A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list since I was a child. Fun fact: I’m extremely afraid of heights. And yet I still had this at the top of my list.
Upon moving to the Boston area I discovered you could drift over the trees in New England. This sounds ideal in any season, however, I knew I had to jump aboard for the fall foliage.
I teamed up with Jeff, owner of Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides, located in Jericho, Vermont. Jeff is a paradox of sorts. He is a no-nonsense pilot, completely serious about his flights, and the safety of his passengers. If the conditions are not right, you aren’t flying. I was scheduled for the morning flight, and a front over Lake Champlain delayed us for 45 minutes, and I was thankful Jeff was on top of things. On the other side, once in the air, Jeff is full of witty jokes that make for great conversation between passengers and sets anyone with a fear of flying at ease during the flight.
I couldn’t have picked a better time frame for my first hot air balloon ride. Lake Champlain was a beautiful sight from above the tree line. The trees were just starting to turn to brilliant yellows and reds. The regular sight of rich evergreens with flashes of amber and garnet was a delight to see.
Jeff is constantly looking for the best path and takes you high above the tree line, but the best views are when he takes you so close you can reach out and grasp the leaves. You get a true sense of Vermont from the air, with a birds-eye view of working farms, ruby red barns, and horses prancing through their pastures. You can even catch sight of deer, and if you are very, very lucky a moose.
The flight was about an hour long and it went by so fast I just wanted to go right back up. The crew was incredible and landed us with such skill there weren’t any bumps or rough spots. Just soft and steady in a beautiful large field.
Above Reality Hot Air Balloon Rides operates all year round, although in the winter months the flights are very few. For Autumn flights I highly suggest calling a couple months ahead of time to book your flight. It’s definitely a New England Experience you don’t want to miss!
What a gorgeous adventure! I’m afraid of heights as well, but I’m always trying to push past it and do cool things like this. I’m definitely pinning this and putting it on my bucket list. Your photos are absolutely lovely.
Wow, that looks like an amazing experience! I would be way too afraid to do that but it looks like fun! Sidenote: Your page is AMAZING, love your logo.
Wow such amazing shades of autumn! I have never been in a hot air balloon, though it is on my list for wildlife safari in Kenya. I never thought a simple ride over the country side could also look this gorgeous.
This is soo gorgeous! What an incredible & fun way to see the foliage!
Wow! My hubby had a flight once and he enjoyed it very much. The silence was fantastic he said!
An absolute dream, especially during my favorite time of year. Looks like a special experience. May I ask how much a flight costs per person?
I love love love your photos!!! What a great idea to do a hot air balloon in the fall! We did a hot air balloon over Quebec about 5 years ago and had so much fun. So peaceful, floating… If I ever do one again I am sure to have your photo’s in mind!
I can’t even imagine getting to view the fall colors from above!! This must have been such an amazing way to experience autumn! I love hot air balloons, but I have yet to be lucky enough to ride in one! Your footage is beautiful! And the photos of the trees really are gorgeous!
i absolutely love the colors in this post!
Your pictures took my breath away, Shannon. A hot air balloon ride seems like an ultimate experience and I really hope to tick it off my bucket list soon. How long did the ride last?