Wow! These folks are incredible! We had to reschedule several times for weather, health, and Covid, and they were pleasant, professional, and responsive every time. Today was finally the day for the long-awaited trip. Robert was our pilot aboard the Rogue, one of six balloons we traveled in our own little convoy. I can not commend the crew more. Each and every person was friendly and kind. You could tell they really WANTED us to have an amazing adventure. The wind was a bit calm, so we didn't go too far, but Robert was able to give us a gentle dunk in the river. If you get the opportunity to assist in the inflating process, do it! It is mind-boggling how huge these things are, and it was great to be part of stabilizing the beast as it inflated (which is much quicker than I thought). No need to avoid this activity if you have a fear of heights. For some reason, you don't feel the ascent or descent at all read more

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Safety conscious staff. Excellent experience. Let us younger people(40s) help with launching and landing. Incredibly beautiful area to fly over read more

We had a beautiful ride this morning for my husband's birthday, with a touchdown on the Willamette River, sunrise lift off, great pilot and crew, amazing scenery, and fun passengers. What an epic experience! read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - Newberg, Oregon, from Vista Hot Air Balloon - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

We had a fantastic time with Vista! Our corporate team decided to do this as an EOY celebration and it was such a great experience. We learned a lot about the balloon process, the scenery and best practices. We felt very safe and involved throughout the experience and we'd like to shoutout Captain Robert for a wonderful morning! read more

What the best anniversay so far. Had a wonderful experience and well worth the money, breathtaking! Shirley and Ed read more

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I had a wonderful flight with them - everything was perfect and very safe - I felt comfortable the whole adventure- highly recommended! read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

On a foggy, Saturday morning in September my family & I went on our first ever hot air balloon ride. It was breathtaking to say the least. Each balloon has a team of members that include the pilot, a couple Vista Balloon employees & local volunteers to prepare the balloon for take off as well as disassembling it. Baskets fit six to 10 people depending on the group sizes for that day. Our basket was about four feet deep & fit six people plus the pilot. We were strategically placed inside & within minutes were rising off the ground. It was the smoothest lift off I had ever felt. The timing of our departure couldn't have been more perfect. The fog blanketed the landscape as the sun pierced through & as we rose above the fog we watched it slowly dissipate. Everybody had their cameras out & none of us were holding on for dear life. The flight was so smooth in fact that we usually couldn't tell whether we were going up or down unless we looked down. No bumps, no shakes, no collisions. The weather was cooperative, the air was clean & we stayed warm under the hot air during the entire hour flight. After we made a soft landing, in a harvested field several miles out, we disassembled the balloon from its basket, rolled up the balloon & transported it back to the launch site in Newberg, OR. It took all six riders, the pilot & three volunteers to do this & it was hard work. The champagne (or mimosa or sparkling cider of your choice) brunch was home-made & every dish was delicious. Vista Ballon tours begin in April & end the first weekend of October. The rate is $189 per person but groups of four or more are $170 per person. The price may seem steep but after three hours of a hot air balloon adventure you'll see it's worth every penny. read more

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We're from Maui and my wife and son decided to take this adventure, very expensive @ $200 per person, however, it was worth the price--a once in a lifetime experience for sure. It's really hard to explain the experience, the views are wonderful and it's so quiet and peaceful. Getting the balloon prepped is also very exciting as you participate in getting the ballon filled with air and watching how huge this vehicle really is as it fills the cool morning sky. After the adventure, they provided a home-style lunch that was a quaint home-made meal that was done perfectly. The people who run this operation are very close knit and it shows by their interaction with each other, so you have a feeling like you're a guest of this family rather than a customer. When we got home, we received a post card from them with our picture on the front. A nice touch I must admit. So, overall, again this is an expensive venture, but I would say it was well worth it. It's something we'll never forget and definitely one of the highlights of our trip. My suggestion to you however, is to call the day before to be sure that the tour will not be cancelled due to weather. I read a previous post that the company didn't call them that the tour was cancelled. So, you may want to take the extra precaution so that you don't drive there for nothing. read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - taken from our balloon. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

