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Sonoma Ballooning Adventures

4.9 (151 reviews)

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Kent S.

What an amazing way to experience the Sonoma valley sunrise. Thanks to my gf for booking this unique tour as my first ever time hot air ballooning. The morning started with walking out to the runway and watching as the balloons were filled with hot air. This itself is a spectacle to behold. After that, we loaded into the baskets, a brief safety briefing on safe landing position, and lift off. The pilot turned the burners on high, the air around got warm and lift off. A hush fell over the roughly 15 people on board. Quickly we were up and enjoying the 360 deg panoramas. Great views of mountains and vineyards alike as we floated through the air. After an incredibly smooth landing, we witnessed the air being let out of the balloon, then a quick 10 minute ride back to the airport. The tour finished with a beautiful ballooned prayer and toast. Fitting it was with a rose' and not the typical champagne since we are in wine country after all.

AM S.

Our pilot, Matteo was awesome. We had an early morning flight. The valley was gorgeous with the rising sun and gentle breeze. It's a romantic chill way to bring in the day! Very special!

Engagement photos
Michael N.

What an amazing trip you have to ask for Louise. He is a great pilot and willing to explain everything about the wineries, the balloon experience. Etc..

The top of the balloon after landing
Tina M.

Booking my flight was easy on the phone with the staff. They sent a text and an email confirming all the details with a simple link to sign the waivers. I could even tell if everyone in the party had signed or not! Then the tickets even added to my iPhone wallet for easy reference. I received a phone call from the office the afternoon before explaining the weather because it was 50/50 for fog in sonoma. We chose to proceed with high hopes. The morning of, I used gps to find the meeting location, which was helpful bc it was so dark, but the had signs with flashers to help guide you where to go. Our pilot checked us in, and we were on a short hold until the sunrise, to make sure the fog burned off. we could watch the inflation right from the deck! When Chad our pilot deemed it safe, the crew inflated and stood up the balloon. We climbed in and Chad gave a very calm, slow and purposeful safety speech before lift off. The flight was absolutely amazing- rolling hills covered with grapevines for as far as we could see. The fog was over the water out to the bay- but even the tips of the Golden Gate Bridge were peaking out!! Chad pointed out some wineries and gave some basic wine country information. After the soft landing, we exited the basket through DOORS! And loaded up for a short ride back. They had a sparkling wine toast and closed with the ballooners prayer. They even had martinelli's for the kids. The crew and pilot split tips equally. That was encouraging! It was 100% customer service oriented. Exactly the way you would hope it to be!!

Lindsey J.

A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list and did using Sonoma Ballooning help achieve that! Very easy to schedule on the website. They will work with customers to ensure a safe and fun morning! There is a parking lot you can drive to or if you are near by they will pick you up at the hotel! Jeff did that for me and it was such an easy experience to get to and from. You're welcomed in the office with coffee and light morning snacks. Take in the pre balloon prep from the office or deck. Everyone was very professional and ensured we had the best experience. After some amazing views and a very nice long ride we safely landed back and had a toast with Champagne. Thank you Pilot Chad for such a great day! They came recommended to me and I wound recommend them to others. A sunrise hot air balloon ride should be on your list!

Amazing experience ballooning over Sonoma and Napa vineyards. Their team worked well together and you can tell they loved what they do. Mateo was our pilot and he did not disappoint. Answered all our questions and gave a ballooning experience unlike no other. Great experience.

Mike O.

You're in good hands if Chad is your pilot. Couldn't have asked for a calmer morning, unreal views and a glass of champagne to boot. The only way to float above the Sonoma valley, no need to look anywhere else. You'll be well looked after!

Lucy D.

Sonoma ballooning was amazing!!!!! We did a sunrise balloon ride for my birthday while visiting and it really made the trip. Early wake up call but so worth it. Our pilot/guide was Mateo and he was very knowledgeable. I was scared at first but everything was so smooth. The views and sunrise were gorgeous. Takeoff and landing were easy. All the staff and crew were so nice as well. 10/10 recommend

Outside Winters
Tim C.

Great time with Chad! Highly recommended! Need to book again soon. Thanks for the experience.

