Unless you're deathly afraid of heights, riding around in a hot air balloon can be a lot of fun. There's no better feeling than rising above it all and taking in the sights. And if you're looking for a date idea, hot air balloon rides are about as romantic as they come. We've put together a great list of places to hit the skies in a hot air balloon. Here are the top 10 locations in the US for a hot air balloon ride.
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Poteau, Okla.
If you've never noticed, Oklahoma has beautiful landscape. Big cities are sparse, so that leaves plenty of room for beautiful country sides and farmlands. Poteau makes a great location for hot air ballooning for this reason. Also, an air balloon festival is held in the small town every year in the fall. When you do take a balloon ride, remember that Oklahoma has a lot of sunshine. You will want to bring along your sunglasses for the trip.
Taos, N.M.
New Mexico is already one of the premiere locations in the United States for private hot air balloon rides. Whether you are coming out of Santa Fe or Albuquerque, you are bound to have a great time on one of these aerial adventures. However, if you want to check out something truly exquisite, taking a hotair balloon ride over one of the "World's Prettiest Mountain Towns" is definitely the way to go.
Estes Park, Colo.
Estes Park is a popular tourist attraction at the base of the Rocky Mountains. It's also a fantastic location to take a hot air balloon ride. With views of valleys, mountains and all the wildlife you can handle, there is a lot to see when you are high above the tree tops. After you finish taking it in by air, hike through the park to get an entirely different view of it.
Napa Valley, Calif.
If you love wine and hot air balloon adventures, Napa Valley is the place for you to visit. Take a wine bottle on your trip, and you're trip is perfect! With breathtaking views of the vineyards below and a pleasant climate, this is one of the nicest and peaceful places in the US to take a balloon ride. It's such a popular place for this type of adventure that an annual balloon festival happens there.
Elkin, N.C.
Elkin, North Carolina has a lot going on for being the small town it is. It's nearly famous to those in the area for the festivals it holds. Plus, the area is beautiful and perfect for a hot air balloon ride. The town itself is just a couple hours north of Charlotte. Hot air trips are taken all over this beautiful area. In general, the entire New England area is a beautiful place to visit, but Elkin is especially pristine.
Monterey, Cali.
Monterey, California is a quaint, oceanside town with the flair for the romantic. Add a hot air balloon trip to your visit, and you've got the perfect romantic getaway. When you are floating around in the air, you will get quite the view. Along with views of the beautiful town, you can take in ocean wildlife and spectacular views of the ocean itself. Take one in the evening for the most beautiful sunset you've ever seen. Sunrise flights are also a fantastic option.
Barnard, VT
Farm country near Barnard, Vermont is a beautiful and romantic location. There are also a ton of hot air balloon companies that can help you get a better look of the area. The area features rolling hills, farms, rivers and much more. Getting a bird's eye view of this area is spectacular.
8. Westport, Mass.
Not far from Cape Cod, Newport and Buzzard's Bay is the small town of Westport, Mass., which is about an hour south of Boston. If you've never been to eastern Massachusetts before, you are really missing out on something beautiful. Taking in the sights from the ground is good enough, but wait until you take them in from a hot air balloon. This is another location you will want to take a ride a sunset to best enjoy the Atlantic Ocean in all its grandeur.
9. Amelia Island, Fla.
Amelia Island is where people go to get away from it all. It sits right on the ocean, just off the coast of Florida. It has beautiful views of the ocean and of the Floridian countryside. Naturally, it is one of the best places to take a hot air balloon ride in the United States. Make sure you check it out if you are in the area. It will make you very jealous of your air balloon pilot.
10. Jefferson, Texas
Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes the views you get from a hot air balloon. Jefferson, Texas has a lot to offer visitors. People know it for the beautiful outdoors and the landscape that surrounds it. Most tourists head to the tiny town to get better in tune with nature. That's why taking a hot air balloon ride through this area of the country is so phenomenal.
You can't go wrong by checking out any of these locations for a hot air balloon ride. But, be warned...once you take one trip, you won't want to come down again. Then, you will be busy chasing down the rest of the locations on this list. Happy flying!
