| While small, ordinary balloons can be entertaining, | | | | these festivals are more than just places to race. |
| true wonder is had when one actually rides in a | | | | Most festivals also have the opportunity for rides. |
| hot air balloon. These large balloons work in a | | | | Attendees can pay money to be taken up in a |
| completely different way, needing a constant flow | | | | hot air balloon. For many people, this is a thrilling |
| of hot air pumped into their large balloons. Most | | | | adventure. It is safer than sky diving hang gliding, |
| large hot air balloons have big baskets suspended | | | | but it allows you to feel a real sense of flight. It is |
| beneath. These baskets can be used to carry | | | | not like being in a plane, where you have no |
| people who wish to ride in the hot air balloon. | | | | contact with the air, and you are removed from |
| Many people have ridden in hot air balloons over | | | | your experience by a barrier of steel and glass. |
| the centuries. Before there were planes and hang | | | | However, one does not need to wait for a hot air |
| gliders, there were hot air balloons. When humans | | | | balloon festival to enjoy a ride on a hot air balloon. |
| first began to take to the skies with any | | | | Many companies are cropping up all around the |
| regularity, they used hot air balloons. In fact, | | | | country that offer hot air balloon rides for a |
| many early parachute dare devils performed their | | | | variety of occasions. You can sight see in a hot |
| feats out of hot air balloons, since there were no | | | | air balloon. There are hot air balloon tours that can |
| planes for them to jump from. There have even | | | | take you out over the Grand Canyon. Imagine |
| been around the world flights in such balloons. The | | | | interacting with nature in such a manner! Or, if |
| famous book, Around the World in Eighty Days, | | | | colored leaves are your cup of tea, you can take |
| makes use of a hot air balloon for the hero. | | | | fall leaf sight seeing tours over various New |
| Today, there are hot air balloon races that | | | | England states in hot air balloons. And many of |
| combine the wonder of flying in the sky, open to | | | | these companies do not limit themselves to |
| the air, with the excitement of a race. One the | | | | simply providing tours. They also offer a surprising |
| most famous hot air balloon races takes place in | | | | amount of amenities. You can fly over the Grand |
| Albuquerque, New Mexico, every year. Smaller | | | | Canyon at sunset, and then have the balloon set |
| races, like the one in Driggs, Idaho, also take place | | | | you down at a specially prepared romantic picnic, |
| all over the country. Such races are usually | | | | complete with champagne. Companies in the east |
| accompanied by games on the ground, | | | | offer similar options for fall leaf tours. You can be |
| spectacular views, and good entertainment. Many | | | | set down in the midst of a local vineyard and |
| locales turn the entire day into a hot air balloon | | | | enjoy a wine tasting before floating back to your |
| festival, with the race as the focus. But many of | | | | car. |