Hot Air Balloon Ride - Montgomery & Chester County, PA

In the crisp dark of 6 a.m., the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team uses fans to blow up their balloon, and then heats the air so the balloon turns upright.

And, as soon as there is sunlight, we’re off the ground, floating and going where the winds take us.

Our balloon pilot, Stan, has been working in the ballooning business for more than 30 years. When we first get into the balloon, Stan thought we would be headed towards Honeybrook, PA, southwest from the Pottstown Municipal Airport, where our flight took off.

However, ballooning is a unique form of aviation because the pilot controls the height of the balloon, but not the direction the balloon flies in. Because of this, we landed in Phoenixville, PA, southeast from the airport.

Riding in the hot air balloon was a very serene experience. I didn’t even notice we were taking off until someone said something to me.

The ride was smooth and enjoyable – we were able to take in the sights around us and below us and since most of us on the flight were from the area, we could look for landmarks and friend’s houses. Lots of people also pulled over to take photos or to wave hello at us from the ground.

Because we were in the 6 a.m. flight, we took off at first light and were incredibly lucky to get to see an amazing sunrise from 2,000 feet in the air.

Once we landed, the team recruited us to help pack up the balloon. We helped fold the balloon together and roll it up – and Matt and I even helped squeeze the air out of the balloon bag.

The fall, early winter and early spring, Stan told us, are the best times to fly because the air is cold so you get the best resistance from the hot air in the balloon and the cold air outside.

U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team does both national and international flights. Locally, they fly out of the Pottstown Municipal Airport.

Gift certificates can be purchased and redeemed at any of the 150 locations and resorts nationwide, including their local Pottstown and Lancaster locations.

More information can be found on their website at www.hotairballoon.com or you can call them at 800-763-5987.

Lancaster City Market

Located in the heart of downtown Lancaster is Central Market.

Central Market boasts itself as being one of the country’s oldest, continuously operating farmers’ markets, and a trip to downtown Lancaster should not be without a trip here.

Fresh baked goodies, home grown produce, fresh meats, even fresh apple cider…not to mention PA Dutch goodies you can only find at homegrown stands like these. Here you’ll find scrapple, butter pickles, and chow chow as well as fresh preserves and homemade jellies and jams.

You can also find hand made crafts here like kitchen goods, woodcrafts and children’s toys.

Central Market is located at 23 North Market Street in downtown Lancaster and is open Tuesday and Friday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Lancaster Heritage Museum

In the central part of the city of Lancaster, at 5 West King Street, is the Heritage Center Museum.  This museum, attached directly to the Lancaster Visitor's Center, is free for all to enter.  Consisting of 3 floors, this museum gives you a brief view into the history of Lancaster, and Pennsylvania Dutch Country as a whole.

The first floor is dedicated to the Amish culture and the differences between PA German and English traditions. Many of the exhibits on this floor, and throughout the museum are interactive and great for kids. Lifestyle exhibits include Amish toys that children can play with to understand how children play in the Amish culture.

While you'll learn and see exhibits about the Amish, you'll also see various other portions of the areas history including a working printing press from the 1920s. The third floor print shop has a person running it and will discuss each part of the print shop and teach children and adults how to use some of the machinery.

Before you leave, make sure to grab some flyers on other great attractions in the area at the Visitor's Center and a restaurant recommendation and see some of the local craftsmanship at the museum store.

Stop by across the street at the City Market for a bite to eat before exploring more of downtown Lancaster.

Philadelphia Kennel Club National Dog Show - 2010 Preview

The Philadelphia Kennel Club National Dog Show presented by Purina will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks on Nov. 20 and 21. The National Dog Show is unique to other dog show because it is a “Benched” show, where the dogs and their exhibitors are assigned booths for certain hours during the show so that visitors can talk with exhibitors and even interact with the dogs.

Dogs are available Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Nov. 21 from noon until 3:30 p.m. The show is Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The National Dog Show is televised on NBC immediately following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, with 20 million people nationally and internationally viewing it each year. It is the most widely watched dog show in the world!

The National Dog Show will bring 2,000 dogs and close to 170 breeds into Philadelphia. Of those, six new AKC breeds will make their debut. They are: Boykin Spaniel, Leonberger, Cane Corso, Icelandic Sheepdog, Bluetick Coonhound and the Redbone Coonhound.

Tickets and more information about the show are available at www.nationaldogshow.com. Tickets for adults are $12 and for children 12 and under are $6. The show is a great event for families to attend and learn about dogs up close.

Better Than A Travel Guide will be there next Sunday...we hope to see you there too!