No need to be afraid...my son is afraid of heights, but the staff and pilot made him feel safe & secure. The flight is actually very smooth and peaceful. The awesome staff even serves a wonderful champagne breakfast buffet after the flight! I highly recommend checking this one off you bucket list with Vista Balloon Adventures! read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

We received two gift certificates for a hot air balloon ride for our wedding and had such a great time! I don't enjoy getting up early in the morning to do anything, but it was worth it. I also tend to be afraid of heights, but after the first 30 seconds of the slightest anxiety it didn't phase me at all and I loved every minute. Our ride was about an hour with eight other people plus the guide/operator. We were with Robert, and he was great. As we flew he pointed out vineyards and a variety of other spots across the area. We even did a quick "basked kiss" into the near-by river, which he executed flawlessly and then we ascended right back up into the sky. When we returned there was a lovely, rustic champagne brunch al fresco. We'd absolutely do it again, and this time we'd like to bring a group of friends! read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - One of the other balloons touching down for a moment in the river. We did the same, it was a really neat part of the ride! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

Loved it. Def recommend them. John our pilot was great at keeping everyone calm and informed. I am terrified of flying but loved this experience! Would highly recommend them! read more

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For our 25th wedding anniversary, my wife and I re-enacted our wedding day. We got married in a Vista balloon 25 years ago. For this trip, we invited my best man and my wife's maid of honor and we all went up again. The entire trip was amazing. Our pilot was very professional and even took us for a "dip" in the pond where he expertly set the balloon down about an inch into the water and we skimmed the pond for about 25 yards and then went back up in the air - thrilling. We had a smooth landing and everything went without a hitch (because we were already married ;-) My only critique is the catering. After the balloon ride, they have a nice brunch. The food quality was delicious, there just was not enough to feed all the hungry people. We had chicken and steak fajitas and I only took a little bit of the meat because I wanted to make sure the rest of the balloonists (probably around 40-50 people) got some. When I went back for seconds, there was none left. I left still hungry. read more

I booked a trip as a surprise for my wife's birthday. I received my email confirmation with a map, other helpful info, a warning that I'd be charged the full amount for no-shows, and a reminder that "We will reconfirm the day before your scheduled flight." They had also explained on the phone when I booked that they would call the night before to let me know if they had to cancel for weather. They never called. I woke up at 3:30 AM on Saturday, checked the weather (which looked reasonably good at the time) and awakened my wife - at 4AM - on her birthday. I explained that there was a great surprise, loaded 2 days worth of bags into the car, and off we went for a one-hour pre-dawn drive to the launch site. Since there were 2 other cars also there waiting for the flight, I explained to the birthday girl what we were going to do. She was excited! We all waited for about an hour, and there was no sign of anyone from Vista Balloon Adventures. Finally, I called the office: "Oh, didn't someone call you last night? We are not flying today - we cancelled because of weather." "No, nobody called me. Apparently nobody called the other two cars waiting here either." (at least one of them was also there for a birthday surprise) "Well, we are so sorry. I don't know what happened. Someone was supposed to call you and tell you." That was it. No offer to re-schedule, no follow up, just "good bye". Here's a tip: If you find yourself in Newberg, OR, at 6AM on a Saturday, there aren't a whole lot of options for birthday-worthy activities. I understand the need to cancel for weather and appreciate the safety-first attitude. I also know it costs the company a lot of money when they have to cancel a whole Saturday morning flight. However, there were many options for notifying us all that the flight was cancelled - email, text, phone... It seems like they might want to be a bit more proactive making sure that customers aren't left waiting in a parking lot at 5:45 AM with disappointed birthday people. And, when something like that does happen - for whatever set of circumstances, it seems like a bit of follow-up, offering to re-schedule, or something to acknowledge the inconvenience the customer just suffered might be in order. We actually had to call them to find out what was up when they no-showed. They never called or contacted us at all. If a company is going to make a big deal up-front about a 72-hour no-cancellation, "full amount will be charged for no-shows" policy, they might want to be a little more attentive when they are the ones no-showing. read more

