
Balloon flights start from a grass strip
at the Post Mills Airport near Lake Fairlee and are generally scheduled for 6am
or 2 hours before sunset. Flights are available daily and can be scheduled year
round.
The flights average just over an hour in
duration but you should allow about three hours for your entire balloon
experience including set-up and landing. You'll travel anywhere from 3 to 15
miles in the balloon depending on the winds encountered at different altitudes.
You'll get a bird's eye view of the Connecticut River Valley as you float from
as low as tree level to as high as several thousand feet. A chase crew follows
the balloon and arrives at landing with a post flight Champagne/soft drink
celebration. There are no age limits as long as you are in good
health. Dress as you would for any 3 hour outside activity during your chosen
flying time of the year. It's no colder in the air than on the ground.
Comfortable hiking boots or sneakers are recommended footwear. Brian
Boland, your pilot, has been ballooning since 1970, is one of the most
experienced pilots in the world, has set numerous world records, won national
championships and has flown all over the world, including flights over the Alps
and Andes. He's a renowned balloon designer/builder and story teller.
After your flight you'll get a chance to see Brian's Balloon Museum. It
houses his private collection of over 100 balloons, airships, special interest
& antique vehicles and other "neat" interesting, rusty, dusty
stuff. More
ballooning info:
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A getaway package combining a
hot air balloon flight with comfortable lodging at the
Silver Maple Lodge and
Cottages.

The Silver Maple Lodge and Cottages is one
of Vermont's oldest continuously operating country inns. The centerpiece of our
historic property is an antique farmhouse dating to the late 1700's, which was
expanded in the Victorian-style in the mid 1800's. The inn, which first opened
its doors to travelers in the 1920's, has been restored and refurbished. Our
look is fresh but the lodge is filled with many of the inn's original antique
furnishings and exposed 200 year old hand-hewn beams remain.
- The basic package consists of
:
- Two nights' lodging for two at the
Silver Maple Lodge and
Cottages.
- Continental breakfast each
day.
- A one hour champagne balloon flight
over Lake Fairlee, the Connecticut River Valley or the foothills of the Green
Mountains.
- The total cost is $795 for two
adults which includes all taxes.
Gift Certificates are available
!
Inn to Inn
Tours
We can also help you plan a 1 - 3 day self-guided inn-to-inn
tour with any of the following activities:
- BICYCLING: tour the scenic Vermont countryside along the
Connecticut River at your own pace. We can provide maps of local roads and have
10 speed bicycles available for rental.
- CANOEING: spend a day on Lake Fairlee or 1 - 2 days on the
Connecticut River. Bring your own canoe or we can arrange a rental with shuttle
service.
- WALKING: We provide maps of area hiking trails and country
roads and can help you plan a route that may cover from 2 - 10 miles.
- You will enjoy the hospitality of the Silver Maple Lodge &
Cottages in Fairlee, VT and A Century Past in Newbury, VT.
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