It was my husband Matt B.'s birthday last week, and instead of getting him another thing (I'd used up my year's worth of thing ideas for Christmas), I decided to book a unique experience--namely a hot air balloon ride with Sky's the Limit. I was going to surprise him with it, but chickened out at the last minute, as it was a lot of money for something he might not be into. Now that we've been up and come down safely, it occurs to me that a surprise hot air balloon ride would be an easy way to get rid of an unwanted spouse, as long as one didn't mind getting caught. My (beloved, un-murder-worthy) husband loves going up high, in planes and ferris wheels and skyscrapers, but he was a little nervous about the idea of a hot air balloon ride. I didn't think about it much until we were up in the air, but yeah, you really are just in a whimsical basket with a rainbow balloon over half a mile above the ground. Thankfully, we were in good hands. We met up at 5:00 for a sunset balloon ride at the parking lot of Los Olivos Grocery, a short drive from downtown Los Olivos, where we were spending the weekend. We joined our balloon captain James, his diligent team, and nine other guests. From there, we took a ride to some open grassland, where the crew went to work getting the balloon up and running. I'd never thought about how hot air balloons get inflated, but it was a long, arduous process. Fifteen to twenty minutes involving large fans, blasting fire, and a ton of brute force. Once we climbed in the basket, though, we were up in the air in what felt like no time at all. James passed each group a bottle of cheap champagne, and we drank straight from the bottle while he talked us through our journey away from the solid green earth. Any misgivings I might have had gave way to the relaxing ride and the stunning views all around us. We'd never seen anything like it, so beautiful and expansive and undiminished by safety glass. We hovered there, in awe, and watched the sun set. I have one small complaint about the experience, which is that I'd called before booking, to ask how much time to budget, and whoever answered the phone was pretty off base. He said we'd be done by 7:30 and have no problem making our 7:45 dinner reservation, and I wonder if I was told this so I would go ahead and book the ride. We were half an hour late to dinner, and I can't imagine we could have wrapped up any faster, given the production involved in deflating the balloon. Otherwise, though, I was tremendously happy with Sky's the Limit. James and his team were great, and the balloon ride was unforgettable. read more

I took my partner hot air ballooning for Valentine's Day! I've been hot air ballooning before and this experience was different. My previous experience in Napa, the balloon went up high into the sky. Not sure if there are any regulations prohibiting the balloon to go higher than we did. We for sure did not go higher than 300 feet off the ground. We pretty much glided along the ground, just above the tree level the whole time. Beautiful views, but I was expecting it to go higher than what we did for the duration of the flight. Cheap champagne for the flight, along with the disappointment of not going higher than, made the whole experience cheaper. The pilot was also rude to his employees. Spoke rudely to them over the walkie talkies and in person. Doing that in front of the patrons was def unprofessional and lowered dampened the experience. These are the reasons why I only gave 3 starts. So much potential for 5 starts! read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Absolutely breathtaking!! Extremely safe and surprisingly so smooth. Fabulous views and once in a lifetime experience. Pilot was extremely knowledgeable and took time to explain in so much detail. Worth every penny. read more

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Very helpful and friendly staff. This was on my bucket list... We will definitely go up again. Next time, with bubbles read more

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An absolutely amazing journey across the gentle valleys and meadows of the California central coast. Ocean views, descending and rising with the topography to see wildlife and soar amongst the clouds. Champagne pouring freely and finishing with an amazing sunset. But wait, there's more! Our pilot took us to treetop level to watch the sun go down, the fired up the burners to climb another thousand feet in the air to see it again! James, the pilot, really knows what he's doing and provides commentary along the flight for points of interest and fills champagne glasses without having to be asked. Overall, an amazing experience that should be on everyone's bucket list! read more

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My wife and I had a GREAT experience with Sky's the limit! The entire staff were helpful and the balloon ride was incredible! The champagne toast at the end was a great way to appreciate the trip. read more

