Hot air ballooning - man's
earliest form of flight - has been in existence for more than two
hundred years. Our company, Above
& Beyond Ballooning, has been providing safe, enjoyable hot air balloon rides for
more than a decade.
Following the traditions of the
early aeronauts, we will embark on a journey filled with moments of
excitement and serenity alike. As our guests of honor, your flight
is guaranteed to be memorable and breathtaking!
Who
are we?
Above & Beyond Ballooning is one of the
largest and most experienced balloon companies in the Northeast,
centrally located in beautiful Hunterdon County, NJ and Chester County, PA. We provide champagne hot air balloon rides, corporate
hot air balloon advertising, new hot air balloon sales, hot air
balloon flight instruction and much
more. With many years in the business, we've been there, done that -
and have the smiling faces of many satisfied customers to prove it!
 |
| The unique view
from another balloon above us |
Where
do we fly?
We have three main flight
regions we serve - NJ, NY and PA. We schedule and fly hot air
balloon rides year-round in each area.
In New Jersey, we fly in
the Clinton, NJ area. Our base of operations is our private
Balloonport at the Hunterdon
Hills Playhouse, easily accessible just seconds off of Route 78 at Exit 11.
Clinton is approximately 60 minutes West of New York City and is the
closest balloon flying area to NYC. Our flights often take us over
the beautiful landscape of Hunterdon County, Warren County and
Somerset County. To schedule a flight in New Jersey, call us
at 908-713-6123.
In New York, we launch
our hot air balloons primarily from James
Baird State Park, just a few minutes east of the greater Poughkeepsie
area in Dutchess County. Easily accessible just seconds off the Taconic State Parkway,
James Baird State Park is
about 90 minutes north of New York City. To schedule a flight in New York, call us at 908-208-1869.
In Eastern Pennsylvania, we fly primarily from
a hot air ballooning facility located near the intersection of Routes 100
and 401 in Chester Springs,
PA. This launch site is easily accessible and approximately four miles
North of the PA Turnpike at Exit 312 (Downingtown). It's a
45-minute drive from Philadelphia to this launch site. We'll see
Chester County, Montgomery County, Berks County and sometimes
Lancaster County from the air. To schedule a flight in Pennsylvania, call us
at 908-208-1869.
Visit the
Directions page for driving directions and maps to our three
main launch sites.
Special
Events & Group Flights
For occasions such as
company picnics, workshops and other functions, we specialize in
large group flight excursions. We can easily handle
parties of 60 or more with multiple balloons. Large groups
will be divided into groups of 2 to 6 passengers per balloon, with
some of our larger balloons capable of carrying up to 10 at a time in
our comfortable luxury baskets. Group discount rates apply for six or more
passengers at one time.
Amazing, unique and extraordinary Adventure
Flight Packages are available for a premium. Check out our
one-of-a-kind ballooning expeditions close to home. We are the only
hot air balloon company currently offering balloon flights over NYC.
Rates,
Prices & Online Ordering
Visit our Pricing
section for our current rates and online gift certificate ordering.
 |
| Autumn
Foliage Sunrise Flight |
When
can we fly?
We fly hot air balloons year-round, seven
days a week. Weekends always tend to fill up first, so if you
plan on a weekend flight, be sure to call at least two weeks in
advance. However, we can often schedule your flight with a day's
notice (sometimes less!).
In the autumn, the leaves'
spectacular color
changes are a show not to be missed! The fall is our busiest
time of year for just that reason (especially fall weekends). Book early
in the season to ensure your date is available.
As a rule of thumb, we recommend booking your
preferred balloon flight date at least two weeks in advance to be certain it
will
be available. However, last-minute bookings are always possible -
just give us a call to find out if we have immediate availability.
As always, all hot air balloon
flights are weather permitting (see below)
and at the discretion of the pilot-in-command.
When
do our balloon flights depart?
We only launch twice a day - at
sunrise and 2 hours before sunset. These times are when the winds
are calmest to allow for a most enjoyable flight. During the middle
of the day, it's usually too unstable to fly due to thermals and
wind gusts. As an added bonus, sunrise & sunset are the most
breathtaking times of day for balloon photography. The vivid light
and rich color of the low sun on the horizon allows for many fantastic photo
opportunities.