Wow, wow, wow. If you've ever feared doing hot air balloon rides, fear no more. Roger, Catherine and team made this a very memorable and SAFE experience for us. From the moment you arrive to the end of the experience as you sip champagne and sparkling wine from nearby Argyle and dine on homemade breakfast casseroles, breakfast burritos and fruit, the team made you feel so welcome and at home. You even get a free poster and autograph from your "pilot" after the flight. We had Roger, and he was a HOOT! In addition to flying higher then the treetops, we coasted along the Yamhill river with the bucket floating on top of the river. Unreal. Book in advance and pay the $189 the day off. They were packed the morning we came, so I doubt there is much room for same day sign-ups. Soft landing!! read more

If you are going to visit Oregon, this is one excursion I would highly recommend. Vista Balloons and the crew (Kelly--our pilot-- and Andrea M.) made this such a wonderful experience for us "out of towners". All three of us went in pretty scared but that fear of heights went away as soon as we all knew that we were in safe hands! We were greeted immediately by the owner who had us review and sign the necessary documentation. From the start, the whole operation was just so professional and well organized. I knew exactly where to go and when. I felt 100% safe with the top notch equipment and staff. The weather was fantastic and we (about 10 total plus the pilot) were up about 2500 feet for about 1.5 hrs. We saw Ash Island and the river. Our pilot did a great job of mixing up how hi/low we were and also seemed to make sure that all attendants had multiple views for good photo opportunities. Kelly even talked about the major landmarks, talked to us about the shifting wind patterns, etc. The landing was super smooth as well. The tour ended with a wonderful breakfast (crackers, bread, dip, breakfast burrito, orange juice, etc.). Again, HIGHLY recommend! Great staff! AAAA++++ operation!!! Well worth the price of admission...see Oregon in the best way possible! read more

The folks at Vista Balloon Adventures are all very friendly, helpful, and good at what they do. My wife was too uneasy about the whole idea, so I went with my daughter, age 10, and was a little concerned over how that would go. She loved it! And why not--aside from the early morning wake-up, it's a fantastic experience. We were lucky enough to have Roger as our pilot. I imagine they are all as good as he is, but he is terrific. First, know that it is very safe. Second--yes, it is worth getting up while it's still dark out to do this. Third--bring your camera. They entire experience is one big photo-op. Fourth -- they offer a great buffet brunch afterwards, so plan to stick around for that. Yes, it's a little spendy, but once you do it you'll be glad you did. read more

All I can say is simply amazing! The experience is like no other! The staff here are top notch! I was amazed on how well the team works together to make this beautiful experience happen. Everyone here is so knowledgeable and friendly. The balloons are huge! The day is so beautiful. The sun shinning perfectly to give your experience even more fun! I highly recommend this company for all of your adventures! read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

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We had the most amazing flight with Vista. The staff, pilots and crew were so welcoming and put all of our "scared of heights" minds at ease. The adventure is fun, beautiful and relaxing. The brunch was delicious (they very kindly accommodated my allergies). Highly recommended!! read more

Our family of four when on our first balloon ride with Vista and we loved every minute. Wonderful to to look down at gorgeous views of the farms and wine country surrounding the Willamette River, with the Coast Range in the distance. We even touched down - very gently - on the river water, and then, just as gently, soared back up into the sky. We felt perfectly safe and comfortable around every Vista staff member. Best of all, they were so friendly. The brunch at the end was a most pleasant surprise - a range of delicious fruits, cheeses and homemade breakfast dishes, served with a glass of sparkling wine. We will definitely do this again, probably with out-of-state visitors. There can't be a more delightful way to show others our beautiful state. read more

What a great time my wife and I had.! We had a phenomenal pilot named John that made this experience easy and the food to cap it all off was also fantastic. read more

A lot of fun. Worth doing at least once on your life. Great people, crew and experience. read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

There are plenty of reviews here that tell you this is a good thing to do. It is, I had a wonderful time and proposed to my fiance floating above the Willamette river. It's obvious the people running this really love their work. During the setup offer to help - I did this morning and it was a huge rush watching the jet of fire shoot past me as the balloon filled up while I held the sides open. Our ride lasted around an hour. We met in Newberg at 06:15. Soon after we jumped into the chase vans and set up outside of St. Paul due to wind. We were in the air by 07:15 and floated about halfway between Woodburn and Keizer following the river. The vans picked us up when we landed and we were back in Newberg around 09:00. Vista puts on a quaint breakfast with champagne once everyone returns. We were wrapped up and done by 10:00. All in all, very memorable. read more

