I was NOT able to ride with them but I MUST leave a POSITIVE review... For my daughter's 21st birthday, I made arrangements with Gianni for our glider ride today. Leading up to today, I must compliment him on his helpful communication and coordination. Then, based on my mistake. I asked him to shuffle his schedule because I had an afternoon return airport flight to catch. He gladly shuffled to an earlier time slot and kept in regular communication about the updated schedule and also about the challenging visibility due to smoke from fires. This morning, he called me early today to inform me that conditions were not good for flying so he had to cancel until better times. Through it all, Gianni was so kind, patient and professional and clearly put safety over profit. When the smoke clears, I HIGHLY recommend Gianni and their team and I can barely wait to enjoy their service and ride the skies like a bird! read more

Amazing staff! We took my dad fir his 86th birthday. He never stopped smiling. The staff were so kind to him and made him feel very special. Thank you for the fantastic experience and for making my dad's birthday so special read more

Me: "I told you, I just want a nice dinner so I can put on my fancy pants and get my $15 cocktail!" Him: "But, it's your birthday! just dress sporty. You'll like it, it's a surprise!" I love surpises, but hate that he doesn't tell me anything except "dress sporty!" :( I put on my stretchy pants and work out top thinking, he'll take me kayaking to Monterey since this is where we're heading. Oh boy. We took a detour to Hollister and I'm like, "are we going horseback riding? or riding a tractor? coz I ain't dressed for skydiving!!" When we arrived, I was so surprised to find that we are going to ride a GLIDER PLANE! :0 Have you seen these things? it weighs about 900 lbs. (super light!!), has long thin glider wings (hence the name) and can reach altitudes of about 4000ft. (HIGH) .... for a plane WITHOUT ANY ENGINES. That's right. Nada. So, how do you get up there in the blue yonder? You get hooked onto a tow plane by a thin piece of rope (I was doubtful, but it did the job!) once you reach a certain altitude as determined by the pilot, the rope gets cut off and then ... you plunge to your death!!! Kidding. We actually stayed in the air quite effortlessly. It got a bit bumpy and I felt nauseated for a bit since there wasn't enough fresh air in that small plane. The fiance and I were squished in the backseat with our legs stuffed in the smallest of spaces and his arm was wrapped around my shoulder because it was really TIGHT in there. Also, I think it would've been better if I wore shorts instead of my stretchy pants which was made of non-breathable material and it was 97 degrees in Hollister that day. Yikes. We circled around Fremont Peak, gazed at the fields below and stared in the distance at the blue waters of Moneterey. It was incredibly peaceful up there. The flight lasted for 40 mins and then safely landed. For an engineless plane and having small wheels, I was shocked at the smooth experience #mindblown. I always tell the fiance that experiences are the best gifts and this one is no different! :) So thankful that I got to experience a fantastic flight with my love! Also, I got my nice birthday dinner after and got to wear my fancy pants too. read more

Bay Area Glider Rides - Hello engine-less plane! - Hang Gliding Near Me - Hollister, California

My gf gave me an unusual request for her birthday gift for her birthday. She wanted to fly like a 'bird.' Without blinking I said no problem! The closest way to flying like a bird is a sailplane (or a hang glider). I quickly researched and found a great deal if you go to the Soaring Society of American website http://www.ssa.org/FAST and paid for two FAST vouchers as you get a great deal as you get the following: An introductory lesson consisting of a minimum of 30 minutes of ground instruction and approximately 30 minutes of flight time. A copy of "Everybody's 1st Gliding Book" to give you an idea what it is all about. A glider pilot logbook to record your flight instruction. An introductory three month membership in the Soaring Society of America, including three copies of the monthly magazine Soaring, the society's journal. The nice lady at SSA put me in touch with Bay Area Glider Rides. I called Bay Area Glider rides and talked with Sharon. She is an amazing resource as her significant other Quest Richlife had just sold his business to the father son team of Travis and Mike Smith who are both airline rated pilots and Mike is retired from American Airlines Capt. Sharon set everything up and hand me confirm with Gianni Leonarduzzi for our lessons. We got to fly with Travis Smith who is a great instructor and really made me and my gf feel at ease about our flights. We flew in a Grob 103 named '4 Papa' sailplane. To get a private sailplane license is an expensive proposition as you have to rent the glider, instructor and pay for individual tow plane depending on what altitude you release at. I understand if you are a powered pilot may not help or it can be a handicap as flying sailplanes are so much different according to Travis. Hollister Airport is an hour and half drive south and 101 gets choked at times so plan accordingly. We had a great day and my gf got to fly like and with the birds for 30 minutes so we had a memorable birthday. We fortunately got a day with some 'lift' to keep us flying! I would recommend Bay Area Glider Rides! read more

