passengers and a pilot made a surprise landing yesterday morning on a baseball diamond in Riverside Park, witnesses and the police said. No one was reported injured, and the helicopter later lifted off.

Around 10:15 a.m., the pilot of a helicopter flying over the Hudson River reported to 911 emergency that he was having “some mechanical concern” and was seeking a place to land as a “precautionary measure,” a police spokesman said. The copter landed near the Boat Basin near West 79th Street and Riverside Drive.

Witnesses said four passengers were taken away in a van marked Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tours. They said a New York police helicopter then landed on the baseball field.

The police and the helicopter pilot checked the engine of the private craft and appeared to be repairing something after an initial failure to lift off, said Andy Dvoracek, 29, who had been sitting on the nearby Hudson River promenade.

The private copter took off at 11:40 a.m., followed by the police helicopter about five minutes later.

A man answering the telephone at the heliport at West 30th Street and 12th Avenue, which is operated by Liberty Helicopters, declined to comment.

Three weeks ago, a Liberty Helicopter on a sightseeing trip crashed in the Hudson River between Midtown and Weehawken, N.J. Everyone on board survived.

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Stars! You have to go to the observatory visitor center and the observatories. You just have to. If you think the stars are great viewing in your country side/mountain/beach, you haven't been on Mauna Kea. That's why the observatories are here. WOW. Not only are the stars about an inch away (or so they seem), they are nearly at your feet. You don't have to look up to see them, you just have to look... they are all around, even eye level.
Hints: make sure you plan your trip on a new moon or after moonset. Full moons here are gorgeous, but the wash out the stars.
Children under 16 can go to the visitor's center (at 12k), but not the observatory tours (14+k feet).
DRESS WARMLY! It's cold up there.

Volcano! Go to the national park, it's a great and strange landscape. Also, there are some current lava flows. Sometimes you can see them by hiking to them, other times you need to take a helicopter tour (around 200 a person... budget breaker for some).

Richardson's beach. Free :). It's a small (I mean it) black sand beach, but great for kids. Waves are small and you can go snorkeling and see some great fish.
Hint: Go at 4pm. That's when most people are starting to leave AND it's when the sea turtles start to swim up to shore to feed (easy to spot, they swim right next to you!.. just don't touch and disturb them).

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