When most people think of Las Vegas, they usually think of the Las Vegas Strip. That will all change in 2011 as more people discover another side of Las Vegas and Nevada. Adventure and eco-tourism adds another dynamic to the entertainment capital of the world.

"Where else can you play all night in one of the most luxurious cities in the world and then wake up the next day and buzz through the Grand Canyon in a helicopter," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com LLC. "Or maybe you want to ride the same trails as the legendary outlaws of wild, wild West before taking in one of several dozen Vegas-style shows."

According to Hoke, the contrast between what people do during the day and night while staying in Las Vegas is surprising even if the explanation is simple. After two or three visits to Las Vegas, visitors begin to discover that Nevada is the fourth most bio-diverse state in nation (behind Florida and Hawaii) because of its vast area and rapidly changing elevations.

"International visitors are even more likely to book with us because many of them look at Las Vegas as a one-time trip," said Hoke. "They want to experience as much as possible and only Las Vegas puts them within a short drive from several natural wonders and unique experiences. Some people book tours with us for every day of their stay."

Five Most Popular Tourism Predictions For Las Vegas In 2011.

1. Grand Canyon Helicopter Landing.
Easily one of the top tours from Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon helicopter landing is a remarkable stop at one of the top ten natural wonders of the world. After a 35-minute flight aboard a state-of-the-art Eco-Star, passengers land 3,200 feet below the West Rim of the Grand Canyon for a champagne lunch. The trip includes some of the best aeriall views of Boulder City, Lake Mead, and Hoover Dam. With TourGuy.com, you save $110.

2. Colorado River White Water Rafting.
Reopening in March, TourGuy.com will begin offering the best full-day white water rafting adventure available from Las Vegas. The white water rafting trip allows you to experience the full fury of the Colorado River as you race down over rapids rated as class 3-6 on the Grand Canyon scale. The tour includes stops at some of the most breathtaking hidden canyons and waterfalls. With TourGuy.com, you save $60. For a more relaxed experience, consider the Black Canyon rafting tour instead.

3. Bryce Canyon From Las Vegas.
For anyone who has already seen the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, with its colorful limestone formations, offers a breathtaking photo opportunity unlike any other in the world. Equally remarkable, you can see panoramic views up to 200 miles away from the dramatically carved spires that make Bryce Canyon unforgettable. The Bryce Canyon visit also includes some stops in Zion National Park. With TourGuy.com, you save $10 per person (or more with larger groups).

4. Death Valley Day Tour.
There is no better time to book a tour to Death Valley than late winter and early spring before the temperatures climb to more than 120 degrees. Considered one of the most underrated tours offered, Death Valley includes more famed stops than any other tour offered, including ghost towns, sand dunes, and large salt plains that mark the last remnants of a time long forgotten. There has never been a better time to experience one of the most foreboding places on earth. With TourGuy.com, you save $10 per person (or more with larger groups).

5. Red Rock Canyon Breakfast Ride
There are many ways to experience nearby Red Rock Canyon, but only one way to appreciate this timeless landscape. On horseback, you can travel the same trails as outlaws, lawmen, wild mustangs, and Native Americans. It is the only way to appreciate the expansive landscape that greeted settlers, traders, and cowboys well away from roads and other manmade construction. With TourGuy.com, you save $20 off an already discounted price.

TourGuy.com was founded to help people experience another side of tourism with its first major hub located in Las Vegas. It was founded during National Tourism Week in 2010 and consistently offers the lowest base price, with additional discounts, in the Las Vegas area. For more things to do outside Las Vegas, discover the full offering of adventure and eco-tourism in Nevada.

Of all the names people associate with Las Vegas, the most well-earned in recent years is party town U.S.A. And there is no better time to experience the full force of it than on New Year's Eve 2011.

Visitors travel from all over the world to ring in the New Year. In fact, Las Vegas was recently named one of the five best cities in the world to visit for New Year's eve. The other four included Edinburgh, Scotland; Bangkok, Thailand; Berlin, Germany; and Hong Kong, China. More than 7.2 million people are estimated to be in town for the break between Christmas and New Year.

All the attention has attracted Fox's “New Year’s Eve Live” to dispatch a special correspondent to cover performances like two-time Grammy-nominated group Plain White Ts, Jabbawockeez, Travie McCoy, David Archuleta, and Criss Angel. If you cannot make it to Las Vegas for the live action, make sure you tune in next Friday night, where Fox will be broadcasting from Mandalay Bay.

Add An Adventure To Your Las Vegas New Year's Eve 2011.

So what could make an amazing vacation even more memorable for New Year's eve? Booking a once-in-a-lifetime "Vegas Neon Lights" Helicopter City Tour with a champagne toast and still make it back to the hotel in time to watch the fireworks.