Amazing adventure! It's worth getting up early for too! We did the flight the morning of our wedding. It was a great way to kick off the day. Pierre, Roger, and their entire team are top notch! They were well organized and I felt very well taken care of! read more

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Vista balloon adventures did an AMAZING job taking us up up and away. The crew ran the operation extremely smoothly. Only down side is getting there at 5:30 in the morning! So much fun, fastest hour of your life. pilot Robert was very friendly and informative...got to "splash and dash" on the Willamette river, an amazing time. Can't wait to do it again! read more

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The vista ballon staff was amazing, I could not ask for anything else. I planned an engagement while on the ballon and Pierre's generosity with my needs were met above my expectations. We had Roger as our pilot and he was wonderful with explaining how the balloon functioned and his knowledge of the area. This is a sure thing that we are going to be doing again at Vista read more

My wife and I just got back from a balloon flight with Vista Valloon Adventures and we had such a blast! I have never been in a hot air balloon before, but I suspect I will do so again after such a great flight. It is difficult to describe how amazing it is. The staff was incredibly competent and professional with all their preparations and equipment ready to go when we got there. It was all top quality equipment with nothing that caused me even the slightest concern (and I am very observant about such things when my life depends on them). One of the signature things they try and do on their flights is to come down and "touch" the water of the river with the bottom of the basket. This takes a lot of skill in order to hit the water, but not get folks feet wet. Our pilot Robert did this exactly perfectly with no water in the basket (not all flights are able to accomplish this due to wind conditions). The landing was exciting as the wind came up a bit (8mph) as we landed in a field which actually caused the basket to tip over on landing (which is totally fine and normal since when in the landing position we just held on and laughed the entire time, it was great fun!). Definitely bring your camera as there are PLENTY of chances for great photos! I must say, the breakfast after the balloon adventure was wonderful as well. It by far exceeded my expectations (I figured they would have muffins and pastries as basic fare, but it was actually a full blown incredibly delicious meal). -Eric read more

I wasn't super excited about being somewhere by 5:30 am, however, it was totally worth it! John was our pilot and was absolutely amazing. It was an experience that I'll never forget. I highly recommend Vista! read more

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The whole thing that this company offers is great. The staff were very generous and fun. The flight was awesome. AND the champagne brunch they provided us after the flight was really nice. read more

Just enjoyed my first ever hot air balloon ride with a group of fellow photographers from Portland area. Of course, scoring perfect weather helped, but I would bet dark chocolate these guys would make even the worst day brighter with their skill and consummate professionalism. They are the total package, from start to finish. From re-directing me on the way in when a road was closed, to plying me with great home cooked food with champagne brunch after a fantastic flight - it doesn't get much better. I plan to hire them at least once a year after this, if not more;). Don't wait for just that special occasion, but if you do, know that it'll be even more special with their help too. read more

Balloon ride gets 5-stars. I purchased a ride for friends as a gift and they enjoyed it. Back office gets 2-stars. I'd also scheduled a ride for our family which we needed to reschedule. They have a 72-hour cancellation policy in effect, very reasonable. And it was simple to cancel the reservation by phone, but the clerk refused to provide a simple courtesy email or any form of proof of cancellation of my reservation. Why is this a difficult thing? She became short and provocative at my request when I calmly insisted that typically when someone's credit card is attached to a costly reservation, it is standard for a business to confirm cancellation. I'm obviously only trying to protect myself against the headache of getting charges reversed or worse eating them because someone failed to complete the cancellation or misunderstood the nature of my phone call. Either the clerk didn't care or she couldn't grasp the idea. This did not inspire confidence. It would have been very simple to accomodate me even if it's outside their standard practice. Now I'll be nervous for a week worried that if we get charged for this reservation, what can I do about it! They have proof I made the reservation-- I have nothing. Too bad my business and peace of mind isn't worth a 2-minute email. read more

My wife and I booked a ride for our anniversary and went out on 9/11/15. We were blown away (figuratively) by the experience. The people were very accommodating and well organized and our Pilot,Roger, was outstanding,humorous and informative. After the spectacular ride we had a nice meal and shared some good stories with some of the other riders and volunteers at the base. We would highly recommend this adventure and it is a very good value. read more

