The Best Helicopter Tours in the USA

When thinking about Grand Canyon helicopter tours in a recent post, we were unsure on whether or not the tours would be for our style or not.  What I failed to mention is that I have already taken a helicopter tour many years ago over Smoky Mountain National Park and have a list of others that I would like to take in the future, such as over the famous Nazca lines of Peru; with a helicopter tour providing the best vantage point to see them. (Photo "South African Navy Helicopter" by hellosa)
Then I got to thinking, what are the best helicopter tours in the USA?  As there has to be a unique feature about them to warrant the higher price tag, I started researching and found several great locations across the country that a helicopter tour would be worth the price as well as produce some of the most enviable photos in your entire portfolio.
Kauai, Hawaii
The island of Kauai is probably the perfect match for a helicopter tour for one reason: isolation.  Some of the most beautiful parts of the island are only visible by being in a boat off the shore or in the air.  Of course, being in a boat means that you are low to the ground and only see the beautiful land, which was the backdrop for many scenes in the movie Jurassic Park, at one angle.  Going up several hundred feet with a helicopter opens a few vistas that are otherwise lost to the average visitor.   (Photo "Jurassic Mountains" by klsmith77)
New York City
You may not think of it, but New York helicopter tours are a popular way to get a good vantage point of one of the world's most popular cities.  In what you would think would be impossible, tourist helicopter tours take a low approach to the city with flying near such famous sites such as the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building.   While others get the same photos from the same angles day after day, your up close and personal shot of lady liberty could be the best of the bunch. (Photo "Statue of Liberty" by MMejan)
The Makings of a Great Helicopter Tour
A perfect combination has to occur for a helicopter tour to be an amazing experience and we have found out that is a combination of size and accesibility.  A helicopter tour provides great views for locations in which the sheer size gets lost when you are right in the middle of it.  The Grand Canyon, NYC, Las Vegas, and about any natural wonder bigger than a few miles are a few that you just cannot possibly see all in one direction at any given spot.  This goes right in line with accesibility as often the places you would need to get to in order to have these breathtaking views are impossible for the common person or just plain do not exist. 
Helicopter tours remove these boundaries and can get you as close or as far away from the action as you see fit.  While the price tag may match, and can be anywhere from $75 to $500+ for a trip, the amount of action that is packed into such a short period will be rivaled by only a few other experiences on this planet.  So if you ever find yourself in a location where the beauty is overwhelming, consider a helicopter tour and do not forget to bring your camera!