The tour includes a 12- to 15-minute flight aboard the luxurious ECO-Star EC130 Jet Helicopter, which is the same state-of-the-art helicopter employed to take visitors to the Grand Canyon nearby Las Vegas.


This is one of the most silent and luxurious helicopters in the world with stadium-style seating for all passengers. Our operator is also the only company licensed to fly this route, which will take you past iconic landmarks such as the Bellagio, Caesars Palace, Stratosphere Tower, MGM Grand, Paris Las Vegas' Eiffel Tower, Luxor, and Downtown Las Vegas.

In addition to the amazing views above Las Vegas, guests who arrive early can take a short walk to the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign for another amazing photo opportunity. For complete details about this new Las Vegas helicopter tour offering from TourGuy.com, please visit our website and explore more sites to see in Las Vegas.

Happy holidays and merry Christmas from everyone here at TourGuy.com. Please visit next week for our predictions on some of the hottest adventure and eco-tours for next year. Several tours will leave you with a very different outlook on Las Vegas.

Ever since the last eruption occurred and disrupted travel plans in Europe, volcanic tourism has captured everyone's imagination. Even the NBC photoblog published a photo taken from space.

In addition to trying to catch volcanoes in the act, there are several hot tour and travel spots around the world to see volcanoes, both active and dormant. We've compiled a list of the top five, two of which reside in the United States.

You might also be surprised to learn that Nevada, especially around Las Vegas, is a hot bed for extinct volcanoes. At least, everybody thinks they are extinct.

Five Of The World's Hottest Volcanic Spots.

Kilauea, Hawaii. Originally thought to be a satellite of its giant neighbor, Kilauea turned out to be its own magma-plumbing system. It extends 60 kilometers into the earth, and began erupting in 1983. It continues to send lava from the top of its cinder-and-splattered peak into the sea almost 11 miles away. Tours.

Mount Liamuiga Volcano, St Kitts. Mount Liamuiga is a 3,792 feet stratovolcano which forms the western part of the island of Saint Kitts. While currently inactive with a crater lake within its cone, the volcano still offers some dramatic views as one of the tallest peaks in the eastern Caribbean archipelago. Hikes.

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain, fourth most prominent mountain in the world, and made of three volcanic cones. It began almost one million years ago. Today, two of its peaks are extinct while its highest peak could erupt again. Climbing.

Mount Vesuvius, Italy. Looking up at Mount Vesuvius from the ruins of Pompeii still paints a grim reminder of the awesome power of a volcano. When it erupted in 79 AD, it destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Neither have been rebuilt. The last eruption occurred in 1944, making Mount Vesuvius long overdue. Tours.

Kachemak Bay, Alaska. Ten million years ago, seven distinct volcanoes began to form in Kachemak Bay. Currently, three of them — Douglas, Augustine and Iliamna — show signs of volcanic activity. One issues smoke and steam. One shows haze. And one steams continuously with plumes reaching 2,000 feet above the mountain. Flights.

Extinct Volcanoes Near Las Vegas.

While there are no known active volcanoes in southern Nevada, there are many remnants, including Fortification Hill. Located on the east side of Lake Mead, the flat topped mountain dominates the skyline. It offers some breathtaking views for adventurers who want to go it alone.

With TourGuy.com, you can see Fortification Hill from Lake Mead during the Hoover Dam VIP Ground Tour or from the air on the Grand Canyon & Hoover Dam Scenic Airplane Tour. The latter is a once-in-a-lifetime 70-minute flight.

The Black Mountains and the Hamblin-Cleopatra, which are also near Lake Mead, were volcanic. So is the McCullough Range, which is located south of Henderson. The McCullough Range is also known as one of the best places for off-road adventures such as the Class 1 Unlimited Off-Road Racecar Ride-a-long.

North of Las Vegas, the entire southwestern portion of Nevada was formed by volcanic activity. The southwestern Nevada volcanic field includes the Nevada Test Site, Nellis Air Force Base Range, and Yucca Mountain. The last eruptions in this area are estimated to have been almost 13 million years ago.

TourGuy.com specializes in adventure and eco-tourism from Las Vegas, including all three rims of the Grand Canyon in Arizona; Death Valley in California; Bryce and Zion Canyons in Utah; and dozens more. Group bookings are also available.

TourGuy.com has created its top five adventure and eco-tour gifts for 2010. All of them represent some of the most exclusive finds that people are talking about this year. Our specialists made their picks based on exclusivity, originality, and price.

All of these picks are also environmentally friendly either in their design or production. TourGuy.com follows the same guidelines. We only work with operators that follow the principles of Leave No Trace.