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It was quite the experience for us first-timers to be gliding above the San Andreas fault, seeing the Pacific ocean on this bright and hot August afternoon, and finally landing safely again, thanks to our experienced pilot. But dang they let us wait in the hot Hollister sun for almost 2 hours until a pilot showed up, without offering water or anything, or an apology. Poorly organized. Our pilot then was somewhat grumpy and made clear throughout the flight that he left his cozy sofa at home only for us. Well, and we paid $300 only for you, guys. read more

Bay Area Glider Rides - Hang Gliding Near Me - Hollister, California

I wish I could give them 7 stars. The overall experience was just that good. Arrived for my 1pm ride @ the BAGR office, showed them my Amazon voucher, and went out onto the runway. I chose the afternoon slot when the thermals were more pronounced, wanting to live out my childhood movie fantasy of "Naussica, Valley of the Wind". I casually mentioned my little private why for being all the way out there. Bill Sharon - my pilot who happens to be the owner - explained every part of the flight and the soaring we would experience. Minutes later, remembering my movie memory, he quietly asked "Do you like roller-coasters?" and proceeded to execute a few aerobatic maneuvers - a vertical climb and dive and what felt like a slicing-pirouette on the wingtip. O.o WOW. Exhilaration and awe. Surprise and delight. We'd settled into a smooth cruise and Bill pointed out the lay of the land: Monterey Bay, San Andreas Fault, and the first Spanish mission in CA. And through it all, there was just a QUIET... just wind flowing over the fuselage and white razor thin wings. I felt so safe that I wondered if I might fall asleep. So we went down. Smooth touchdown and landing. And then out of the blue (yes, I said it) and completely unasked for - one of their regulars invited me up for a ride in one of the competition-grade gliders. The timing was just right for a second flight if I had a bit more time. Hell yeah. This flight was difference... the difference being a well-maintained corolla and a performance-grade Porsche. Long story short, these peeps run a tight little business w/ real devotion and passion for flight. They'll show you what they love about being up in the air so connected to the quiet and the wind. You should go. You should go. You should go. Like plan it right now. read more

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Johnny and MIke are a wonderful team! This was by far one of our top 2 adventure highlights of our lives! Johnny, with his generous Italian hospitality, even BBQ'd us delicious paninis! Can't wait to return! Thank you both! Sandy & Larry read more

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It was my boyfiend's BDay so I thought what can I do out of the norm & exhilarating for him? How about gliding. Neither one of us had done this before so I contacted Bay Area Glider. Quest was extremely helpful & really went out of his way to make this happen. Quest normally is closed Tues & Wed, our days off from work, and he made it happen for us. Not only did we have a spectacular & thrilling glide 8000 Feet above, Quest took photos of us & had a BDay basket of surprises; his attention to detail was greatly appreciated. Thanks Quest for making my mans day extra special!!!! read more

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What an absolutely fantastic time! I had purchased a Travelzoo deal with my mom, brother and a friend. We made a reservation for Sunday 7/16/2012 and headed to Hollister. Right from he start the customer service was fantastic. My pilot was Quest and he was an awesome guy. Extremely friendly, positive attitude and a great pilot. He explained everything in detail on the ground from safety to what he was planning on doing while in the air. Once in the air Quest was very knowledgable of the area below us and was constantly pointing out landmarks, local agriculture etc. the ride to our altitude of approximately 5,000 feet was very smooth with slight turbulence. Quest let me pull the handle to release the cable connected to our tow plane and we were off. The best part was when Quest treated us to some light Ariel maneuvers to give us a taste of what their aerobatics flight is like. He did a coupleZzero G maneuvers, a lazy 8 and a stall. All were absolutely amazing! This is definitely a professionally run organization and the staff and pilots are second to none. If you're looking to glider ride, this is where you go, period. Quest is definitely a guy that just doesn't come to work everyday. He clearly likes doing what he does and enjoys seeing the satisfaction on his customers faces. I wish all businesses were like this! read more

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From the time we arrived at Hollister Soaring Center it was a thrill. Meeting Johnny and his ground crew, they were very attentive to my wife, daughter and myself. My pilot John was very knowledgeable as he pointed out the wind currents in the cloud formations, the different colored squares of vegetables in the San Joaquin Valley and the magnificent view out west to the Monterey peninsula. Flying free toward Fremont Point, from a mile high we turned, stall dived and John even gave me the controls to turn and level off, feeling the riding of the wind, before we returned to the runway. If you want a fun safe place to soar and feel free as a bird I suggest you take a glider ride at Hollister Soaring Center. An experience to rememher and I can't wait to do again. read more

