Jump to: Around the World in a Relatively Decent Chunk of Time
Defying gravity requires moon shoes, a first name preceded by Super, or a few canisters of liquid propane and a large wicker basket. Step inside a world of hot air and bobbing bliss with today's deal: for $140, you get one-hour ride from Dream Flights USA, a $250 value. Each Groupon is good for one person's entry aboard the futuristic aerovessel, so grab two and bring that special someone, or just one to finally escape them.
Your flight departs from Franklin, pending clearance from NASA and barks of approval from flight-deck commander Air Bud. The crew will inflate the balloon before your very eyes using a crack team of clowns and bicycle pumps. As your chariot inflates, check your camera film to make sure there's still some digital left—you won't want to miss capturing your ascent to a place where birds come in V's and wind dictates direction.
All Dream Flights pilots are licensed to fly commercially (with or without balloon assistance) and have decades of experience. Hot-air balloons are the safest way to fly, besides by cape, and the seasoned flight masters have been rising and falling for 25 years without incident. They know the terrain like the back of their backs, as each one logs hundreds of hours cruising over familiar terrain annually. Ebb and flow through the clouds in a softly billowed flight across central Tennessee.
Baskets can hold up to 16 people, making this a perfect romantic getaway for married octuplets or a rugby union team and coach. Gift a Groupon to each member of your family to see what it would be like to be a cloud. Or take your balloon- and basket-loving grandma on a ride that combines her interests and is sure to knock her knitted socks off.
Dream Flights USA
When Richard Arnold bought his first hot air balloon, his dreams for it were humble: he wanted to use it as a flying billboard for his jewelry store. The technicolor balloon caught so much attention, though, that it snowballed into a separate hot air balloon business.
Today, Dream Flights USA offers airborne adventures across the country, and Arnold—who now has more than 25 years of flying experience—is one of its seasoned pilots. He and his team helm bird's-eye-view tours of scenic terrain, celebrity homes, and beautifully maintained crop circles. In accordance with ballooning tradition, pilots and passengers can celebrate each successful tour with a champagne toast.