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We had a five star celebration experience with Sky's the Limit. We were celebrating a milestone birthday and wanted an extraordinary experience to mark the occasion. I was hesitant and a bit fearful of riding, so in the days leading up to the booking I was in constant contact with owner James Lawson who explained weather conditions and safety measures to assure us of a pleasant ride, and to also alleviate any concerns. James always made an effort to call me back, even in the instances in which he missed my call (note that the main number is a land line so it's unable to receive texts). Upon arriving at the meeting spot, a female member of his team greeted us with warmth and a reassuring smile. This put myself and my kids at ease. The balloon ride itself was phenomenal but I would say the van ride to the take off spot was scenic and exciting, too. It was magical to be soaring alongside the clouds, and the bird's eye view of the wildlife along the Santa Ynez Valley will forever be etched in my heart. My kids really enjoyed themselves and have been talking about their balloon ride since. It was a bonding moment and an experience to treasure with a loved one. Owner James and team really have their protocol nailed down. It was quite impressive and interesting to observe. A lost art form that will make for a magical way to commemorate a milestone. Five stars! read more

Best sunset you'll ever experience! Even better when you have such a good and funny pilot! read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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I booked w/ this company in February of last year. And geez. I could go on forever. My mom is older and he really put her on spot; making comments about her being unable to get into the balloon, but obviously that isn't something to write a bad review about. He belittled and went off on his workers in front of us, which made it awkward because of how unprofessional he was. He was completely full of himself, egotistical to the point where we couldn't wait to get off the balloon. he talked about himself so much. The ride was uncomfortable and it was very difficult to enjoy the experience. He used this balloon ride as an opportunity to talk one of the clients (whose property he landed on for the balloon rides) into some other deal. He sounded desperate and pathetic making the experience uncomfortable for the other customers. On the van ride back his coworker maybe girlfriend or whatever was trying to speak to him, and he was blatantly rude to her and ignoring her in front of all of his customers. And then at the end, he wanted us to tip him. And who the heck carries $100 cash on them anymore? I had $40 on me and he scoffed like it was chump change. I had already paid about $500 two people. Why the heck would I tip on top of that? I would strongly suggest booking with another company. read more

My wife and I did a sunset champagne flight over the Santa Ynez valley. James and his team were OUTSTANDING in providing an excellent experience. As the pilot James was first of all professional and safe, ensuring that everything was technically and environmentally as it needed to be. His concern for the people and animals that may be impacted by the flight of his balloon was impressive. We appreciated his stories and commentary on the landscape and inhabitants of the incredible landscape we were exposed to. The crew were hard working and efficient in putting the balloon up and taking it down. They were on time in picking us up at the meeting site and efficient delivering us back on landing. We have been on one other balloon flight and James proved to be a much better host / Pilot. We would highly recommend flying with James...worth every penny! read more

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If that guy who runs it, whose name escapes me right now because quite honestly, I tried to forget it, worst experience ever, the guy who runs it is basically a manchild and is rude, incapable, and I would be afraid to send anybody up with him and if you want horrible customer service, and an absolute jerk directing you and yelling at you, calling you names in front of other clients and just being a jerk all around, then definitely book with them, if not find anywhere else to go! Horrible, and this is coming from the owner, completely belittled me yelled at me in front of other people I would just say don't... I wouldn't be surprised if he had a balloon accident or someone fell out just saying and by his attitude, I would have to say he probably wouldn't care, I'm sure he has a lawyer on speed dial because he probably needs one quite often. OK thanks buddy for the horrible horrible time that I had to interface with you, every phone call he couldn't have been more rude, telling me stuff about his private life which I don't care about anyway highly recommend you do not interface with this person! Good luck enjoy your balloon ride with somebody else, please read more

Amazing experience! Made us feel super safe and were so knowledgeable about the places we were flying over! We had a blast

My husband and I had been talking about wanting to do a hot air balloon ride for years! First we said 10th anniversary...15th...20th... Forget it! We're doing it for our 22nd anniversary! When I told him I had found a balloon company that did evening flights, it wasn't even a question. Booked it! The whole experience was great! Super easy instructions from our pilot, James (I should have let him pre-board my short little legs, but that's on me; he was funny and full of stories which made us feel at ease on the flight. I was super amazed at how he navigated the balloon to exactly where he wanted to land. I would recommend it 150% without a doubt! Don't forget to tip the crew, definitely worth it! read more

