New Mexico | First Hot Air Balloon Experience in Albuquerque đ
Iâve been skydiving and flown in small planes, but I still couldnât resist the chance to get up close to the sky in a hot air balloon. There are hot air balloon tours near Chicago too, but theyâre a 2-3 hour drive from the city center. Since I was already in Albuquerque this time, it felt like the perfect opportunity to check this off my list!đ I chose Rainbow Ryder (letâs call it RR for short)âit has great reviews online and offers services in many cities across the US. Due to my itinerary, I went for a sunrise balloon ride, but sunset slots are also available (Iâve heard the light during sunset is even more beautiful!). When booking the tour, RR reminds you to contact their office one day in advance to confirm the next dayâs meeting timeâthis time changes based on when the sun rises. On the day of the ride, we met at RRâs office first, then their staff transported everyone to a nearby spot suitable for takeoff. Surprisingly, our launch site was the parking lot of a local shopping mall that day đ żď¸âtotally unexpected, but it worked perfectly!đ The flight lasted between 45 to 90 minutes. Looking down at Albuquerque from above the city was absolutely stunning. A key tip: Wear a thick coat and bring hand warmers! The temperature is still pretty low at high altitude before sunriseâyou donât want to shiver through the experience.⨠The flight itself was super smooth. As long as youâre not afraid of heights, you can fully relax and enjoy every minute. After we landed safely, the pilot even made mimosas for everyone to celebrate our successful flightâsuch a nice touch! Next time, I want to come back for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Just imagining hundreds of hot air balloons filling the sky makes me excitedâit must be so atmospheric! #SummerCatWhoLovesEating #RoadTrip #Sunrise #HotAirBalloon #BalloonFiesta #Albuquerque #AlbuquerqueTravel #NewMexico #NorthAmericanLife
