Quencher balloon rides is an awesome experience! Chris is a expert navigator and knows the area…read morevery well and points out all of the main landmarks. It's a beautiful ride and Chris is a wonderful host/pilot!

I bought a voucher for a balloon ride for 2 through groupon for my boyfriend's birthday. Neither of…read moreus had ever been on a hot air balloon ride before. I've skydived and zip lined, parasailed and gone gliding so I was a little unsure if it was going to feel like someone my grandmother would enjoy- it was a blast. We met Chris and his father in Quechee green and then actually got to help them set up the balloon which was awesome. We are both very hands on people so we really enjoyed getting to lend a hand in the process and see how it's done. We took off over the absolutely beautiful town of quechee- stunning. Chris was a GREAT pilot and really knowledgable about his trade. He was very interesting to talk to. He actually recommended a winter time flight- who knew?! i didn't realize hot air balloons went up in winter. The three of us chatted (my boyfriend and I in awe of the beauty and height) the entire time. We were able to spot some wildlife in the fields below and then we touched down in the yard of this amazing Swedish couple who invited the then 4 of us (his father met us at the landing site to pack up) up to their house for a glass of wine. It really couldn't have been a more perfect ending to a fabulous ride. Two thumbs up for Green Mountain Ballooning. Thanks for an awesome time Chris!!

Brooke is professional, polite, and fun. The entire flight experience was unforgettable! He is one…read morewho explains everything that he was doing and really includes you in every step of the process. Safety is a priority throughout the flight and it is very calming and enjoyable - no worries at all!! This is something everyone should do at least once! We did a morning flight - be prepared to get up early, but it is well worth it! We got to see them launch the test balloon, then went to the take-off site. It was really cool to see two other balloons launch with us. Brooke then got the balloon partially inflated with a large fan, then he lights the burners, and a few minutes later, you're off! The flight was majestic and beautiful. He does a signature approach to his pics, and they turn out great - both candid and traditional. Once you spend about an hour and a half in the air, you have a nice soft landing, and pop some bubbly as per tradition, and you pack up and go. 5/5! Thanks Brooke!

What a memorable experience from beginning to end! Our pilot, Brooke Owen was awesome. He explained…read moreeverything to us clearly and had a great sense of humor. At the end, he presented us with certificates, a pin, and we all partook in a champaign toast (a ballooning tradition as he will explain.) I set this up for my boyfriend's 40th birthday. We stayed in Lake George which is a beautiful mini-getaway and CLOSE to the meeting point for take-off. Totally worth it and NOT SCARY. Just awesome.

All I can say is WOW! I found Darrek through a referral, and I wanted to thank him by giving him…read moresome well-deserved props on Yelp: I called Darrek and told him I was planning to propose to my girlfriend on his hot air balloon. He was great from the start--he gave me really good advice about waiting until the end of the flight (she was of course a bit distracted from the view once I asked her!). We spent over an hour in the air and went up to 3000 ft. Darrek had great control over the balloon--he touched down briefly on some water and steered us like a pro (I believe he has 15+ years experience). One thing I would note is that I did research some balloon companies that were slightly cheaper. A lot of the cost of the ride goes to covering fuel etc, so there isn't all that much variation in price. After riding with Darrek, I decided that it was 100% worth it to pay a little bit more in exchange for having an experienced pilot. Darrek stressed that hot air ballooning is quite safe, but I still felt better having him in control. When we arrived on the ground, he surprised even me by breaking out some celebratory champagne. The whole experience was almost surreal. My fiance couldn't have been happier!

One of the most amazing experiences you will have! We were privileged to book a ride for just two,…read moreand loved every minute. *If you want to really enjoy your trip try to book the whole flight for just your group. Since Balloons of Vermont's balloon rig is built for speed, it accommodates fewer passengers than large sightseeing balloons which are slow and less agile. This allowed us to book a private trip for 2 at a good price (for a private trip, the extra large balloon rigs charge for 4-6 people even if only 2 are going).* Derrick, the owner, is an avid balloonist. You can tell he really enjoys taking passengers with him on trips around the Quechee Gorge and the surrounding mountains. He even keeps packages of Southwest Airlines roasted peanuts to hand out during the flight as sort of a joke. Oh, and if you're comfortable with the ups and downs, make sure you ask him to venture down for a closer look at the fish in the small lake nearby . . . it will be the highlight of the trip!

Incredible experience gently ascending from the Green of Quechee VT, floating along the waterway,…read moreover the golf course, close enough to see a dog's warm breath in the crispness of a late October morning. Skimming within reach along treetops ablaze in Autumn foliage as the day gently awakens in softened sounds only heard from a close distance above the ground. Sharing in a celebratory experience with new friends-maybe a birthday, or a 'thank you' gratitude moment with loved ones, or maybe an item off their bucket list of life's adventures! It was an exceptional treat for me--thank you Mom! Thank you Gary and your chase crew! Your outstanding safety record(since 1983?!! Wow!!!) was evident in your demonstration of weather assessment, thorough balloon set up and instruction to passengers-and never a compromise in the balance of fun and safety. It was an awesome experience! (And a soft enjoyable return to earth).

Such an amazing experience, and breathtaking views. The crew was amazing as well, very friendly and…read moreeager to get us up in the air, and make sure we had fun. Gary was an awesome pilot, very experienced, he knew the answer to all our questions and guided us through the balloon ride. Definitely recommend them if you're planning on going hot air ballooning in Vermont. The ride ended with a champagne toast and some goodies to share. Experience of a lifetime.