Heather H.

During our Sonoma trip we went ballooning with Mateo and Sonoma Ballooning. Such an amazing experience, it was so serene floating over the beautiful countryside. Mateo was a great pilot and clearly knew his stuff, the ground crew were great too, everyone was so friendly. Highly recommend!

Adriana T.

Our pilot Jeff was great on his first day. ( joking) it was a great kick off to my birth month celebrations! The view was amazing! Highly recommend!

Sonoma hot air balloon taking off in Winters!

We had a great time with Chad. Dana was beautiful and the ride was so smooth. We would do it again.

once in a lifetime experience! Jeff was an amazing pilot, funny and personable, which made the initial anxiety of being so high go away quickly. His navigation was impressive, easily maneuvering the balloon so we could have perfect moments for photos to commemorate this really unique tour! Another pilot, Chad, made us feel like we had known him for years, easy to talk to, and he was so knowledgeable and funny also (a doppleganger for Seth Rogan?!). All the staff was spectacular; friendly and accommodating, really wanting to make sure we got the most out of the tour. I'm at a loss to explain how peaceful the ride felt, just floating... viewing ranches and vineyards from this height was so rad. We saw deer, cattle, horses, 2 HUGE jack-rabbits (that's a first since we are from Ohio), a duck farm and so many rolling hills. Jeff nailed the landing; thanks Jeff!! Our champagne toast and merch shopping topped it off, an added bonus to what I am convinced was the smoothest ride, and one of coolest things I have ever experienced! Tip for passengers, use the restroom right before you go to watch the balloon inflate. Briefing on safety happens fast, then it's right into the balloon... these fellas are timely with their process. Expect a minimum of 2 hours with no restroom ;) This pilot team and ground crew truly made this an unforgettable flight! Thanks to all, we will be back!

30th birthday!

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Ask the Community - Sonoma Ballooning Adventures

Review Highlights - Sonoma Ballooning Adventures

Mateo was a great pilot and clearly knew his stuff, the ground crew were great too, everyone was so friendly.

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Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides - Amazing sunrise in Napa!

Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides

4.8(363 reviews)
10.7 mi

What an amazing experience! Absolutely breathtaking views of Napa Valley!…read more The pilot and crew were fantastic! They operate like a well oiled machine and focus on your safety and your happiness

Overall we had a good experience. I wish they would've…read morecalled us sooner to tell us what time they were picking us up. I ended up calling them the day prior to make sure what our pickup time was. She told me they don't usually call until the afternoon of the day prior. They picked us up from our hotel and brought us to the meeting location at 6am. Coffee, water, tea, muffins, and granola bars were available. The muffins were very tasty. There was very minimum communication. They never said what time we would be leaving. They gave us a bathroom reminder and then a long wait and then suddenly it was time to go. They fit a lot of people in a small waiting area. Which is outside btw. The staff was nice however, the person calling names for groups said our last name so wrong we didn't even know it was us and she was so quiet you could barely hear her. If you're in a later group, you will have a long day. We were in group one and got back to our hotel by 9am and other balloons hadn't even landed yet. Our driver, Bailey, was so sweet and nice. Our pilot was Chad, and you better hope you get him. He was informative, funny, nice, communicated well and considerate. Once we went to the launch site, it was a 20-30 mins wait for the balloon to be ready. We were in the air for about a half hour. We landed and then the vans came to get us, brought us back to the meeting location, and the our hotel. We had a good experience. Plan your day accordingly as you might not get back to your hotel until 930-1030.

Photos
Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides - Reflection of another hot air balloon from Napa Valley Air Loft.

Reflection of another hot air balloon from Napa Valley Air Loft.

Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides
Napa Valley Aloft Hot Air Balloon Rides - Balloons

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Balloons

Balloons Above the Valley

Balloons Above the Valley

4.4(516 reviews)
7.7 mi

This was a VERY FUN DAY !!! This balloon trip was an Anniversary Gift from our kids. Originally I…read morewas not too sure and something that I would not have planned to do !! However it turned out to be VERY FUN DAY !!!

