25th anniv. idea - your thoughts on this

18 years ago

Hi all:

We have our 25th anniversary in May and thought a sunset hot air balloon ride might be a fun surprise for my DH. We live is a lovely area (no mountains though) in the burbs of Philly so the view would be nice in May. Included with the ride is champagne and hor derves. I'm thinking of taking him to a restaurant for dinner afterwards, suggested by the balloon place.

Do you think this idea is "good enough" and "worthy" enough for a 25th anniversary? If someone surprised you with a gift like this, how would you like it (based on you not being afraid of heights)?

Anyone ever taken a ballon ride - would you recommend it? Any other suggestions to go with this surprise?

If you have a better idea (not a trip away), I'd like to hear from you. We're in our upper 40s.

Thanks in advance.

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Comments (32)

dirt_yfingernails
18 years ago
I think it's a super idea. Bet your DH would LOVE it!
gadgets
18 years ago
If he won't go, will you take me? LOL I like the idea.

Shirley
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judy_jay
18 years ago
Sounds very romantic & a lot of fun. Go for it!
Happy_Go_Lucky_Gayle
18 years ago
Nope.....not me.

if you go....take pictures.
Gayle
ont_gal
18 years ago
altho a hot air balloon is not something I myself would want,it sounds like a fantastic idea!
donna_oh
18 years ago
What a great present!

I've been up twice, the first one was fantastic & the second was disappointing as it was too hot out! Hopefully in May the weather will be beautiful!

Donna (^_^)
golfergrrl
18 years ago
It's a very nice idea...different, that's for sure.
I've done the sunrise balloon ride with the champagne when we landed.
It's serene, floating along when the jets are off.
When they fire up the jets to heat the air, it's very noisy.
I'd say go for it.
softball_80
18 years ago
I live in Philly. My 25th anniversary is 3/19. But I'm not going up in any hot air balloon; I'm afraid of heights! Maybe I'll send my MIL up instead!

Call me a wuss if you like but I can't get that Hindenburg newsreel footage out of my head. Oh, the humanity!!!!!
lydia1959
18 years ago
I think it's a great idea, although you'd never get me in one.

Softball - I did send my MIL up one year for her birthday. She loved it except for having to share the champagne with a complete stranger. (2 people had to go up at a time).
good36
18 years ago
Sounds wonderful to me. I did a short Balloon ride a few years ago. The flames really throw off heat. I did not like that, it was HOT!
Judy
cate52
18 years ago
We did a hot air balloon ride a few years ago -- was more than just 2 people -- but it was great fun -- would love to do it again -- only problem for me [I'm short] was getting in & out of the basket...
msmarion
18 years ago
Great idea! You could arrange for a limo to pick you up after (or before) the balloon ride and take you to the restaurant. OR maybe go into the city and take in a play dinner and stay over at a fabulous hotel. OR find a nice B&B that offers dinner.

When we built our former home in NH the sheetrock contractor was also a baloon captain. He offered us a ride for awarding his company the contract. DH never wanted to go but there is a balloon festival in NH each summer so he took me up. I loved it.
jannie
18 years ago
Sounds nice, as long as neither of you has a fear of heights. I do. I had a chance to go on a balloon ride last year, but I said "No,thanks." My two friends who did go enjoyed it. I like planes. I'm also afraid of helicopters.
mary_c_gw
18 years ago
I've both been in a hot-air balloon, and been ground crew for one.

Check out the balloonists in your area - you may find that the best ballooning time is sunrise, not sunset!

It depends on the prevalent weather pattern in your area. I was around the Bay Area in CA (Palo Alto), and the best times were sunrise. Now I'm around Austin, TX, and the best ballooning times are still sunrise.

Ballooning is fun, but it's also very noisy - when that burner fires up, there will be no romantic conversation.

Just a few factoids you may need.
FlamingO in AR
18 years ago
I love this idea. I went up about 1.5 years ago and it was very much fun. Exhilirating, too, when we tried to land between a highway and a rushing river! That was the best part, we nearly tipped into it, I've never had so much fun! Typically, after a first ride there is a ceremony and it includes champagne. We were drinking it at 10 AM. lol If they offer an evening ride, I would like to try that. Morning is nice, winds tend to settle in the evening, but it could be fun. I remember periods of noise, but most of the ride was very quiet and peaceful when we were "cruising". And with a pilot on board, you won't be having any privacy anyway. Those baskets aren't very large.

