There are numerous hot air balloon company in the Napa Valley. We decided to go with Napa Valley Balloons for this iconic sunrise trip through the valley. It started with a simple coffee and pastry breakfast before sunrise at Domaine Chandon. Afterwards, we took a short shuttle bus ride to our balloon and were in the air for about an hour. It was a wonderful experience and the views of the vineyards, the sunrise, and the mountains, were gorgeous.
After our balloon ride, we were shuttled back to Domaine Chandon for a full buffet breakfast including mimosas. The staff were all very friendly and it was worth every penny.
The National Balloon Museum, about 40 minutes from Des Moines was an interesting place to spend about an hour. In here, you'll discover all the different types of balloons out there, and the designs are quite varied and interesting. In addition, you can learn about what goes into Ballooning and how competitions work. There's also a short movie you can watch during your visit. For us, the most interesting part was seeing balloons with various favorite cartoon characters and other designs that brought a great feeling of nostalgia to us.
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.
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