Along with our top five quick picks, TourGuy.com has reduced its pricing on select tours for the next two weeks. Like these exclusive gift picks, all of our adventure and eco-tours from Las Vegas represent the most memorable experiences to add to your must-do list in Las Vegas. Enjoy!

Top Five Adventures Gifts For 2010.

1. Vintage Compass. In the last two years, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) equipped phones have all but made handheld compasses obsolete. However, as they became less practical, handheld compasses have found a new appeal as collectibles and even fashion accessories. While there are many to choose from, some of the most striking were made at the turn of the century.

The one pictured is a brass compass made by Cary of London, circa 1880. It is protected by a leather case and features a mother of pearl dial. (Credit: The Boreal Arrow). Most compasses range from $150 to $450.

2. Cell Phone Gloves. Swany has designed Techno glove, with an i_NDEX digital finger and thumb, allowing travelers to use their phones without taking off their gloves. While the various gloves differ in style, most Swany gloves are made with a soft-shell, digitized palm print and gel-printed fingers.

While you're there, take a look at the new Eco-circle gloves too. Those gloves start with a shell fabric made from recycled material. Even more remarkable, when you are done using the gloves (years from now), you can return them to Swany in an eco-friendly envelope (provided). Average price is about $25.

3. Solio Universal Solar Charger. You don't have to be an adventurer to appreciate the ability to charge your phone anywhere. The compact oval-shaped device fans open to include three small panels that collect sunlight and convert it into energy.

According to Solio, the classic version fits more than 3,200 phones. You can also charge it via a USB connection or optional wall charger. Recently, the company added some additional styles. Average price is about $100.



4. Waterproof Digital Camera. There might be many waterproof cameras, but the Canon Powershot D10 generally receives the highest ratings as a waterproof and shockproof camera that still takes great shots. The camera also features 12.1 megapixels, 3 x optical zoom, and optical image stabilization. Average price is $250.

According to Canon, the camera is waterproof to 33 feet, temperature resistant from 14-104°F, and shockproof up to 4 feet. It also includes Canon's advanced face detection technology.



5. Las Vegas Adventure Experience. The best gift for any adventurer and eco-traveler is their next experience. TourGuy.com features more than 40 different tours that range from casual motor coach tours of nearby Hoover Dam to full-day ATV tours across the McCullough Mountain Range.

TourGuy.com covers adventure and eco-tours in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah from a central location in Las Vegas. One of the most consistently popular tours includes an Eco-Star, EC-130 6-seat jet helicopter ride to the floor of the Grand Canyon. Book a tour from Las Vegas for your group or call us to discuss a deposit on a gift adventure. Prices range from $119 to $469.

The Nevada State Parks has published a 2011 calendar containing full-color images of many of Nevada’s beautiful state parks, including photos from places such as Cathedral Gorge, Lake Tahoe, Berlin-Ichthyosaur, and the Valley of Fire. Many of the images were submitted by visitors.

Their submissions were part of the park system’s 75th anniversary photography contest. The contest had been divided into three categories: park scenery, park wildlife, and family fun. Any photos submitted prior to September were considered for the calendar. However, photos may still be submitted through the end of December for prizes.

"This presents a unique opportunity for visitors booking trips with TourGuy.com because our operators travel to many areas just off the beaten path near or in our state parks," said James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com, LLC. "The Valley of Fire is especially popular right now, given the cooler temperatures and fewer visitors this time of year."


Hoke said several parks are close to Las Vegas, including Spring Mountain Ranch (which is located near Red Rock National Conservation Area), the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park, and Valley of Fire, which is the largest and oldest park in Nevada. It was founded in 1935 and is best known for its renown rock formations, petrified trees, and 3,000-year-old Indian petroglyphs.

"The tour also includes a stop at the Lost City of the Anasazi, which most people miss when they travel to the park on their own," said Hoke. "But mostly, the guides will help you find some of the most remarkable photo opportunities in southern Nevada."

Lost City Museum & Valley of Fire Ground Tour departs Las Vegas daily and includes lunch. Visitors can expect to be returned to their resorts shortly after 2 p.m. The tour is perfect for families with children under 12 traveling to Las Vegas during the holiday season. Hoke said there are considerably fewer visitors in the winter so all adventure and eco-tours from Las Vegas are especially attractive.

To enter the state-sponsored contest, photos must have a resolution of at least 1.0 megabytes (MB) to be considered. Photos can then be emailed to the State Parks’ 75th Anniversary Photo Contest with an entry form per the guidelines.

The photo entry form can be found here. Photos must be submitted separately and each much have its own form.

Hoke said it would be a remarkable way to be forever remembered as a participant (and perhaps winner) during the Nevada State Parks’ 75th Anniversary. Winners will also receive any number of prizes. He added that a portion of the proceeds directly benefit the parks. TourGuy.com is only providing this information as a public service.