Neon & Nature

The Neon & Nature tour is a Maverick Helicopters flight that pairs Red Rock Canyon with the Las Vegas Strip aboard an ECO-Star helicopter. For guests staying at hotels within about five miles of the Strip, the experience starts with a limousine transfer to Maverick's terminal, then heads out over the red sandstone cliffs west of the city.

After roughly 12 to 15 minutes in the air above the canyon's scenic loop, the helicopter sets down for a private landing on a high desert overlook near 2,900 feet, where a sparkling toast comes with a wide valley panorama. The return leg crosses the Strip itself, passing landmarks such as Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Luxor and Allegiant Stadium before the limo returns guests to their hotel.

The math to know: it is an expensive splurge, and only about 25 minutes of the roughly 2.5-hour hotel-to-hotel block is actual air time, with the rest spent on the limo transfer and the 30-minute ground landing. The only refreshment is the champagne toast, not a meal, and flights can be delayed or scrubbed by wind, while summer haze and heat can dull midday views. Verdict: for a milestone occasion, especially at sunset when the canyon glows and the Strip begins to light up, it delivers a view few tours match; budget-minded flyers may prefer a shorter Strip-only night flight.