Napa and Sonoma Feature   Napa Valley Balloon Rides  Thought
those vineyards were beautiful from the highway? Try viewing
them from an altitude of about a thousand feet, serenely
drifting along with the wind, the only sound the occasional roar
of the burners overhead.  Many companies organize hot-air-
ballooning trips over Napa and Sonoma, offering rides that
usually cost between $200 and $250 per person for a one-hour
flight, which typically includes brunch or lunch afterward. If
you were hoping for the ultimate in romance—a flight with no one
else but your sweetie (and an FAA-approved pilot) on board—be
prepared to shell out two to four times as much.  Flights
typically take off at the crack of dawn, when winds are the
lightest, so be prepared to make an early start and dress in
layers. Flights are dependent on weather, and if there's rain or
too much fog, expect to be grounded. Hotels can hook you up with
nearby companies, some of which will pick you up at your
lodgings.  Updated: 07-2013  View all features