AMAZING experience overall! From the great communication prior to giving thorough details about the big day, to the actual experience itself, and champagne brunch after, all was so professional and exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend doing this "bucket list" "once in a blue moon" experience and hopefully you'll be as lucky as we were with a beautiful, clear, warm AM. The dip in the Willamette River was probably the most favorite part. read more

Everything about this experience was fantastic. Friendly, professional people on the ground and piloting the balloon. Awe-inspiring beauty. Magical flight. We were both nervous and slightly scared of heights, but the ride was so smooth and gentle that all anxiety quickly melted away. Our pilot was extremely competent and kind. Helping inflate the balloon at the beginning and helping to pack it away at the end was also quite fun! To finish the dreamy ride off with a beautiful champagne toast with the owner and delicious buffet breakfast in the field was icing on the cake. It was a most memorable and joy-filled morning. I can't recommend it highly enough. read more

We flew with Vista just this morning and it was amazing! My soon to be wife surprised me with a hot air balloon adventure for our dating anniversary and Mother Nature kept us from flying for a few weeks but I have to say it was worth the wait! We flew with Roger in the Thunder balloon and we had a blast! He and his crew were very thorough in explaining the balloon to everyone and assuring us a safe flight and then let us hop right in there and help with getting the ballon filled with air and upright. That right there was an amazing experience in and of itself but then we hopped on in and Roger and his i believe 25 years of flying skills really showed with how he maneuvered that ballon through all sorts of crazy adventures. The breakfast afterwards was amazing as well and we got to eat with all the balloon pilots they just all showed us an amazing morning and flight! Best part of all though, no TSA! ;) Roger and your crew, thank you! read more

We had an amazing adventure. The flight crews, I believe, are all volunteers. What I am certain of is that they all love what they do, and do everything they can to make sure you enjoy it just as much! In addition to an amazing flight over lovely countryside, you get to assist setting up and packing away the balloon. Everything was perfectly organized and planned, though the flights and landings are flexible due to current conditions -- which means you can go again and again and get a new experience each time! The brunch afterwards was delicious (don't miss the potato casserole!). We had a great time and will be back! read more

What an amazing experience! Such a friendly and fun staff! We were so lucky to get perfect weather and an exciting group in our balloon. Food and champagne at the end of a smooth landing with Rod made for a great start to our day!! An experience of a life time :) read more

Excellent family adventure! We floated in the largest balloon in the PacNW and did a cool touch splash in the Willamette River. Nice brunch followed. Thought it would be a once in a lifetime but would totally do again! read more

Vista Balloon Adventures - Looking up! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Newberg, Oregon

We had a grand time in our flight. Pilot John is the best. Funny and friendly. He landed so softly we hardly felt it. The flight crews (All volunteers) seem to love what they do. They are very professional and want their guests to have a great time. We got to help take down the balloon and put it away. The brunch afterwards was delicious. The pilots and crews treated it like a real celebration. Very much worth the money. read more

This was awesome~ I wasn't sure at first because I'm scared of heights but the baskets are large and the crew put you at ease. It was so much fun watching them setting up the hot air balloon and then all of us loading in for a chance in a lifetime experience. I felt so comfortable with Robert as our pilot. He was charming, confident and had a great sense of humor, all which put me at ease as we climbed to 5500 feet. Honestly knowing the number scared me more the actually being that high. We saw mountains we couldn't even name, it was wonderful! The breakfast they serve after was excellent, so many choices and the Argyle Champagne, need I say more. I'd highly recommend this trip from Vista Balloons, they are professionals with tons of experience and an excellent crew. read more

An amazing, unique experience. Hot air balloons, awesome views of Oregon wine country, champagne, biscuits and gravy, and the friendliest people you will ever meet. I would definitely recommend this activity for your next trip to Oregon. For those of you who haven't ridden in a hot air balloon, be prepared for a calm, serene experience. This is not for those seeking a thrill a minute, but really shouldn't be missed. Our pilot, Kelly, has been flying for nearly 20 years and we couldn't have been in better hands! read more