Great trip and very casual, laid back and fun trip! I bought my wife a groupon for Christmas as a fun bucket list item and she had a great time. It was the only glider ride that I could find that was a ride for both of us so that we could go together. read more

Everything went according to plan. Arrangements were easy to make by phone, about a week before, and the flight went off punctually and comfortably. Johnny and Mike (our pilot) were hospitable and very solicitous of our comfort, particularly in the hydration department because it was a very hot day. The experience is unforgettable; you view the landscape in a new way. There was nothing scary, but I'm pretty sure our pilot could have made the ride more exciting if we had asked. read more

What a blast! We had two glider rides last weekend and would highly recommend Bay Area Glider rides. From check in to the golf cart ride to the glider to the flight...everyone we encountered was fantastic! The flight was so much fun for everyone. My eight year old daughter couldn't stop giggling and laughing the whole time. We can't wait to go back! read more

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This was on my bucket list of activities to try. I have so far been zip-lining, hang gliding, sky diving, rode a mule down the Grand Canyon, repelling, spelunking, white water rafting and this was by far one of my biggest adrenaline rush. Part of the rush is I am highly claustrophobic as in scared of elevators. I wasn't sure if I could do this activity but the pilot talked me through everything and made my experience a great one! I found that even a claustrophobic person such as myself can go on a glider. The view from the glider feels as if you are out of the plane. Going up my heart was racing as I felt the turbulence and then the cord snap as they released the glider from the plane. This was truly an amazing, peaceful experience even though it started out with me quite nervous. Wonderful experience and great pilot! read more

We booked the Mile High package for noon last Saturday. After waiting for the overcast to burn off, the owner, wanting us to have the beat experience possible, recommended that we postpone. So glad we did! 1 week later with clear blue skys, we had an amazing time and our pilot Michael was a wonderful tour guide. Can't wait to book the Monterey tour when the winds pick up. read more

This was a great experience, such a peaceful view of the area. Travis is a great pilot, and made the trip so fun and informative! Totally recommend it! read more

It's been a couple years since I went on my glider flight with Bay Area Glider flights. It was a surprise gift from a friend. Bay Area is top notch professionals and I would go with them again in a minute. I still smile when I think of my flight and want to go again so much. It was an amazing experience. One I hope to repeat. read more

My wife and I went to Bay Area Glider Rides to use a coupon that was about to expire, we were excited as that would be our first time gliding. Getting there from the South Bay was a quick 45min drive without traffic and this is what we found: The place was quite simple, but the staff was very courteous and welcoming. Our host was a lady who was more than happy to check us in and talk about gliders; she was quite knowledgeable as she was a pilot herself and she proudly showed us a picture of her glider. The waiting time was pleasant. We were offered a coupon upgrade from the standard 15mins flight to a longer 25mins flight for $60, which we accepted, there was no pressure in doing the upgrade and I was glad they offered it because we thought it was worthy. Our pilot was Haven, a nice guy who introduced us to our plane, an old glider that can carry 3 people, but frankly it is a bit of a push. My wife and I are on the short-and-lightweight side with a combined weight of 230lbs and we fit tight in the plane, like if we were on the back seat of a small sports car. If you have wide shoulders you will have trouble fitting comfortably with another passenger so consider flying solo. The weather was clear with a bit of haze, but Haven told us that it was not really ideal for gliding because it was too stable with no thermos to lift the glider and keep it flying. A small plane pulled us into the air and that was quite nice! I Once we reached our ceiling I got to pull the cable release lever and that was cool! I used my phone to gps-track the whole flight and it took about 35 minutes from start moving all the way to landing and parking the glider, which was a bit more than what we expected. During the whole time Haven gave us essential info about the scenery, the landmarks, geography, weather condition and the basics about gliding. He noticed that we were relaxed and suggested a quick maneuver to show how capable gliders are and that was very cool, to nose dive and feel weightless and then pull up strong and feel the gravity pulling strong was quite nice, pulling left afterwards to a controlled quick stall. He also managed to find a tiny little thermo to show us how it feels to gain some altitude. Our short ride ended with a sharp turn to align with the strip, then a quick dive to give us a save low altitude speed and then a pull up to decelerate and land smoothly. We were glad to get this last maneuver, it was really nice. Overall the whole experience was great for us first timers, we really enjoyed it. As for Bay Area Glider Rides, they were very professional and provided us with great service, we had the impression that everybody there was passionate about gliding and quite happy to be working with their hobby. We decided to write this review to share our experience with this business since there are none (that we could find) here on Yelp. read more

Took my teenage daughters gliding yesterday. Everyone was nice. Our pilot Charlie was great. It's a must do for a great family experience. Len P read more

Wonderful welcome from Gianni at the desk, and a superb flight with Travis under clear winter skies. I got to take the stick which brought a huge smile to my face. Felt completely safe all the way and loved fulfilling an experience I've wanted to do since I built gliders as a teenager. read more

I watch this company take the gliders up very often. The gliders are great to watch when they land. Silent and fast.

