Helicopter Tour News

The vast bulk of tourism in Juneau (as well as Alaska as a whole) comes from the cruise ship industry. The inherent difficulty in reaching these destinations is probably the initial reason for this, as well as the attraction, for many, to traveling in a floating hotel one doesn’t need to check in or out of. Simply the sight of these cruise ships in port in Juneau is an odd thing. The small downtown section of the city hugs the sea to one side and two large mountains to the other. When the cruise ships are there they seem to dwarf the whole city, their height as tall, or taller, than the largest buildings. When there are four or five ships in on the same day (something the local paper keeps track of daily on the front page), the amount of people in the city doubles, or more. One would think, then, that the small city would seem over-run by tourists - but it isn’t. Most cruise ship tourists only trek along a strip of souvenir shops by the dock, are bused to helicopter tours of the glacier or day fishing expeditions. Very few rent cars, though Juneau is technically quite spaced out (until recently, I believe, it was the largest municipality in the country in terms of area - about the size of Delaware or Rhode Island). Many simply never even get off the boat, and the ones that do get off the boat are often dressed in identical, cruise ship-issued rain ponchos (even on bright, sunny days) - a very odd sight. Certainly, therefore, they are clearly set apart from the ‘locals’ by almost every stretch of the imagination.

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If I am given the opportunity of spend a month long getaway, I would go for a hawaiian vacation. I’ve heard so much about Kauai and I think that’s where I want to go to. I’d like to see the beautiful scenery while hiking the Napali Coast and just enjoy the panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean. And while walking down the coastline, i’ll be able to snap a picture of the awesome cliffs towering into the sky, the waterfalls in between the valleys would be a sight to behold. There’s so much views to see in the Napali Coast, and if you are not into hiking and stuff, there are boat tours and kayaking trips and even helicopter tours, so you won’t miss the amazing scenery.

Poipu Beach would also be a wonderful experience. This is considered as one of America’s best beaches. Large green sea turtles swimming in the waters of Poipu is something new for me, and also seeing the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals sunbathing in the shore. I know you will agree with me that this is a one of a kind vacation experience. Snorkelling is also one thing I want to experience. I have not done that yet, and I want to do it at some point in my life. I think that would be one experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.

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It being December, you may wonder how the weather factors into the boat tour. Well, it was a very cold day, but luckily the boat had enclosed, heated areas. We did go outside a few times to get good pictures of some of the sights, but the inside was definitely a warm escape from the winds. We took well over 100 photos, but I chose a few to share with you here. Enjoy them.

There are many ways to tour New York. By bus, by helicopter, by foot, etc ... but I don't think there is anything quite like the boat tour that shows you all the boroughs and takes you into the waters that New York City thrived on for so many years. If you want to take a Circle Line cruise, they are located on The Hudson River at Pier 83 on West 42nd Street. It's very easy to get to, just walk West on 42nd Street and you will run right into Pier 83. I suggest getting there about 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure and purchasing your tickets at the ticket window to avoid online service fees. Dress warm and bring your camera. There will be tons to see and photograph. Enjoy the cruise!

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We found the Big Island to be very romantic but very BIG. I recommend staying in multiple hotels on this island. Our two days in the village of Volcano (about 45 miles from Hilo) were the most romantic of our honeymoon. After hiking in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park during the day, we joined a night hike to view the lava flows; the only way to get a better view is a helicopter flight. A visit to the summit of Mauna Kea is equally breath-taking; remember, we want to create memories together on this trip! Most of the organized activities on the island are based in Kailua-Kona and this where the most affordable hotels are found. Hilo is a quiet little town and fun to visit but does not offer as much for the romantic getaway, although there are some great hidden waterfalls and gardens. The resorts at Waikoloa promise the ultimate in luxury with stellar ocean and sunset views, quiet beaches, pool-side massages for couples and a number of intimate dining options.

