Bucket List Trip: Hot Air Ballooning

When I heard that Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta was "the world's most photographed event," I talked a college friend into meeting me in New Mexico for the weekend. I dreamed about taking aerial photographs of the ascending hot air balloons. Unfortunately, my friend failed to mention that she was afraid of heights, so I had to settle for watching from the ground. Though the view of rising balloons was breathtaking, I promised myself that I'd get a bird's-eye view one day.

Fast forward about five years. Calistoga's Bennett Lane Winery recently announced plans to launch a winery-branded hot air balloon, so I jumped at the chance to redeem myself -- even if it meant waking up at 5 a.m.

Granted, I had second thoughts when signing the release of liability -- there was, of course, the threat of death or injury from the "capsize of the basket" but also the potential of getting arrested for trespassing upon landing. Hmmm.

Though heavy winds thwarted the first two attempts to launch the hot air balloon, the third time was definitely the charm. I expected my stomach to at least flip-flop as the balloon ascended, but I didn't even feel dizzy. In fact, the ascension was so smooth that I didn't notice we had left the ground until I saw that the neighboring balloon was several feet off the ground.

Perhaps VIP guest Tony La Russa (three-time World Series champion manager) said it best at the press conference, "Everybody has a bucket list and I scratched one today. I've always wanted to ride a hot air balloon."

My only regret? Due to our late start, our one-hour journey was cut short to 30 minutes and we weren't able to float across the Napa Valley as scheduled. Even so, the uplifting (sorry!) experience over Lake County was enough to tempt me to return to Albuquerque for Balloon Fiesta.

On a side note, my college friend met her soon-to-be-husband that weekend at Balloon Fiesta. Isn't life funny?



The Details: Bennett Lane Winery has partnered with Calistoga Balloons for one-hour flights that are scheduled to leave from a launch pad behind the winery (from $399 per person, with a Champagne brunch at The Restaurant at Meadowood and a tour, tasting, and picnic lunch at Bennett Lane Winery). Private packages are also available with limo transportation and reserve tastings (from $1,999 for two people). How to Book: 707/942-5758; www.calistogaballoons.com Photos by Amy Chen

Disclosure: I was a guest of Bennett Lane Winery for the media launch, but all opinions expressed here are my own.

How to Plan a Romantic Getaway for Less

I was flattered to be included in Dana Dratch's piece on Bankrate.com: "Spend less on romantic weekend getaways".

In addition to reading great tips from Peter Greenberg and Travel + Leisure's Rich Beattie, you'll find some of my affordable ways to plan a romantic getaway:

-- Savored.com: Skip the Groupon or LivingSocial coupons to avoid the cheapskate label. Honesty may be the best policy in a relationship, but do you really need to let your partner know that you're saving 30% on the bill at Le Cirque? (And yes, Le Cirque is a participating restaurant.) Frugality isn't so romantic.

-- SelectRegistry.com: You could spend hours sifting through B&B listings on TripAdvisor, or you could look at this association's website of well-maintained B&Bs and inns. Don't expect to find lace doilies and outdated decor here. Instead, many of these B&Bs are done up with crisp duvets and modern furnishings -- think boutique, not tacky. And the breakfasts! We're talking omelettes, French toast, homemade pastries, and more as part of the included room rate.

-- Always compare packages to a DIY price before booking. I write about travel deals a lot and unfortunately, I reject more than I'm able to cover. To me, a package is a great deal only if you're saving money -- and it's more convenient than booking everything a la carte. Some packages have inflated prices and all too often, these packages include things that you won't end up using. Be honest with yourself. Will you redeem that restaurant credit or those museum passes? Or could you book just the hotel room at a lower price without the package? (If all you're looking for is convenience, then you're probably not traveling on a budget anyway.)

Photo Caption: On a beach in Santa Barbara over Valentine's Day. Photo by Amy Chen