Find yourself in a thatched basket hundreds of feet up, looking down on the lofty peaks of the Rocky Mountains on a Colorado balloon ride. Or, see the vast expanse of the prairie grasslands as they disappear into the curving, nearly infinite horizon.
There are a number of balloon operators across Colorado ready to take visitors skyward, and many of them offer special touches on their rides. Enjoy a Champagne toast, classical music and a sit-down breakfast right inside the basket.
Flights typically last between one and four hours and leave close to sunrise, when winds are most stable. It's best to dress in layers — departure is during cool hours, but the heat of the balloon (and the sun!) warms you up quickly.
Departure locations include Front Range cities like Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver and Longmont as well as mountain towns like Winter Park, Estes Park, Breckenridge, Vail, Ridgway, Ouray, Aspen and more. Some hot-air-balloon companies offer the chance to help with the balloon-inflation process, and many also offer a souvenir videos of your flight.