Thank you to the Phoenix CVB and Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Rides Phoenix for making it possible for me to share this experience with you. All opinions are my own.
There are few things that make waking up before sunrise worth the loss of sleep. Meeting the crew of Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon Rides Phoenix was one of those things.
The Sonoran Desert is a unique and beautiful place when observed from ground level, but the view from above is astounding in its expansiveness and grandeur. Hot air ballooning is a wonderfully tranquil experience for visitors of all ages. Sunrise and sunset flights provide magnificent vistas of desert terrain and towering mountain ranges. The view from the balloon’s handcrafted wicker basket is virtually unobstructed – a photographer’s dream! Upon landing, you will be welcomed back to earth in the traditional manner with flutes of champagne and breakfast, a custom dating back more than 100 years.
The perfect mixture of dry and chill in the air, along with the reds of the desert, and then the sunrise. It was simply breathtaking. They asked if anyone wanted to help set up, and in true Tara fashion I was quick to raise my hand.
Having been on a hot air balloon ride before, I was not as nervous as my sweet friends. I don’t think there is anything you can say or do to help anyone that may have the fear of going up for the first time, but shaking (or jumping) the jitters out was one of the ways we tried.
🙂 Aren’t we cute?
Once we were ready to go, we all loaded up, got our cameras (phones) ready, and off we went. Up, up and awayyyy….
Flying in the air at just over 1500 feet, the views were simply amazing. I found it fascinating to see the cutout plots of green grass in people’s backyards. Some in lieu of a swimming pool, and some, but very few, with both the pool and grass plots. Grass (either real or fake) is a commodity in Arizona.
We weren’t alone in the sky. There were dozens of other balloons joining us. The weather was perfect for the adventure that day. We even took a dip in a valley just to drift easily over the edge. Feeling inches (though we were hundreds of feet) above the tops of the cacti, it was a beautiful site. Simply breathtaking.
Landings can be tricky. This landing however was like putting a sleeping baby in a crib. So smooth and perfect, it didn’t even feel like we had come back to Earth. We finished with the traditional champagne toast upon landing. Legend has it that early French aeronauts carried champagne to appease angry or frightened spectators at the landing site. Many balloonists recite the Balloonist’s Blessing (Anon, known as ‘The Balloonists Prayer’) with this champagne toast:
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*My flight, lodgings, activities and most expenses were covered by Phoenix CVB. All opinions are 100% mine.
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Such great memories.
That’s INCREDIBLE!!!! I’d love that!
Loved this even if I did get a little dizzy. Great post!
Kas
Hi Tara! Lucky you! We are heading to the Balloon Fest in New Mexico this fall and I cannot wait! Your post sure has me ready for October to get here!!! (Great Pics too!)
~Victoria
DenSchool
One of my dreams is to go on a hot air balloon ride – SUPER jealous! Love these pics though 🙂 Looks like it was a fabulous time!