How I Fell in Love With a Small Town in Idaho Hundreds of Feet in the Air

I am terrified of heights—they make every muscle in my body lock in place. I haven’t been on a Ferris wheel in years, and the thought of skydiving or paragliding is a recurring nightmare of mine. That’s why, when I was given the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon during the Ammon Days Festival, I was VERY hesitant. In fact, whenever someone mentioned the ride, I’d feel my heart start to race and my palms fill with sweat.

And was my time in the hot air balloon as scary as I imagined it to be? Well, kind of.

Ammon is located in southeastern Idaho, right next to Idaho Falls. I love this town for many reasons, including its excellent shopping and dining options, the outstanding parks and recreation department, and its diverse array of year-round activities. This town is constantly hosting one activity after another (I’m always so impressed), including its annual Ammon Days event. This free community event is a three-day celebration filled with music, vendors, food, performances, and games. But the highlight is the hot air balloons.

Hot air balloons take to the skies above Ammon, Idaho, each morning of the festival. And on one select night, several balloons are tethered to the ground and light up for the impressive Glow Night, drawing in a crowd of all ages. This year, 22 hot air balloons participated in Ammon Days, and I was lucky enough to get close to the action.

For several years, I have volunteered for Ammon's massive Little League program, and as a thank you, my husband and I were allowed to ride in one of the festival's hot air balloons. I had been presented with the opportunity in the early summer months, and the weeks leading up to the ride, I always felt queasy whenever I thought of the upcoming experience. However, my kids were so excited for me, and I wanted them to think I’m brave—the things we do for our kids, right?

On the day of my ride, my husband and I arrived at the city park at 6 a.m., where we met our pilot and chase crew. We reviewed a few safety rules, and I mentioned my fear of heights. While I worried our pilot would think I was crazy, she just smiled and assured me this was my ride. If I felt we were going too high, we could always float back down. She also reminded me that hot air balloons are one of the safest forms of air travel, as you have a built-in parachute. We just had to be diligent in helping her watch out for any obstacles as we floated up and down.

One of my biggest surprises was how quickly it was to prep the balloon for flight. In no time at all, the team had the balloon ready, and I found myself climbing inside. As you begin to rise, you feel like you are slowly floating—it’s not rough or jarring. However, I still gripped the side of the basket with all of my might. As we got into the air, we could look down and see other hot air balloons starting to rise on the ground below. We were one of the first balloons in the sky, but before long, we were surrounded by balloons of all colors and shapes.

The day of our flight was perfect flying weather. There was very little wind, so we didn’t get pushed too far or too fast. We could peacefully float and admire the beautiful place that I call home. We flew over main roads and buildings, fields, and neighborhoods. My husband brought his binoculars and would look for landmarks, both near and far, in the area.

We flew in the air for approximately an hour, and I slowly noticed my grip was loosening. I was raising my arms to point at objects in the distance. I was actually enjoying myself! My racing heart had settled down. I had fun watching our chase crew follow us down below, and I had moments where I just soaked in the quiet moments as much as possible. I especially loved watching little kids wave to us from their backyards, and dogs barking wildly as we flew overhead.

The slow, peaceful ride over my city captured my heart and made me appreciate the place I call home. I could see the farms, mountains, and the Snake River. Idaho is such a beautiful place, and there’s something magical about viewing it from above.

After an hour, we landed in a large field. Our pilot was then able to hover the balloon just slightly over the ground, and the chase crew, my husband, and I were able to push the balloon across the road to a nearby school. We then put the hot air balloon away almost as fast as it came out. And, of course, we celebrated our ride with a toast, a centuries-old tradition in hot air ballooning.

I began my hot air balloon ride filled with dread and fear. However, looking back, I can say that it was a time full of wonder, exploration, and pure bravery. It not only made me fall in love with the place I call home, but it also made me proud of myself for conquering a genuine fear.

Will I take another hot air balloon ride? Most likely. But next year, I’ll let someone else have a turn. I’m happy with both my feet firmly on the ground.  

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