The Grand Canyon is the most visited attraction in the United States, and deservedly so. It is certainly on my list of natural wonders of the world. There are some wonderful opportunities to view this mind-blowing canyon which stretches over 277 miles with the tiny Colorado River lying a mile below the rim like a tiny green ribbon. Whitewater rafting, hiking, mule riding, boating and rafting can all be enjoyed in various parts of this National Park. The newly opened glass-bottomed Skywalk is another way to immerse yourself in the vastness of the area. As we were staying in Las Vegas, the best way for us to experience the Grand Canyon was by plane.

To be a bird at the Grand Canyon - Photo Allstays.com

We booked a small airplane from Las Vegas airport which transported us the 330 miles to the Grand Canyon for a flyover view. We admired the huge Hoover Dam and Lake Mead en route as we flew over. After miles of flat scrubland, desert and trees, the Grand Canyon suddenly appeared before our eyes, the ground simply dropping away and leaving a massive red and orange chasm of beautiful cliffs and natural formations which have been formed over thousands of years. We landed close to the West rim and took a helicopter for a closer look at this spectacular natural phenomenon. We took off and flew over the canyon to experience the extraordinary temples and plunging depths of the red rock faces. Then we descended 4000 feet to the Colorado River, where we viewed this amazing canyon from the bottom. The Colorado River is an amazing green color, apparently due to the algae in it.

Over the Grand Canyon, from the North side - Photo Allstays.com

Back on terra firma we took a coach trip to one of the Visitor Centers which again gave us amazing views of just a tiny part of this mammoth gorge. However you visit the Grand Canyon, it is a breathtaking experience and it certainly puts everything else into perspective.

By Gillian Birch