Eastern Soaring Center, Inc., Petersburg

Eastern Soaring Center, Inc. gives residents of Petersburg and the surrounding area a whole new way to enjoy the majesty of their home state's mountainous landscape: from above. But this isn't just any ole' airplane ride—it's an exhilarating experience inside a glider. Unlike a traditional aircraft launch, the extremely slender and aerodynamic glider catapults passengers skyward up to 3,000 feet high via a winch launch, going 0 to 60 mph within two seconds before silently floating through the clouds sans motor. And to ensure you can enjoy the view, retired USAF colonel and seasoned glider instructor Brian Collins does all the piloting work, helming the eerily quiet aircraft as it soars above West Virginia's gorgeously rugged terrain.