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6. Soaking up the History - Alaska's unique culture has roots from as far away as Russia and France and as close as the natives who still live there today. Participate in a blanket toss, attend an authentic Eskimo crafts festival, learn how to carve your own totem pole, browse the intricate Russian iconography, or visit the many cultural and historical museums.

7. Sight-seeing by Air - "Flight-seeing", as it's called, has become an enormously popular way to explore some of the less accessible parts of the Alaskan wilderness. Helicopter tours are available everywhere, taking you to the peaks of glaciers. Or you can charter one of the country's many "bush pilots" for a tour in a small aircraft that's just right for getting into and out of the dense wilderness.

8. Bike Tours - A great way to see the sights and keep fit at the same time, while not being as strenuous as a day hike or a river raft. Alaskan bicycle tours are organized around a theme, which may be to explore points of interest related to the gold rush or visit places important to Alaskan native heritage.

9. Whale Watching - Whales are the largest life forms on our planet, and they're all only too happy to come up for a picture in Alaska. Until you've experienced it, you can't imagine how thrilling it is to be right next to a creature so massive that its tail fins are bigger than your car.

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In my opinion, a helicopter tour is much more thrilling than any amusement park ride. 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, which a helicopter tour helps you see. Before you do that, spend time researching online options. Here are tips to help you choose the best tour.

Make a Safe Choice - Choose a tour that is certified as a FAA Part 135 Air Carrier. That means 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. I hope this doesn't scare you off, but it is important to know there are risks in riding a helicopter.

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. Two people are going to be stuck in the middle seats in the back, 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 additional room, less noise and more window space. I particularly liked 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. It was tremendous.

When booking, request the front seats. 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. You will get the best view of the Na Pali Coast from the right side.

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

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The Pacific coast will take days to explore as will the city itself. San Francisco travel can be accomplished by many means as well. Vacationers can sail up the coast line on a rented yacht, or bicycle Highway 1 along the awesome Pacific coast. Cars, trucks, buses are the normal means to arrive, but for a true adventure, travelers should leave the normal behind and take the trolley or cable car to explore the entire area. Visitors can find a hot air balloon rental to view the entire coast as though riding on a cloud; or rent a helicopter, or sailboat for a totally different angle on the trip.

When setting out for the tour of Alcatraz Island, which was a maximum security prison from 1934 to 1963, visitors need to allow several hours to explore the many shops and restaurants of Fisherman's Wharf. San Francisco travel would not be complete without taking in these two major attractions. Of course, the famous Lombard Street that winds zigzag fashion down one of the steep hillsides upon which the city is built is one street to be sure to include in any vacation plans. "Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever" (Psalm 68:16). Also, vacationers should explore the hundreds of rooms in the Winchester Mystery House that was begun in 1884 by Sarah L. Winchester, widow of the man who created of the Winchester Rifle. The house was constantly under construction for thirty-eight years until her death and has numerous oddities to visitors' amazement.

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I do not have a favorite island. Each island has unique characteristics that make it special. I like them all for different reasons.

I saw too much and did too much to go into details so I will just recommend a couple things.

Take a helicopter tour. We took our tour with Blue Hawaiian helicopters on the island of Kauai. They were very organized and professional. I felt safe and enjoyed every moment of it. The experience is worth the price.

Consider a submarine tour. We took our tour on Oahu with Atlantis submarines. They operate the largest passenger sub in the world. It is a unique and enjoyable experience. They also operate tours around the world. Check them out.

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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 up accidents from the National Transportation Safety Board. You can use this query form to search the accidents database. To get Hawaii results, be sure to select Hawaii as the state and Helicopter as the category of aircraft. When the results open, make sure to open each list to determine which tour company was involved in the accident. 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.

4. Timing your Tour. If possible, try to book your tour on the first or second day of your trip so that you will gain a better orientation of the island. In my opinion, late morning or early afternoon flights are best for limiting shadows and making the island’s colors more brilliant. For seeing the Na Pali Coast on Kauai, the afternoon light is best because the Na Pali is on the west side.

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