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We had a great time with the sunset flight. The people were all very friendly, the basket/gondola was well organized, and James' expertise was evident. It's not cheap, but it was a great way to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Bottom line: we'd love to do it again. read more

You can tell the measure of a company by the way they deal with their mistakes. Unfortunately, this company did the opposite of what you'd expect. We had a reservation as a 70th present for a sunrise ride, and as such we woke up quite early since we had to drive from Ventura to the pickup spot in the SYV. Once we get there six other people are waiting. We talked to the other people and they told us they had received a message stating that the conditions were still a bit unstable and that they were pushing back on the takeoff time. We called to make sure we were still on the reservation and the lady that picked up assured us that we were on the reservation and to not worry, since it looked like the conditions were improving greatly. A bit later a van arrived and the gentleman driving it started to check us in. To our surprise, he said that only six people were on the list for that morning, and it wasn't anyone of our party. He got on the phone with his office and they said that they had us for the sunset flight and that we could just wait till later. Since we had an entire day planned around the balloon ride, this was impossible. The lady on the phone got very belligerent when we confronted her about her confirming we were on for the sunrise ride, and both of them were very defensive and got a "can't do anything about it" attitude really fast. They also tried to make some lame excuses for the mixup and didn't acknowledge their mistake. Ultimately, he told the lady at the office to refund us without consulting us or asking if we wanted to rebook for another day. The experience left us pretty deflated (no pun intended) since the birthday was ruined and was compounded by how rude and apathetic both representatives of the company were. I would look somewhere else. read more

James and his team took us on an incredible flight. He told us about the history of the area and taught us a bit about how the balloon operates. You can tell James is passionate about ballooning, and his team shares his enthusiasm. Even with the unpredictability of flying, we always felt that we were in good hands. read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Santa Ynez valley - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

What a memorable not-to-be-missed occasion! If you're even considering it, go for it. Thank you, James and Christy, for your hospitality and for a wonderful flight! read more

I don't have any other hot air balloon experience to compare to, but I was highly satisfied with the experience my husband and I had for our anniversary. The pilot and crew went out of their way to create a safe and special flight for us, complete with taking photos for us. We did the sunset flight and were not disappointed. They serve drinks and champagne on the flight too! Tip: eat a late lunch so you're not hungry. We were out from 5pm to 8pm start to finish, with about 45 min in the air. Also, bring enough cash for 15-20% of your bill. read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

James and his team did a super job introducing my boyfriend to hot air ballooning (it was my second time). It was a gorgeous day to enjoy the views, James' stories and expert piloting, and of course, the post-ride prosecco. We loved it! And landing oh so smoothly right into the trailer... that's a story in itself. Thank you for a great ride. read more

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I never write reviews but I had to for them. We went for a ride yesterday for our anniversary and it was such a great experience. Everyone was very nice and the pilot is very experienced. It was noticeable from the beginning because of how particular he was of finding a place to take off. He kept things fun and informative the whole time during the flight. There wasn't a moment where I felt like we weren't safe during the whole flight. I highly recommend them. read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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This is definitely a bucket list item! We were celebrating my 30th birthday ( kidding) You can ride in the morning (sunrise) or afternoon (sunset). Heard the sunset ride is a little longer (travel farther). due to the higher wind activity. We took the sunrise ride and traveled over the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley (Figueroa mountains, Neverland Ranch, acres of oak trees and simply beautiful skyline). You meet at Los Olivos Market and take a van to the spot where the balloon will launch. This process can take a bit because the weather can be unpredictable. Make sure you use the restroom before leaving unless you are comfortable peeing in the weeds . The van is quite packed and the weather can be chilly in the morning but once on the balloon it warms up quick! Dress in layers. James a no nonsense type of guy. He has a great sense of humor, runs a tight ship and knows what he's doing when he's navigating this balloon! He verbally walks you through what is going on, will Navigate you through the scenery but when it's time for business (operating the balloon) he's laser focused! This gave me peace of mind. The ride was amazing but expect to be in the basket packed in pretty tight. Plz shower and pop a mint because the quarters are close. When he turns on the heat ...you can feel it!!! This is when you start shedding clothing layers. The scenery and wildlife (deer, wild boars, bobcats ) was gorgeous. The landing was great as well. It's a process...so kick back and enjoy watching James do his thing. His team is great and hard working. It takes a team and even some riders to help land this balloon. The ride ends with champagne, orange juice or water...OR MIMOSAS . If you purchased lunch/breakfast than you order that at the market when you return and it's DELICIOUS. With your trip you can also order extras (like a birthday/anniversary sign) and they will take pics. Lastly...the crew does look forward to tips. So carry some . read more

