Hot air balloon rides shatter the stork community's monopoly on carrying humans in baskets. Democratize the skies with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $97 for a hot-air-balloon ride for one with a champagne toast and a continental breakfast or sunset snack (a $195 value)
- $190 for the above package for two (a $390 value)
Fully licensed and insured captains depart at sunrise or sunset and soar above the landscape for 60 minutes. Along the way, passengers can ogle views of the Sonoran Desert. After landing, passengers partake in a champagne toast and continental breakfast or sunset snack to celebrate a successful trip and receive a flight certificate, which they can then fold into a paper airplane to symbolize their flight.
Rainbow Ryders, Inc.
Fire and wind: that’s all it takes to fly. Hot air ballooning’s sheer simplicity sparked pilot Scott Appelman’s interest in the sport 30 years ago. “In a lot of ways, it’s the exact opposite of the way the world is today,” says the Rainbow Ryders, Inc. founder. “And I think that gives it a certain degree of romance.”
Further evidence of ballooning’s inherent romance can be found in the number of proposals and weddings that have taken place aboard Rainbow Ryders’ fleet of 19 balloons, earning the company a spot on Yahoo’s list of top five places in the nation to pop the question. Even if engagement is not on passengers’ agendas, the crew still strives to ensure a memorable expedition. Guests can join the launch crew to help inflate the balloon before takeoff, and upon landing, pilot and passengers clink glasses in a champagne toast to celebrate another successful flight.
Though whimsy and romance may prove the biggest draw, Rainbow Ryders’ untarnished safety record is what ultimately keeps the balloons hovering. Since 1982, experienced pilots have safely floated 160,000 people over the Rio Grande Valley. Pilots not only helm top-tier equipment, but carefully monitor the region’s weather patterns to ensure smooth thermal drafts and minimize hitchhiking requests from migrating geese.
Tips
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“Wickenburg is the town where the horseback riding is located, I live near Scottsdale, there are plenty of horseback riding places in my area, but I was ready for a...”
“Wickenburg is the town where the horseback riding is located, I live near Scottsdale, there are plenty of horseback riding places in my area, but I was ready for a change of scenery even if I had to drive 1 1/2 hours away! It was great! Went with a group of 7 and we all had a wonderful time! :-)”
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“Great experience and very knowledgeable pilot.”
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“the folks were brilliant... we had a great day!”
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