Balloon Rides
A friend told me about an interesting web site recently. HotAirBallooning.com is the online center of the universe for air balloons. I went to a balloon race last year, and I was amazed at all the different balloons. They are made in all kinds of shapes and colors, and even though they are all huge, they do come in different sizes. Some looked like they were one-person balloons, while some had about a dozen people in the basket.
I never knew how to go for a balloon ride. I’ve seen balloons in the distance since that balloon race, but never thought much more about it until I came across this site. It’s got everything - how to become a pilot, where to find festivals, how balloons fly, a great FAQ section. But the the parts I really enjoyed were the list of the Top 50 Balloon Sites, and the directory of balloon rides that lists approved ballooning companies all over the world. There are even ride companies listed in France, where ballooning began over 200 years ago!
Did you know that hot air balloons require a pilot license to fly one? It’s only logical because they share the sky with airplanes - I just never thought about it! I also learned that balloons only fly in the early morning or just before sunset since that’s when the wind is the calmest. This website will tell you everything you wanted to know about balloons.
If you’ve been drawn to balloons like I have you’ll learn a lot. When you go there, check out the section about balloon festivals. It lists a whole bunch of festivals around the world so you can see them up close and personal.
So check it out — www.hotairballooning.com