Las Vegas Travel Guide & Grand Canyon Helicopter Wedding Experience | Southwest Trip Day 8
Arriving in Las Vegas for the First Time
After making our way from Zion and Valley of Fire, we arrived in Las Vegas, Nevada, where we would spend the final few days of our Southwest road trip.
This was our first time visiting Las Vegas, and it didn’t take long to realize how different it is from everywhere else we had been on this trip. After days of national parks, desert landscapes, and quiet scenic drives, Las Vegas is the complete opposite — bright, busy, and full of energy.
We spent time exploring both Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip, taking in everything the city has to offer.
Exploring Fremont Street and the Las Vegas Strip
Fremont Street has a completely different feel compared to the Strip. It’s more compact, with a high-energy atmosphere, live entertainment, and the massive LED canopy overhead lighting up the entire street.
The Las Vegas Strip, on the other hand, is spread out and packed with iconic hotels, casinos, and attractions. Walking the Strip at night is an experience in itself, with lights, music, and constant activity everywhere you look.
One thing we quickly learned is that getting around can take longer than expected. The Strip is much bigger than it looks on a map.
Getting Around Las Vegas
Instead of relying on rideshares or taxis, we figured out that using the Las Vegas transit bus system was one of the easiest and most affordable ways to move up and down the Strip.
It allowed us to:
travel longer distances quickly
avoid the cost of constant rideshares
hop on and off at different locations
spend more time exploring and less time walking between far distances
If you’re visiting Las Vegas for the first time, this is something worth considering, especially if you plan to cover a lot of ground.
Shows, Food, and the Vegas Experience
Las Vegas is known for its entertainment, and one of the highlights of our time there was seeing a Cirque du Soleil show.
If you’re planning a trip, this is something I would highly recommend. The production, talent, and overall experience are on another level and worth building into your itinerary.
Beyond that, we spent time:
exploring different hotels and casinos
trying a variety of restaurants
walking the Strip at night
taking in the atmosphere that makes Las Vegas unique
A Grand Canyon Helicopter Wedding Experience
The highlight of the entire trip came the day after we arrived in Las Vegas.
We had booked a Grand Canyon helicopter wedding experience, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable moments of our lives.
We met the tour company at the airport and boarded a helicopter for a sunset flight out to the Grand Canyon. Flying over the desert and into the canyon as the light started to change was incredible on its own.
When we landed inside the Grand Canyon, the setting felt unreal. Surrounded by massive canyon walls and completely removed from everything else, we exchanged vows and were married in one of the most unique locations imaginable.
Photography in the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas
One of the best parts of the experience was that the tour included a professional photographer.
As a photographer myself, I can say she did an excellent job. Capturing a moment like that in a location like the Grand Canyon isn’t easy, and she handled it extremely well.
After the ceremony, we boarded the helicopter again and flew back toward Las Vegas at sunset. As we approached the city, the Strip began to light up, creating an incredible contrast between the natural landscape we had just left and the city ahead.
Once we landed, a limo was waiting to take us around Las Vegas for additional wedding photos.
Iconic Las Vegas Photo Locations
We stopped at several iconic locations around Las Vegas for photos, including:
Welcome to Las Vegas sign
Bellagio fountains
Paris Las Vegas
Circus Circus
Excalibur
and other well-known spots along the Strip
Taking wedding photos across Las Vegas at night, surrounded by the lights and energy of the city, was a completely different experience from the quiet setting of the Grand Canyon earlier in the day.
It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Wrapping Up the Southwest Road Trip
Day 8 marked the end of our Southwest road trip, and it couldn’t have ended on a better note.
From desert landscapes and national parks to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, this trip had a little bit of everything.
What started as a travel adventure turned into something even more meaningful — a journey we’ll never forget. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading our series on I think a perfect road trip around the southwest US.
Southwest Road Trip Itinerary – Phoenix, Sedona, Antelope Canyon, Zion & Las Vegas
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