The first parachute was invented when Jack, tumbling haplessly from his titanium beanstalk, used a purloined pair of giant underpants to steady his fall. Glide to earth safely with today's deal: for $99, you get a tandem skydive from Skydive Houston, up to a $179 value. Jumps are subject to weather and volcanoes, but if the air is clear, a tandem skydive is an effortless, safe way to cloudsurf.

More than 30,000 students have plunged from the skies above Skydive Houston's private airport. You'll spend 20–30 minutes in a classroom going over expectations and basic safety precautions while certified technicians pack your parachute and prepare the latest of the latest equipment designed specially for tandem jumps. After an inspirational speech about how the sky is more afraid of you than you are of it, you'll load into the safe, sturdy Twin Otter turboprop, strap onto your jumpsperienced dive guide, and soar as high as 14,000 feet before it's time to fall into the open arms of sky. Securely fastened to your partner, you'll plummet for a 60-second free fall, hooting and spinning while your instructor manages the details of swerving around clouds and asking hawks for directions. When the time is right, he or she will pull your chute, and during the next five to six minutes of canopy glide, you'll be able to admire the sights of downtown Houston, the Galleria area, and Lake Conroe.

A recipient of the most illustrious Pinnacle Award from the Houston Better Business Bureau, Skydive Houston has been keeping it extreme and extremely safe since 1993. Skydive Houston's facilities include space and electrical hookups for RVs, a pool, and bunk beds if you're staying overnight ($5). Be sure to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed sneakers, and check the FAQ for more information.

Reviews

DropZone reviewers give Skydive Houston an average rating of five stars. Yelpers give it an average of 3.5 stars:

• Skydive Houston provides an environment where all are welcome. It's cool jumping out of planes, but it's even better when you are jumping with people you like. – nklowe, DropZone
• I did my very first tandem jump at Skydive Houston over the summer with a few of my friends. It was an amazing experience. The staff was very friendly, as were the other jumpers just hanging out… It was a fun place to be, and I would definitely go back if I ever decide to jump again. – NewJumper74, DropZone