Travel off the beaten track and experience

Have you ever been to a hot air balloon festival? There are hundreds of them across the United States, and no matter where you live, there’s a good chance that there’s a hot air balloon festival near you. The main attraction, of course, are the giant colorful balloons rising into the sky, but hot air balloon festivals usually feature their own eclectic mix of local highlights, from live music and carnival-style booths to arts and crafts and food trucks.  I’ve got a thing for hot air balloon festivals, which is kind of funny because not many people are more afraid of heights than I am. I become mesmerized by the sight of giant balloons dancing across a magical landscape, but I have never actually been up in a hot air balloon. Please don’t hold that against me – I try to visit at least one hot air balloon festival near me every summer, and this year I’m hoping to check out more than one. Because there are hundreds of hot air balloon festivals tha...