Hot Air Balloon Rides

kjkam · 07-09-2018, 10:04 AM

Looking to setup a private hot air balloon ride over the lake as a surprise to my wife for our anniversary. I've searched google, but haven't come up with much, hoping the forums can help

Thanks

chaseisland · 07-09-2018, 10:15 AM

Check out seaplane tours, pilot David French. I did this several anniversarys ago. Really surprised the wife. It is also not as dependent upon the weather. If you do find a hot air balloon please PM me. I'd love it. Good luck.

Descant · 07-09-2018, 10:17 AM

Google "Balloon NH" and there are 98.5MM responses including a couple of upcoming balloon festivals in Pittsfield and Suncook Valley Rotary.
High 5 travels all over. I took my kids out with them several years ago for a Father's Day event, there were three balloons so it was an extra to be able to see other balloons, take their pix and have ours taken.
http://www.high5ballooning.com/

jazzman · 07-09-2018, 10:19 AM

I've never seen a hot air balloon here. I suspect there are not enough open potential landing spaces around here because of all the mountains.

I second the seaplane ride idea. I did it once and they even picked me up at my dock.

Descant · 07-09-2018, 10:47 AM

Some years ago, we saw three balloons drifting south in Gilford, 6:30 am, tracking the lake shore. Presumably they launched at the Laconia airport, and of course, we don't know where they landed. There are plenty of golf courses and school yards around as well as fields, all more visible from the air than what you see looking cross country from the ground.

The Real BigGuy · 07-09-2018, 12:24 PM

Used to be biplane rides out of Laconia airport. Open cockpit and seated 2. Don’t know if it is still running. Did see biplane & sign advertising rides at Moultonboro apt this AM.

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Hillcountry · 07-09-2018, 01:21 PM

Check with FLL...he’s the Lakes Region’s premier source for “hot air”

Don’t know if noodles will fly, however...

FlyingScot · 07-09-2018, 07:08 PM

kjkam--you are Mr Romance! Super idea. I don't think the bi-plane will have quite the same effect, so I'm hoping you'll find the balloon. Good luck!

Descant · 07-09-2018, 10:05 PM

Signed up for the bi-pane ride as a birthday present, paid in advance. When we tried to schedule, "I'm all booked up". Lost $150. Rip off.

webmaster · 07-10-2018, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzman

I've never seen a hot air balloon here.

A tethered balloon ride attraction was tried at Weirs Beach in 2006:

kjkam · 07-10-2018, 12:23 PM

Thanks for the ideas on the plane, but we have done the small plane thing, mostly to transport her for treatments. She has on her bucket list for a hot air balloon ride, will likely take her to the large balloon event, but thought something over the lake where we met would be more meaningful.

fatlazyless · 07-10-2018, 04:27 PM

28.5 miles, 46 minutes drive time from downtown Meredith via NH-106 S and NH-107 S:

www.pittsfieldnh.gov/community/balloon-rally/

The Winster · 07-10-2018, 06:04 PM

You may have found this in your search but if not perhaps it could lead to a balloon pilot who would travel to the lake for you.
The Granite State Balloon Assoc.

http://www.hotairballoon.org/nh/

07-09-2018, 10:04 AM	#1
kjkam Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Hot Air Balloon Rides Looking to setup a private hot air balloon ride over the lake as a surprise to my wife for our anniversary. I've searched google, but haven't come up with much, hoping the forums can help Thanks

07-09-2018, 10:15 AM	#2
chaseisland Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Concord, NH Posts: 158 Thanks: 17 Thanked 68 Times in 44 Posts	anniversary Check out seaplane tours, pilot David French. I did this several anniversarys ago. Really surprised the wife. It is also not as dependent upon the weather. If you do find a hot air balloon please PM me. I'd love it. Good luck.

07-09-2018, 10:05 PM	#9
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,383 Thanks: 1,354 Thanked 1,628 Times in 1,060 Posts	Birthday bust Signed up for the bi-pane ride as a birthday present, paid in advance. When we tried to schedule, "I'm all booked up". Lost $150. Rip off.

07-10-2018, 12:23 PM	#11
kjkam Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 39 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	balloon ride Thanks for the ideas on the plane, but we have done the small plane thing, mostly to transport her for treatments. She has on her bucket list for a hot air balloon ride, will likely take her to the large balloon event, but thought something over the lake where we met would be more meaningful.

07-10-2018, 04:27 PM	#12
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,766 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,017 Times in 740 Posts	Aug 3-4-5 balloon rally, Pittsfield NH 28.5 miles, 46 minutes drive time from downtown Meredith via NH-106 S and NH-107 S: www.pittsfieldnh.gov/community/balloon-rally/ __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

The Following User Says Thank You to chaseisland For This Useful Post:
Winnitoon (07-09-2018)

07-09-2018, 10:17 AM	#3
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,383 Thanks: 1,354 Thanked 1,628 Times in 1,060 Posts	Google "Balloon NH" and there are 98.5MM responses including a couple of upcoming balloon festivals in Pittsfield and Suncook Valley Rotary. High 5 travels all over. I took my kids out with them several years ago for a Father's Day event, there were three balloons so it was an extra to be able to see other balloons, take their pix and have ours taken. http://www.high5ballooning.com/

07-09-2018, 10:19 AM	#4
jazzman Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Mont Vernon NH & Big Barndoor Island Posts: 323 Thanks: 4 Thanked 184 Times in 62 Posts	I've never seen a hot air balloon here. I suspect there are not enough open potential landing spaces around here because of all the mountains. I second the seaplane ride idea. I did it once and they even picked me up at my dock.

07-09-2018, 10:47 AM	#5
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,383 Thanks: 1,354 Thanked 1,628 Times in 1,060 Posts	Some years ago, we saw three balloons drifting south in Gilford, 6:30 am, tracking the lake shore. Presumably they launched at the Laconia airport, and of course, we don't know where they landed. There are plenty of golf courses and school yards around as well as fields, all more visible from the air than what you see looking cross country from the ground.

07-09-2018, 12:24 PM	#6
The Real BigGuy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,310 Thanks: 125 Thanked 472 Times in 287 Posts	Used to be biplane rides out of Laconia airport. Open cockpit and seated 2. Don’t know if it is still running. Did see biplane & sign advertising rides at Moultonboro apt this AM. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

07-09-2018, 01:21 PM	#7
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,420 Thanks: 1,677 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	Check with FLL...he’s the Lakes Region’s premier source for “hot air” Don’t know if noodles will fly, however...

The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Hillcountry For This Useful Post:
Merrymeeting (07-11-2018), pondguy (07-09-2018), rander7823 (07-09-2018), Reilly (07-09-2018)

07-09-2018, 07:08 PM	#8
FlyingScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA Posts: 2,401 Thanks: 1,299 Thanked 1,022 Times in 632 Posts	kjkam--you are Mr Romance! Super idea. I don't think the bi-plane will have quite the same effect, so I'm hoping you'll find the balloon. Good luck!

07-10-2018, 06:04 PM	#13
The Winster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Connecticut and Tuftonboro Posts: 55 Thanks: 115 Thanked 41 Times in 18 Posts	You may have found this in your search but if not perhaps it could lead to a balloon pilot who would travel to the lake for you. The Granite State Balloon Assoc. http://www.hotairballoon.org/nh/