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5+++ I had an amazing time! My children enjoyed the ride as well. The views were spectacular. I will say, that initially I was scared out of my mind. James quickly put our minds at ease with his expertises. He is quite funny. He's straight to the point,& wants you to have a fabulous time. The only thing I'd suggest is, bring enough cash for a 3 person tip. I only had $45 in cash,& I would have loved to have given more. The ground crew worked so hard to ensure our safety! I'd definitely recommend,& I'd definitely go again. We were a group of 6, and it was perfect. Thank you James,& staff! read more

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My husband surprised me with a balloon ride for my 75th birthday. What a fantastic experience. We are aviation enthusiasts, but hot air ballooning was a first for us. James and his crew are professional and enthusiastic ! The scenery in the Santa Ynez Valley was breathtaking. Time seemed to be suspended as we gently glided along, drinking in the vistas. If you have never done this, you must give it a try. It will refresh your spirit and bless your soul! read more

My family and I had just finished a magical stay at the Alisal Ranch...but this private hot air balloon ride was absolutely the highlight of our mini vacation! WOW! James, the owner and operator, was very personable and knowledgeable. He made sure that we felt safe and comfortable...easygoing and funny, but very professional. I would absolutely recommend Sky's The Limit! read more

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Picture buying a gift certificate for your wife on Christmas. Such a lovely way to celebrate over the beautiful vineyards in Santa Barbara County. To top it off we found out we were pregnant on Christmas! I emailed about an extension which the business did from the date I emailed them. Apparently the gift certificate expires after a year. I was only given an extra year from the date of contact. I was going to give the gift card to charity. Alas, no refunds or transfers without paying another $100. Would recommend another business if you want some flexibility. read more

Oh my goodness, that was amazing sunset ballooning! I've been on other balloon companies that do flights, and they can't compare to Sky's The Limit Ballooning flights! The owner James is so knowledgeable and a fantastic pilot as we flew over the beautiful Hills and valleys of Santa Barbara County. A celebrated glass of champagne is a nice addition! We really want to do it again! read more

We had the privilege of getting married this past November above the skies of Los Olivos thanks to James and his team at Sky's The Limit Ballooning. Our day was absolutely perfect and magical, everything we had dreamed of. A big part of that is thanks to Sky's The Limit. It took a lot of planning and effort to make sure that we were back on the ground to get to our reception afterwards and James and the team pulled through, getting us to our reception right on time! They were also flexible with us adding people to our reservation and went as far as picking us up and dropping us off from our hotel. My mom was VERY worried about the flight as she is unable to stand for long periods of time and has pain throughout her body. James took the time (while on vacation may I add) to talk with her. My mom now says she would do it again, BUT ONLY IF JAMES IS THE PILOT. The flight itself was nothing short of amazing, providing epic views and James even giving history about the lands below. I also want to add that the field we took off from was stunning...there were horses, alpacas and even a llama. Needless to say, the photos were gorgeous. I can't give enough praise to James and his team. Our 7 year old has been asking if we can go again and we definitely plan to! read more

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Absolutely a wonderful experience, run by awesome people. Floating in the air, the sunset, champagne! Do I need to say more, highly recommended! Must be on your bucket list! read more

we were deemed "the golden girls" by James our driver. We were celebrating our sisters 80th birthday and fulfilling one of her bucket list dreams. The adventure was amazing and fabulous. Smooth, beautiful view and smooth flying. We highly recommend this experience. read more

Such an amazing experience! James Lawson was a fabulous and fun pilot. In the peacefulness as we hovered over the beautiful mountain scenery, you could hear the cows mooing, toads croaking, crickets chirping. I would love to do this again! read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Celebrating 67 ish years of friendship. Such an amazing adventure! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

