A friend told me about an interesting web site a couple days ago. HotAirBallooning.com is the online center of the universe for air balloons. I went to a balloon festival when I was a kid, and I was mesmerized at all the different balloons. They are made in all kinds of shapes and colors, and even though they are all huge, the baskets are different. Some looked like they were one-person balloons, while others were large enough for 6-8 people in the basket.

I always wondered how to ride in one. I’ve seen a few high in the sky since that festival, but never thought much about them until I duscovered HotAirBallooning.com. It’s got everything – how to become a pilot, where to find festivals, how balloons fly, a great FAQ section. But the the parts I really enjoyed were the list of the Top 50 Balloon Sites, and the directory of balloon rides that lists approved ride companies all over the world. There are even ride companies listed in France, where ballooning began over 200 years ago!

Did you know that air balloons require a pilot license to fly one? I guess that makes sense since they share the sky with airplanes – I just never thought about it before! I also learned that balloons only fly in the early morning or just before sunset since that’s when the wind is the calmest. This website will tell you everything you wanted to know about balloons.

If you want to see balloons close up, you’re sure to enjoy this site. When you go there, don’t miss the section about balloon races. It lists a whole bunch of festivals around the world.

So check it out — www.hotairballooning.com