Adventure Balloon Sports, Boulder

In the 1700s, a hot air balloon was a strange and potentially worrisome sight, especially because pilots often landed in unsuspecting civilians’ backyards. To build goodwill with anyone they scared, balloon pilots carried a bottle of champagne on every flight. This tradition of the convivial champagne toast still lives on at Adventure Balloon Sports, where, after each landing, the company’s FAA-certified pilots pour a celebratory glass of bubbly for each passenger.

But before the toast, the adventure begins as flights soar skyward, showcasing Colorado’s rugged terrain and the majestic sprawl of the Rocky Mountains. No two flights are the same—after departing, pilots can only fully control the balloon’s vertical motion, meaning balloons often safely land in neighboring towns, rather than in the local hot air balloon parking lot.