Highly recommend a hot air balloon ride especially in wine country. Fun activity! This was very well set up - signed all the waivers online, very clear instructions, remaining payment after activity is done. Easy drive at 5 am. There were about 18 people split up among 3 balloons. They recommend proper shoes but some folks showed up in flip flops and it wasn't a problem. They had coffee and snack bars while we waited in the office. And then you can go and stand near your assigned balloon and watch it being inflated.
One does have to be able to climb into it - they show you how. The basket itself is divided into 4 sections, capable of holding 4 people in each section, with the pilot in a middle section with the equipment. It's lovely as you ascend and watch the sun come up. You're pretty much floating over the vineyards - the pilot varies flying height which is great. This is a year round activity unless there's a lot of fog or heavy rain, of course. Floating over Sonoma is especially pretty, not a lot of built up areas. We saw the hawks come out to hunt and the jackrabbits scurry away among the vines. It was about a 50 min ride and then we landed in a dried up vineyard (ready for clearing and planting another crop). You grab onto handles and bend your knees as you brace for landing which was very smooth. The crew met us there and worked on deflating and packing up the balloon while the pilot drove us back to the office. It's tradition to have champagne after a balloon ride so that's what we did! And it did flow freely :) More history from our pilot, Jeff, and a great recommendation for breakfast at Sunshine Cafe.