Completed 30 April 2014
Update j: The Grand Canyon, Arizona
It was going to be a full day with an early start and late finish, so after making sure batteries were charged, SD cards clear and all camera gear packed I was out the door to wait for pickup.
First stop was the Hoover Dam which in my experience was a bit disappointing, however that may have just been the tour only allowed us to view from the one side and it wasn't the impressive picturesque side. Honestly, this was the reason I didn't do many "tours" while in America, because I like to see things at my own pace and explore. But still that was done and on to the next.
After a long drive, though some very pretty country, the next stop, was the Joshua Tree National Forrest. We had a look around, took some photos before continuing on our way, although the single road to the canyon was undergoing some serious road works which lead to some significant delays. But we got there in the end.
Now you start off at a base camp which has buses that travel around to a few lookout points, however we decided to take the helicopter flight first before visiting the lookouts and getting lunch. I have to say, I would have paid the entire days fee just for the helicopter flight itself. It was amazing and worth every cent.
Flying over and through the canyon is something I will now recommend to anyone who is visiting it. When we landed on the base of the canyon, we were able to get out, walk around and snap some photos before getting back in and flying out.
Next was a cruise around via the shuttle buses to two different lookout points and a silly little village that was a typical tourist trap, which no offence to the people that built it. I have no interest in that lame type of activity (although the food was amazing, granted).
Unfortunately number 67 won't be marked as complete until all of the sites listed have been visited.
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Uluru, Australia
Machu Picchu, Peru
The Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sydney Harbour, Australia
Taj Mahal, Delhi, India
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Angor Wat, Cambodia
The Great Wall of China
Update j: The Grand Canyon, Arizona
The Grand Canyon, a sight not uncommon to be included on bucket lists around the world. Coming in at one of the "7 Natural Wonders of the World", epic in size and scale.
So like as with everything else of my trip, initial step was planning and reviewing tour companies on sites like Tripadvisor, and cost was largely not an issue as it was something I was happy to pay for. I ended up deciding on Adventure Photo Tours (www.adventurephototours.com), as it seemed to be at least a bit more photographic orientated with their 6-1 tour including helicopter flight and landing on the base of the canyon.
It was going to be a full day with an early start and late finish, so after making sure batteries were charged, SD cards clear and all camera gear packed I was out the door to wait for pickup.
First stop was the Hoover Dam which in my experience was a bit disappointing, however that may have just been the tour only allowed us to view from the one side and it wasn't the impressive picturesque side. Honestly, this was the reason I didn't do many "tours" while in America, because I like to see things at my own pace and explore. But still that was done and on to the next.
After a long drive, though some very pretty country, the next stop, was the Joshua Tree National Forrest. We had a look around, took some photos before continuing on our way, although the single road to the canyon was undergoing some serious road works which lead to some significant delays. But we got there in the end.
Now you start off at a base camp which has buses that travel around to a few lookout points, however we decided to take the helicopter flight first before visiting the lookouts and getting lunch. I have to say, I would have paid the entire days fee just for the helicopter flight itself. It was amazing and worth every cent.
Flying over and through the canyon is something I will now recommend to anyone who is visiting it. When we landed on the base of the canyon, we were able to get out, walk around and snap some photos before getting back in and flying out.
Next was a cruise around via the shuttle buses to two different lookout points and a silly little village that was a typical tourist trap, which no offence to the people that built it. I have no interest in that lame type of activity (although the food was amazing, granted).
Unfortunately number 67 won't be marked as complete until all of the sites listed have been visited.
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Uluru, Australia
Machu Picchu, Peru
The Pyramids at Giza, Egypt
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Sydney Harbour, Australia
Taj Mahal, Delhi, India
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Angor Wat, Cambodia
The Great Wall of China