Have fun! Dinner after sounds great and be sure to bring someone along to get photos of you going up and coming down, and another camera for you while you're up. After our ride, DH gave me a lovely 14K gold charm of a hot air balloon, which started my vacation charm necklace. It's the best reminder of fun times!
mcmann
18 years ago
Let me know if you're ballooning my way and I'll run out in the yard and wave. I'll even take ground photos. I'm in Burlington County, NJ and we see lots of balloons. Most of them are late afternoon, early evening.
ilovechocolate
Original Author
18 years ago
Thanks everyone. I've decided to do it. The girl at the place recommended the sunset trip. I'm thinking it may be too cold for my bones at 6:30am anyway. Heights don't bother me...I've jumped out of an airplane before for no good reason except to have fun - and it was. DH is okay with heights too.

I'll remember to bring the camera and earplugs. Looking forward to seeing the gorgeous scenary in this area from above.
luckygardnr
18 years ago
The only thing better would be to have a minister on the flight with you to renew your vows. How romantic would that be? However, would your DH go along with that?
phyllis__mn
18 years ago
DD's in-laws went up on their 60th anniversary and loved it.
workoutlady
18 years ago
Sounds like great fun to me but my DH would not go for it so I'd have to go alone. Have fun!
OklaMoni
18 years ago
I love your idea.

For our 25th anniversary we went to a B&B for two nights. Rode a tandem bicycle (DH bought it for the anniversary) ride, and just loafed.

Other than that darn bike I didn't like or want, it was nice. Yours sounds TERRIFIC! :)

Moni who will have her 36th anniversary this year
ilovechocolate
Original Author
18 years ago
luckygardnr:

That's just the thing that may put the icing on the cake - to renew the vows with a minister. Renewing our vows did cross my mind before the balloon idea even entered my mind.

I will look into it, though I may just see if a minister could meet us at the "take-off" point and do a ceremony before we "fly away" into another 25 wonderful years. I prefer not to have him/her in the balloon with us anyway. I'll check with the balloon venue too to see if I'm out of line with the idea.

Hummm....something else to surprise DH with. I think he'd LOVE the idea of renewing the vows.
susanjf_gw
18 years ago
enjoy it...sil did one and really enjoyed it...he was all alone...(had gone to ca while in the reserves)

me? i have trouble watching movies with tall building scenes...

when we lived in so ca, they used to have races and a "game" called fox and hounds...we followed one balloon till it accidently landed in someone's back yard!
gw:lynneþ¿¿¿¿
18 years ago
It sounds wonderful
brenda_in_tx
18 years ago
"Maybe I'll send my MIL up instead!"

BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAA - can mine go with yours???
kickypants
18 years ago
Love the idea! Another one is taking a helicopter ride to a secluded area for a picnic. Or how about skydiving? Not trying to kill you guys or anything, Those are just things that I love.
bettyswwa
18 years ago
The whole idea....renewing your vows and sailing away in a balloon to start the next 25 years sounds fantastic.
pattico_gw
18 years ago
May is our anniversary too...

A hotair balloon ride would be a big surprise for Denny too...because he'd be up there alone....I'd have my feet firmly planted on mother earth...waving to him and blowing him kisses...lol

Our second daughter and her husband made plans to take us out for dinner....She forgot something at the house..so we stopped to get it....She wanted us to come in too so we did. There in the darkness of the house was our whole family + cousins...My oldest daughter and grandbabies were there. at the time they lived several hours away. I cried.

I hope whatever you choose you have a Wonderful time...

patti
teresava
18 years ago
I think that sounds like a great idea! Hope you guys have fun & Happy Anniversary!
kathyg_in_mi
18 years ago
One of my BF's is a hot air balloon pilot and owns her balloon. I've been up with her. It is just amazing! You will have a great time.
Kathy G in MI
des_arc_ya_ya
18 years ago
Oh, that sounds like fun! Let us know how it goes.
sharon_fl
18 years ago
Sounds like an awesome way to celebrate your 25 yrs together! Heads up tho...maybe have a "Plan B" just in case it's raining? I lived north of Phile (Wyoming Co) most of my life and there were many a rainy day in May.

25th anniv. idea - your thoughts on this

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25th anniv. idea - your thoughts on this

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