For morning flights, we will
meet at the launch site approximately 30 minutes before
sunrise. In the afternoons, we generally meet two-and-a-half hours before
sunset. Be sure to ask for the current meeting time when you call to
confirm on the night before your morning flight or the day of your
afternoon flight.
Check out our official Sunrise/Sunset
Calendars for each flying area to find out when we will
meet. These are our official timetables and determine our meeting
time on any given day.
 |
| Treetop flying
offers a wonderful view of the wildlife and scenery on NJ, NY
& PA balloon rides |
How
High/Fast/Far will we fly?
Since balloons only travel as
fast as the wind is blowing, we won't go much faster than 8 to 10
miles per hour near the ground. If the winds low to the ground are any
quicker than that,
takeoffs and landings become a bit tricky. In those cases, we simply
don't fly. There's an old and wise saying we use in the ballooning
circle - "It's better to be on the ground wishing we were up
there, than to be in the air wishing we were down here!"
Most of our hot air balloon
flights last over an hour, so we will cover anywhere from 2 to 20
miles in that time. You'll traverse lots of countryside and witness
diverse changes in scenery on a typical balloon ride in New Jersey.
As to how high we'll be
soaring, we can fly anywhere from treetop level to many thousands of feet up!
Down low among the trees is arguably the most enjoyable part of any
flight. You'll be able to pick leaves and converse with earthbound
folks as we gently float along.
We also like to climb up high to give passengers an expansive vista of Central and North Jersey
from a few thousand feet up. On a clear day as seen from a hot air
balloon, we can usually make out the
skylines of both New York City and Philadelphia on the distant
horizons, as well as the Kittatinny Mountains and Delaware Water Gap to the Northwest and the
Atlantic Ocean to the East.
 |
| Balloons floating gently
over a Hunterdon County neighborhood on a beautiful summer
afternoon |
I'm
afraid of heights! What should I expect?
Acrophobia: The fear of
heights. I'll venture to guess perhaps 80% or more of all our
passengers have some degree of apprehension about leaving the
ground.
For those passengers who are
adventurous enough to conquer their own fears and take to the air,
99.9% of them get back on the ground and vow to come back and do it
again with us!
There's a simple explanation
for this seemingly remarkable phenomenon:
When looking
straight down the side of a tall building, parking garage or
similar high place, you are able to visualize your physical
connection to the ground. This actual perceived height is what
makes you step back from the edge, grasp that railing a little
tighter, or in extreme cases, get a little sick to your stomach.
Not fun!
However, in a hot
air balloon basket, there is no visible connection to the ground.
This detachment from the earth essentially removes any uneasy sensations
of height. Furthermore, there is no relative altitude in a balloon
- whether two feet above the treetops or two thousand feet up, it
all feels the the same. But the view is much better from up high!
We're sure you'll have no
worries once you're up there. If you can get past your initial concern
about leaving the ground, you'll be just fine!
What
about motion sickness?
Turbulence is unheard of, as we
are not fighting the wind like an airplane has to. Since the hot air
balloon floats along with the wind, there's no movement to worry
about.
While airborne, the basket is
perfectly balanced underneath the balloon and there is no rocking
sensation. The entire flight is very smooth, and changes in altitude
are gradual and hardly noticeable. Passengers who suffer from even
the most severe cases of motion sickness will not feel any effects
from a balloon ride.
Who
can fly?
 |
| Barely
getting
our toes wet in a local pond. This favorite maneuver of pilots
and passengers alike is called a "splash &
dash." |
Everybody is welcome to fly
with us! We've flown passengers from age 6 to 96. However, there
are a few requirements we need to stand by to make the ride pleasant
and enjoyable for all.
You should be in good physical
shape with no recent surgeries, broken bones or other medical issues
which may affect your ability to take part in a physical activity.
You'll also need to be able to stand for the duration of the balloon
flight (at least one hour). It is important that we be informed of
all potential medical/physical problems at the time of flight
reservation. In most cases there is no reason for us not to fly a
passenger, but we do need to be aware. The safety of our friends and
passengers is paramount.