I give it a 4.5. We had to arrive super early and wait for them to set up everything. It was cold…read moreoutside and they did provide coffee, hot chocolate and snacks. We the weather being so unpredictable we had to wait. I was fine with wait because i do value my life. I had the chance to cross off a major item from my bucket list. A hot air balloon ride and wow, what an experience! The views were absolutely breathtaking. Floating high above the landscape, seeing everything from a completely new perspective, was truly magical. The sunrise was especially beautiful as we drifted along, and the silence up there, broken only by the loud occasional burst of the burner, was unlike anything I've ever experienced. That said, there were a few things to consider. The heat from the burner can be overwhelming, especially if you're not prepared for it. I didn't wear a hat, and I really wish I had and i am short 5'2 those blasts of hot air can get pretty intense when they hit you directly! So, if you're planning this trip, definitely bring something to cover your head. The landing was a bit of a wild ride, too. The ground was much harder and more uneven than I expected, and we didn't quite know where we'd land until we were almost on top of it. Also getting in and out can be extremely challenging. It's hard climbing into and out of the basket and it's very tightly packed. Not a lot of space to move. I knew the risks going in but the whole experience was so worth it. Even with those little surprises, it was absolutely incredible. Would I do it again? Definitely not! Despite the heat and the bumpy landing, the beauty of the experience makes it all worthwhile and a one timer for me. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something unique and unforgettable to add to your list of adventures. Just don't forget your hat!

Photos
Balloons Above the Valley - After the flight you can take pics in front of the deflated balloon.

After the flight you can take pics in front of the deflated balloon.

Balloons Above the Valley - Captain Jake and the ground crew were amazing. Highly recommend!

Captain Jake and the ground crew were amazing. Highly recommend!

Balloons Above the Valley

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Napa Valley Drifters Hot Air Balloon - His proposal   2.16.14

Napa Valley Drifters Hot Air Balloon

4.0(128 reviews)
8.6 mi

My boyfriend planned this hot air balloon event for us as a surprise on Valentine's Day! We were in…read moreSF and we had to wake up at 5am to drive to Napa Valley because the hot air balloon company said to be there at about 630am ish. The meet up spot was at the Napa Valley Marriot Hotel. As everyone was gathering up and meeting and signing the waiver forms, a casual pastry breakfast was provided (starbucks coffee and tea, hot chocolate, and assorted pastries and muffins). On that particular morning, the Napa Valley was too foggy and they cannot issue up hot air balloons unless there is 0mph wind and the skies are clear. So they gave us the option of rescheduling our date or to travel with them to Winters. They drove us in big white vans! There were 3 hot air balloons and 8 couples were in each hot air balloon. It was really fun!!!!! The hot air balloon fliers were stationed in the middle and they educated us a lot on hot air balloons and steering with the wind and all the cool sorts! (However, I must admit that after a while it got kind of boring for me.. like.. okie.. now what? let's jump off!!! hehe i'm an adrenaline junkie.. sky diving is next for me :)) The way we landed was fun though! Our pilot taught us that the ladies had to sit on the guys' laps and we all had to duck down.. Landing was kind of rough in the sense that we kept going in one direction and our hot air balloon was tilted and kept bouncing off the ground and the hot air balloon finally tipped over! After the hot air balloon trips, we were driven back to the Marriot hotel for all you can eat breakfast, which consisted of sausages, bacon, bagels, scrambled eggs with cheese, waffles, coffee, tea, mimosas!!!! They took pictures of us as a couple and were selling semi-nice constructive paper frames with our picture and our balloon for $20?! So expensive, considering that the cost of the whole thing was already almost $700!! You would think that the picture would be included with the price hot air balloon package... OVERALL, wonderful experience :) very romantic and exciting and fun!!! I would highly recommend this to couples :) Maybe not on Valentine's Day because I know prices are more expensive on that special, over-hyped holiday haha