I gave my boyfriend this glider ride as a Christmas gift and included myself, too. :) We enjoyed it immensely! The weather was fantastic, the view was awesome and our pilot was very experienced and communicated with us from start to finish. Charlie, I think? Sorry if I got the name wrong. The guys in the office were all really friendly, accommodating and even offered us cold water and snacks after our ride. I'd highly recommend the ride. You won't be disappointed! read more

what a fun thing to do! Very professional business. Making an appointment was so easy, no wait time when I got there and the flight was awesome. My pilot Jeff let me sit in the front seat, he asked where I would like to fly towards and was great at explaining everything while flying above Hollister. read more

A spectacular experience with incredible views! The pilot was friendly, informative and made me feel safe throughout... even during the (optional) zero gravity drop. Customer service while booking was also flawless. I'll be recommending this to my friends. read more

What a great experience at Bay Area Glider Rides, Hollister. I purchased this experience for my daughter through Groupon. The fam jumped into the non-mini van SUV and pointed south to Hollister. The place was easy to find (big fat sign) and we were greeted by a super friendly woman. The office was filled with great pics of glider rides and info pertaining to the same. We upgraded the ride for a bit more sail time and daughter and wife prepared for flight. We were shuttled by a nice young man to the tarmac and assisted in the preparation for flight with Haven. Now here's a guy who appears to be living life to the fullest...Haven. What a spirit. Warm, friendly and all around having a great time. I bet he can tell stories. Oh...actually he can...he's got an online blog and takes pics of your flight for posting. I chilled with the tarmac guy while Haven my wife and daughter taxied behind the pilot plane and sailed off. I toured the surrounding hangers and general area while waiting for the 30 minute flight to conclude. The fam later enjoyed a picnic lunch (we brought) on one of the near by picnic tables. Next time I'd like to try the cafe and there's a small museum. I'd have to say the overall experience was the best and I didn't even glide. The people made the world of difference and I appreciate that. I hope to go soon myself. Bring a picnic lunch and a sweatshirt for premium enjoyment or call the cafe ahead for hours of operation. read more

This place is awesome. I had an amazing gliding experience with Bill. He is quite informative n experienced in gliding. I highly recommend them for gliding. read more

My wife learned about Bay Area Glider Rides a few months ago, and set up a trip for us. We've been really looking forward to it, and were waiting as the days ticked by. This past Saturday, we finally went on the trip, and it was amazing! We enjoyed our drive down to Hollister, had fun meeting the friendly office dog (and the people, too!), and talked a bit about gliding with the "tug" pilot (who would be pulling the glider up until we reached altitude). I had no idea that it was possible to glide for such long distances - he said that people can glide all the way down to the border with Mexico, and back, on a single trip! Well, anyway, back to our trip - we took a little cart ride out to where the glider was waiting on the runway, got strapped into the seat behind the glider pilot, and they hooked up the cable to the plane that would pull us aloft. It was a very different experience taxiing down the runway from a position so low to the ground, and almost immediately we were already flying. The trip toward the ocean was beautiful, and gradually Monterey Bay and even Santa Cruz came into view. It was a sunny day with fabulous visibility, and the pilot pointed out some interesting sights. Then he said "OK, pull the release lever!" And I said "Uh, are you sure?" But I did it, and we were now smoothly sailing through the sky! No longer being pulled in a straight line, he was able to show off the maneuverability of the craft - a pretty tight turning radius! (By the way, I had wondered if I might have any motion sickness, but it was simply not an issue). It was truly a new experience to be flying that way, with such great visibility and freedom. The updrafts were strong in one spot, and it helped demonstrate how someone could go on such a long trip (there are maps that guide pilots along the known updraft locations). On the return to the airport, it was interesting as the pilot got into position to line up with the runway, and it was another dramatic moment as we came in for the landing - very smooth, but also very fast. We got lucky that there was another treat waiting for us back on the ground - there was some sort of historic plane club meeting, and we got to walk around and look at a lot of really cool planes. Even if the club event weren't happening, there are still a number of historic planes on site, so that's an added bonus. So, if you haven't guessed, we heartily recommend that you should sign up for one of these trips! It's a great way to have some fun doing something new and different, and it makes a nice get-away with a friend / child / sweetie / whatever. read more

Awesome! Highly recommended. My kids (11 and 13 y.o. girls took a ride together today) and they were ecstatic. Experienced pilot. Courteous personnel. You may text/call your kids while they are gliding. They can send you aerial pictures while you watch from the ground. Cell reception is excellent. read more