The weather is the most
influential factor on any hot air balloon flight, and the winds will
determine our landing conditions. Despite all the advances in modern
forecasting technology and up-to-the-minute aviation weather
resources we have at our command, weather is still ultimately unpredictable in
flight. Keeping that in mind, there is always the possibility of an occasional
windy, bumpy landing. In this case, the basket may make a firm touchdown, tip over
in the direction of travel, and drag along the ground until the
balloon deflates and we come
to a final stop.
For many people, this is an exciting addition to an
already adventurous flight! However, for others, a hard landing may not be
quite what
they expected at the end of a graceful balloon ride. We like to
educate and prepare all our passengers that every flight has the
potential to end this way. Although we will never launch when
conditions are expected to result in such an exciting landing,
there's always the possibility we might have a little more fun than
we anticipated. Our professional pilots are skilled and prepared to
handle any possible situation in the air.
Ballooning is one of the safest
forms of aviation, but it still has inherent dangers like all other
outdoor recreational activities. Please be aware
of your physical limitations when scheduling a balloon ride, as it
is important to understand all the possible risks involved.
Children are always welcomed, however
they should be at least 42 inches tall to be able to see over the
basket edge. We don't often recommend children under six years of
age, mainly because they'll have to stand still for an hour. Most
kids that young will get fidgety and restless after a few minutes of
standing in the same place. As well, many youngsters are afraid of
the loud noise the burner makes. However, if you're sure your young
child will be willing and able to behave well, we'll be glad to have
them join us on the balloon flight.
We regret that we cannot take
up those who are far along in pregnancy. If you wait a few years and take
your child up when they're old enough to appreciate it, it'll be a much more enjoyable
experience for the both of you.
Per FAA regulations,
intoxicated passengers cannot be flown.
What
should I wear and bring?
There's no noticeable
temperature difference at the altitudes we normally fly, so you should dress
for an outdoor activity according to the season and temperature of
that day. It's probably best to wear clothes that you aren't afraid
to get wet or dirty, although we certainly won't aim to do such
things!
Waterproof shoes or
boots are a good idea in the mornings, as it's not uncommon for
the ground to be very wet with dew. Shorts and skirts may not be suitable
for some of our landing spots. Hiking boots, sneakers, or a
comfortable flat shoe are the preferred footwear. Heeled shoes
should be avoided at all costs.
Feel free to bring along your
camera or video recorder. Bring twice as much film as you think
you'll need, and then some! You'll be able to capture beautiful
pictures aloft to remember your flight by and to show friends your
exciting adventure. However, make sure you bring a padded bag or
case to stow it in before final landing. We cannot be responsible
for personal property.
 |
| A
breathtaking
sunset hot air balloon flight. Hot air balloon rides are
offered at sunrise or two hours before sunset. |
Sign
me up!
Please call us at 908-713-6123
for balloon rides in New Jersey and 908-208-1869 for balloon rides in Pennsylvania and New York
We'll be happy to arrange your
reservations and answer any questions you might have. Alternatively, continue
to the reservations page below to submit
your information. We will try to take care of you
as soon as possible. Please be aware that due to the high volume
of online reservation requests we receive daily, your best bet is to
call us directly to reserve your desired flight date, especially on
short notice.
Hot air balloon ride Gift
Certificates are always available and make wonderful gifts
for friends, family and loved ones. Put someone on cloud nine by giving the gift of flight! Give us a call or
continue to the Pricing section for
online gift certificate ordering.
Continue to this
page for our premium Adventure
Flight hot air balloon expeditions.
We look forward to
sharing a truly wonderful experience with you.
Call us: 908-713-6123 in NJ
908-208-1869 in PA & NY
Send
us an email
Is there such
thing as a free balloon ride?
Sure! Sign
up right now or call if
you'd like to help us out in exchange for balloon rides. We'd be
delighted to have you come out and crew for us the next time we go
out for a flight. The more you help out, the more you'll get to fly.
To
get involved today, click here
