From road trips and rail journeys to river cruises and hiking trails, there are countless ways to experience the landscapes of the USA. A helicopter flight, however, offers an entirely different perspective.
Across the country, scenic flights are going beyond traditional sightseeing, pairing aerial views with experiences ranging from a famous film location and a private island picnic to lakeside dining and a Hudson Valley wine tasting.
And the experience does not have to end when the helicopter lands. From spotting bison in South Dakota and hiking through Kaua?i’s dramatic landscapes to tracing Boston’s history on foot, these flights can become the starting point for exploring even more of each destination. Here are six ways to experience the USA from above – and what to explore once back on the ground.
For more travel inspiration and ideas to build your own U.S. adventure, visit AmericaTheBeautiful.com.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Black Hills Helicopter Tour by Black Hills Helicopters
Take in some of South Dakota’s most recognisable landmarks from the air on Black Hills Helicopters’ Black Hills Tour. The flight offers aerial views of Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Crazy Horse Memorial before extending to the scenic reservoirs of Pactola and Sheridan Lake.
Crazy Horse Memorial remains a work in progress, with the mountain carving depicting Lakota leader Crazy Horse as part of a broader memorial dedicated to honouring Indigenous people of North America. From monumental carvings to forested hills and stretches of blue water, the flight brings together some of the Black Hills’ most distinctive landscapes.
Custer State Park
Continue exploring the Black Hills on the ground at Custer State Park, where the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road winds through open grasslands and pine-studded hills. Keep watch for the park’s free-roaming bison, as well as deer, elk, bighorn sheep, prairie dogs and its famous feral burros. For another scenic drive, Needles Highway cuts through forests and rugged granite formations, passing Sylvan Lake along the way.
Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure by Island Helicopters
Step into cinematic history with Island Helicopters on Kaua?i. The Jurassic Falls Landing Adventure takes passengers to Manawaiopuna Falls, famously featured in Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park. The experience includes Island Helicopters’ Grand Skies island flight before landing at the falls.
After landing, passengers can follow a jungle path to the base of the falls while learning about the area’s native plants, geologic formations and agricultural history. Island Helicopters is the only operator offering a landing experience at Manawaiopuna Falls, giving visitors access to a part of Kaua?i that cannot be experienced on a conventional sightseeing tour.
Waimea Canyon and Koke?e State Park
See another side of Kaua?i on the ground at Waimea Canyon and neighbouring Koke?e State Park. Scenic lookouts reveal the canyon’s deep gorges and rugged cliffs, while Koke?e offers miles of hiking trails through native forest, with views across Waimea Canyon and towards the Napali Coast. It is a chance to explore on foot some of the landscapes passengers can also glimpse from the air during the helicopter tour.
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Harbor
Sunset Tour by Helicopter Tour Boston
See Boston in the changing light of golden hour with Helicopter Tour Boston’s Sunset Tour. The flight travels over the Boston Harbor Islands and Atlantic Ocean before heading towards the city, with panoramic views of the skyline, Seaport District and harbour islands along the way.
As daylight fades and the city begins to light up, the journey offers a different perspective on Boston’s historic landmarks, modern cityscape and waterfront.
The Freedom Trail
Back at street level, explore Boston’s history along the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile red-brick route connecting 16 nationally significant historic sites. Beginning at Boston Common and continuing through neighbourhoods including the North End and Charlestown, the trail takes visitors past places connected to the events and people that shaped the American Revolution.
CALIFORNIA
Heli-Picnic Experience by Maverick Helicopters
Escape to Catalina Island with Maverick Helicopters on a private Heli-Picnic Experience. The journey begins with a scenic flight over the Southern California coastline before landing at a secluded location on the island, with aerial views of Catalina’s coastline and rugged interior.
Guests can settle in for a gourmet picnic with selected delicacies and premium champagne, surrounded by the island’s backcountry scenery. There is also the option to take a short hike and explore the local wildlife before returning to the mainland.
Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour
For a longer Catalina Island stay, take the adventure from the air to the treetops on the Catalina Zip Line Eco Tour. Starting from a ridge 600 feet above Descanso Beach Club, the two-hour experience descends through Descanso Canyon across five zip lines, reaching speeds approaching 35 mph and offering sweeping ocean views along the way.
Angelo’s At The Point by Scenic Helicopter Tours
Combine an aerial journey with waterfront dining on Scenic Helicopter Tours’ Angelo’s At The Point experience. Departing from a private heliport near downtown Sevierville, the guided flight takes passengers over the French Broad River and Douglas Lake before landing for lunch or dinner at Angelo’s At The Point in historic Dandridge.
Guests are escorted to a lakeside table, where the restaurant serves a selection ranging from all-American favourites to more refined dishes. Pairing views from the air with a relaxed meal by the water, the experience offers a different way to explore East Tennessee.
Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Pair the flight with a visit to Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a broad valley surrounded by mountains. An 11-mile, one-way loop road winds through the valley, providing access to hiking trails, historic homesites, churches and cemeteries, as well as opportunities to spot wildlife along the way.
NEW YORK
Brotherhood Winery Experience by HeliNY
Follow the Hudson River north from Manhattan on a private helicopter journey to Brotherhood Winery in Washingtonville, founded in 1839 and recognised as the oldest continuously operating winery in the United States.
After landing, guests receive a private tour of the winery’s historic cellars and estate grounds, followed by a guided wine tasting. The experience continues with a personalised four-course lunch prepared by 1839 Restaurant, with dishes paired with wine. On the return journey to Manhattan, passengers can also take in aerial views of the New York City skyline.
Storm King Art Center
For a longer Hudson Valley itinerary, visit Storm King Art Center, a 500-acre outdoor museum where large-scale sculptures and site-specific works are set across rolling hills, meadows and forests. The experience adds an arts and culture dimension to a Hudson Valley escape built around wine, food and scenery.