Props for Bob and Terry and Whorehay or is it Horehay? It was very early, we had to be driven…read morearound to find the right spot due to poor weather conditions. During the car ride Terry was happy to tell us about wineries since we were curious. He seems to be very well knowledgeable in that area. Good tips and all where to visit. We were very pleased. Above all I'm glad they choose to be more on the safety side although weather conditions were not looking good in Napa that day, we got to go near Rainbow City. They set up quickly, while we were in the car reading over the contract, yes there is a life death contract, well not that severe, but it's basically saying if they land somewhere in someone's property by accident or what not or get arrested for something then don't sue the dudes. Doubt that ever happens but hey, it's just a paper for safety requirements for their license. So before we started off, we had our chances to take pictures. Bob and them guys were nice, Bob was our pilot for the day. He was great. Talking was minimal, so we got to enjoy our time staring out from the high altitude. He told us about the speed we were going, altitude, distance and all that. Loved his company. He told us safety landing procedures too. All in all we were super satisfied with the service. :) We had a safe landing. Bob cared enough to ask me how I was doing when I was freaking out on the side holding on to the pole for dear life :) He also told us stories, about other couples, hear it for yourself haha~ Any doubts on this? Ask me, I'd be happy to share my experience. All I have to say is if I had enough money, I'd definitely go back and do it again at this place. :) Oh, we even got a free Champagne @ the end & a picture w/ bob. (See pix) :D

Photos
Napa Valley Drifters Hot Air Balloon - My boyfriend took us on a sunrise hot air balloon ride over napa during fall!!! Happy 5 years

My boyfriend took us on a sunrise hot air balloon ride over napa during fall!!! Happy 5 years

Napa Valley Drifters Hot Air Balloon
Napa Valley Drifters Hot Air Balloon

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Skydive Golden Gate

Skydive Golden Gate

4.9(90 reviews)
10.5 mi

Can finally check off skydiving from my bucket list!…read more My friends and I came here twice but were only able to skydive once. The first time we came was when there was a fire incident (not their fault), causing the airport to be shutdown. Thankfully, we were able to jump the second time we came. Upon arriving, you are required to fill out a waiver and watch a video about safety and onboarding. If you are over 200 lbs, be prepared to pay $1 per lb. The first time we came, the person helping us said that we could decide to purchase the photos/videos after recording them, since we were unsure whether we wanted them. The second time we came, they didn't allow us to do that and made us pay upfront. When we came to skydive, they were quite behind schedule. Our reservation was at 12 pm, but we didn't start until 1 pm. They can only bring up 2 people at a time due to the size of the plane, so if you're coming with a large group, expect to go in pairs. Each pair took around 30-45 minutes; we finished all our jumps around 2:45 pm. The skydiving experience itself was AMAZING! My instructor was Gus, who was super chill and explained to me all the instructions. I loved his enthusiasm and he made me feel so calm yet excited to jump. Greg is the other instructor, and he is also very detailed in his explanations. The plane ride up was smooth, although it's a bit tight and there are no seats. You get a nice view of the city and north bay once you're up in the air. You climb up to around 9000 in altitude, before the first person goes in their tandem skydive. At the end of your skydive, you get a certificate. If you want to get a skydiving license, you have to dive 25 times, and this counts as one of the dives. If this is your first time skydiving, I'd encourage you to get the video/photos to look back on. The whole thing goes by so fast. The video was a bit cringe to film and watch back, but I don't have any regrets getting it. It is $100 if you want either video or photos or $140 for both. The photos are just stills from the video, so it's bit pricey to pay an extra $40 on top for both. Overall, I had a fun time skydiving with Skydive Golden Gate. The instructors and staff were great, and the whole experience was thrilling and certainly gave me an adrenaline rush. The main downsides were the delays in schedule and the pricing for photos/videos. That being said though, I would still come back here and jump again!

Wow! Thanks Gus and Greg! A lot goes into providing a safe, educational, yet stress free and fun…read moreskydiving experience and for all of this to come through in such spades means that these guys must really love their job. We did our first tandem dive with Gus and Greg this weekend - it was unreal. You can tell they work with first timers a lot, they're calm and to the point and super psyched. The whole team created an easy-going experience and we couldn't be more grateful!

Photos
Skydive Golden Gate - Skydiving with Gus!

Skydiving with Gus!

Skydive Golden Gate
Skydive Golden Gate

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Sonoma Ballooning Adventures - hot_air_balloons - Updated May 2026

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