Alternative Sightseeing in the Southwest
Don’t want to just watch the incredible scenery of the Southwest rush by from behind a car window? If you’re tired of hiking and biking your way through what Mother Nature has to offer, maybe it’s time you consider some alternative ways of discovering the great Southwest frontier. Here are some unique ways to see the sights in some of your favorite places.
By now chances are good you’ve heard of stand-up paddle boarding, a cross between surfing and kayaking that has become a popular way to see the sights – and get a workout – in cities such as Austin. But if you want to be in on the newest crave, trade that board for a bike – a water bike. At Austin Water Bikes on the city’s scenic Lady Bird Lake, you can take in the birds, trees, plants and other wildlife from the seat of a specially made water bike. All you do is hop aboard a water bike – which is basically a cross between a bicycle and a kayak – and pedal your way across the water. Not only will you get a great workout, but you’ll also see this music-loving city in a way that you’ve never imagined. All tours leave from 208 Barton Springs Rd., located directly behind the downtown Hyatt hotel.
Sure, you may have seen the Grand Canyon, but you haven’t really seen the Grand Canyon until you’re hovering above it, peering down from the window of a helicopter. If you’re going to be visiting the Grand Canyon – or even simply going to be in the Las Vegas area -- consider a helicopter tour, which will allow you to see the Grand Canyon’s North and South rims. At more than 11 miles across, there’s no vantage point like this one. Other great areas for helicopter tours include the Las Vegas strip, Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon West Rim, Lake Powell and Rainbow Bridge, Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.
Perhaps no place is better known for its hot air ballooning than Albuquerque, which hosts and annual festival that draws visitors from around the world. But did you know that many major cities in the Southwest, from Tuscon and Phoenix to Albuquerque and Denver, offer hot air balloon tours? It’s a wonderful, unique way to see the incredible natural beauty of the Southwest. A few things to know, however. Inflating the balloon can take a while, and once you’re up in the air, it can get quite cold. Bring a sweater. Also, there’s no guarantee that you’re going to have a smooth landing. When I tried it in Albuquerque we had a tip-over landing, meaning the entire basket of our balloon went over on its side and skidded across the dirt before finally coming to a stop. The experience was incredible, but you need to be prepared for a bumpy landing.
•Water Biking
By now chances are good you’ve heard of stand-up paddle boarding, a cross between surfing and kayaking that has become a popular way to see the sights – and get a workout – in cities such as Austin. But if you want to be in on the newest crave, trade that board for a bike – a water bike. At Austin Water Bikes on the city’s scenic Lady Bird Lake, you can take in the birds, trees, plants and other wildlife from the seat of a specially made water bike. All you do is hop aboard a water bike – which is basically a cross between a bicycle and a kayak – and pedal your way across the water. Not only will you get a great workout, but you’ll also see this music-loving city in a way that you’ve never imagined. All tours leave from 208 Barton Springs Rd., located directly behind the downtown Hyatt hotel.
•Helicopter Tours
Sure, you may have seen the Grand Canyon, but you haven’t really seen the Grand Canyon until you’re hovering above it, peering down from the window of a helicopter. If you’re going to be visiting the Grand Canyon – or even simply going to be in the Las Vegas area -- consider a helicopter tour, which will allow you to see the Grand Canyon’s North and South rims. At more than 11 miles across, there’s no vantage point like this one. Other great areas for helicopter tours include the Las Vegas strip, Grand Canyon National Park, the Grand Canyon West Rim, Lake Powell and Rainbow Bridge, Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.
•Snowmobiling
If you’re afraid of hitting the slopes on skis – or if you need to take a rest from a schedule that’s already been packed with powder – enjoy the snow in a different way: on a snowmobile. All sorts of resorts offer snowmobile tours, from Colorado to Utah to New Mexico. It’s a fast, fun way to see the backcountry without getting exhausted. You can even try snowmobiling at more off-limits locales such as Yellowstone National Park, where you’ll get a chance to meet up with bison and other wildlife in their natural habitats. I can assure you the views you get from the back of the snowmobile -- everything from waterfalls to geysers to animal footprints – are unlike anything you’ve ever seen.•Hot Air Ballooning
Perhaps no place is better known for its hot air ballooning than Albuquerque, which hosts and annual festival that draws visitors from around the world. But did you know that many major cities in the Southwest, from Tuscon and Phoenix to Albuquerque and Denver, offer hot air balloon tours? It’s a wonderful, unique way to see the incredible natural beauty of the Southwest. A few things to know, however. Inflating the balloon can take a while, and once you’re up in the air, it can get quite cold. Bring a sweater. Also, there’s no guarantee that you’re going to have a smooth landing. When I tried it in Albuquerque we had a tip-over landing, meaning the entire basket of our balloon went over on its side and skidded across the dirt before finally coming to a stop. The experience was incredible, but you need to be prepared for a bumpy landing.
