What's better than a hot air balloon ride? Hot air ballooning over Napa followed by unlimited mimosas and sparkling wine! I discovered my love of hot air ballooning last November in Cappadocia, Turkey. It is such an incredible and peaceful experience. When Emily mentioned she had never done it and we could balloon over Napa, it was a no-brainer.
Yes, hot air ballooning is pricey, but is absolutely worth it and usually includes a post-champagne-breakfast (it is a ballooning tradition to toast bubbly after a flight). We decided to go with Napa Valley Balloons and they were spectacular (well organized, professional, and fun). They pick you up from your hotel (warning, it is super early) and feed and caffeinated you before taking you out to the launch site. The blissful ride usually lasts about an hour. Our pilot Bob was a hoot (he had even ballooned in Turkey) and had some great one-liners. But, our personal favorite was "you can't drink all day, if you don't start in the morning!"
Bob made sure we were the first to launch and land so we could be the first back to the stunning Domaine Chandon and have dibs on the bubbly. We enjoyed a fabulous post-flight breakfast and lots of bubbles. Bob would not let our glasses get low lol. We also had a chance to explore the estate and take in the stunning scenery.
I will have to admit that the Napa scenery from the air was not quite as impressive as Turkey, but it was still stunning and worth doing it. But, you should also add Cappadocia to your bucket list, trust me!
PS - What do you think of these sunnies? These are the ones I exchanged my other pink pair for.