Thank you James and Team! What a fun filled incredible ride! James was such a knowledgeable pilot and so funny, he really made the flight such a wonderful experience. The views, the stories, the laughs. 10/10 will be doing it again!!!​ read more

I just got proposed yesterday on this hot air balloon! It was such a beautiful and unforgettable experience! My fiancé and I are both scared of heights and we were worried but it was not scary at all! It was so peaceful and amazing thanks to our pilot James for the wonderful experience. Would definitely recommend it! read more

James and his team are incredible. They have perfected the art of ballooning and dealing with the gen pop. Tons of detailed communication prior to the flight. James is extremely professional, educated on the area and kept everyone laughing to ease the tension and nervousness some may feel. He was great with my 11 & 13 year old boys and clearly loves what he does. We would go again in a heartbeat. Pro tip: he's not joking when he says wear sneakers. Dress warm, you can always take layers off when it gets hot but it was freezing on a November morning. Ask lots of questions, James makes it interesting and loves to talk about it. And lastly, don't be distracted...really enjoy the peace and beauty. read more

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Picture yourself silently floating in midair, the only sound that is heard is a blast of the burner raising the balloon higher. That is what it feels like being up in one of James's balloons. Yeah, we all know that feeling, "I am not going up there, what if it crashed?" Jim and his well oiled team explain everything, you cannot help but feel safe (and you are). Takeoff and landings were gentle and we were up for about 1hour and 15 min. As we already said, the thing we remember the most (besides the views) was the complete and utter silence. Thank you James and your team for a perfect afternoon. read more

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Thanks for the great ride the other day. Great crew that runs the business. Friendly and fun staff. I can't express how great of an experience we had. Thank you! read more

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I have been wanting to try a balloon flight for years and finally happen to see these guys when I was in the area. Truly awesome experience. You cover allot of ground over amazing scenery. The pilot is unbelievably good at his job and can land that balloon on a dime. Amazing. He knows exactly what he is doing and has a great tour over the country side with lots of info and stories. The crew is on top of their game as well and can set-up and launch quickly, If nobody else said it READ ALL THE DETAILS ON THEIR WEBSITE AND COMMUNICATIONS. I missed the bit about wearing a hat, when that burner goes off.... the top of your head can get a bit toasty. Not a big deal. But there are allot of instructions that are cleared up if your READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. read more

Awesome experience. We had a Sunday afternoon sunset flight. Everything from start to finish was wonderful. This was our third balloon ride and I recommend sky's the limit if you're in the area and looking for a great experience. Wonderful time down to the Perfect smooth landing. read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Us up in the air - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

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Had such a wonderful time on our balloon ride! Our pilot James made us feel safe the whole time and was hilarious. The views were gorgeous and it was an amazing time. The office crew was great about being in contact with updates and returned my calls promptly. Thanks to everyone at Sky's the Limit for such a great experience! read more

Sky's The Limit Ballooning - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Los Olivos, California

My boyfriend had planned a sunrise balloon ride and it was absolutely beautiful. Make sure you get there on time, because the pilot is. When you arrive at the balloon, the staff takes pictures and also throughout the ride so make sure you have your cameras ready! James was so knowledgeable which made us both super comfortable with him and his team. We couldn't have asked for a better experience, once in a lifetime type of thing! James has lived there for a good amount of time and knew all of the history behind the city, which was very informational and kept the conversation going throughout the whole ride. The views are incredible, we were riding the clouds! When we touched down we were given champagne and a little story on how he found joy in his job years ago and the writing of his own book! Called basket case (get it?) We wrapped up and got the breakfast package in which you get at the market! Breakfast tacos, sammys, and all! Delicious! My boyfriend also booked the private wine tour, which James took us out to one of his favorite wineries. Foxen - great wine, and staff. I'm not a huge wine drinker but they were all pretty tasty! We also went to Eleven in town, and enjoyed our lunch in which James brought back to us. It was like we were royalty! Eleven was my favorite! Overall, greatest day and we definitely will be back! This time, the sunset ride! Thanks James & Staff!! read more

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Absolutely wonderful experience. We did the sunset flight and it was terrific. James is a terrific pilot and very knowledgeable about the area you fly over. The scenery is beautiful and the balloon experience is so serene. read more