Hundreds of feet above the ground, I stared out at the San Francisco Bay and enjoyed the breeze in my hair. For my mother’s birthday, we went on adventure above the clouds. For the past year, we’ve seen ten beautiful balloons everyday soaring through the sky. We decided to be in one of those 10 balloons in April for her 40thbirthday. It was a momentous occasion that would only happen once, so why not celebrate with a once in a lifetime experience?
â–º Quarter Finalist 2011 Teen Travel Writing Scholarship
We chose to do our adventure through the Napa Valley Balloons, Inc. We drove into Napa early in the morning because the best time to go ballooning is right after sunrise. They provided pastries and coffee, but I was far too nervous to eat any. I knew we would travel at the same speed as the wind, but the height terrified me. Before I could blink, I was in a bus and transported to the site where we would depart from the ground and into the clouds. Soon, I was at the same level as the top of the hills, and all of my previous worries seemed as small as the ants on the ground.
Wait, those were cars! I realized how high we were, and after a brief moment of fear, I could appreciate the view again. It was stunning. Breath-taking. Pure beauty. I closed my eyes for a second to enjoy the wind in my hair and the silence. I accidently leaned against the side of the basket and felt my foot slip. The fear rushed into my mind, and I gawked at a small hole in the corner of the basket. I could see the grass swaying and the flowers opening up for the day.
I slowly moved towards the stranger on my right, and the fear slowly dissolved. Then, suddenly, I heard a ring. My mom’s cell phone still somehow managed to have reception! She answered to my aunt singing happy birthday, and the whole basket joined in. As we came down for the landing, I was disappointed to see the adventure ending. While the basket fell over when we tried to get out, I found I had fallen even more for the beautiful sceneries I saw from the sky.
Although it was speckled with fear, the overall trip was remarkable and astounding. I recommend hot air ballooning to those who crave adventure and those who don’t. The extraordinary view is worth overcoming your fears.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
