The Wicked Balloons Journal

Ballooning stories, history & how-tos

Everything about hot air ballooning — from the very first flight in 1783 to planning your own sunrise ride over New England.

Corporate Outings and Team Events by Balloon
Planning, Gifts & Occasions

Corporate Outings and Team Events by Balloon

Plan a corporate hot air balloon ride for your next offsite or client event, with tips on group size, timing, and weather…

August 6, 2026 · 5 min read
The Best Views from a Balloon Over New England
New England & Seasons

The Best Views from a Balloon Over New England

Discover the best hot air balloon views New England has to offer, from sunrise farmland to fall foliage, on a Wicked Balloons…

August 6, 2026 · 5 min read
The Piccard Family: Ballooning to the Stratosphere
Records & Adventures

The Piccard Family: Ballooning to the Stratosphere

How an Auguste Piccard balloon reached the stratosphere in 1931 and launched three generations of Piccard family exploration.

August 5, 2026 · 5 min read
Mass Ascension: When Hundreds of Balloons Launch at Once
Festivals & Destinations

Mass Ascension: When Hundreds of Balloons Launch at Once

What a hot air balloon mass ascension really involves, from launch-field logistics to the calm morning air that makes it possible.

August 5, 2026 · 6 min read
Renting a Balloon for a Photo or Film Shoot
Ballooning on Screen

Renting a Balloon for a Photo or Film Shoot

Planning a hot air balloon for photoshoot or film work? Here's how tethered and flight sessions work, what to plan for, and…

August 4, 2026 · 5 min read
Why Brands Use Hot Air Balloons for Marketing
Special Shapes & Advertising

Why Brands Use Hot Air Balloons for Marketing

Discover why balloon advertising for business still outperforms billboards and digital ads, and how custom shapes turn heads at every event.

August 4, 2026 · 5 min read
How Do Hot Air Balloons Land Safely?
Safety & Pilots

How Do Hot Air Balloons Land Safely?

Curious how do hot air balloons land without steering or brakes? Learn the wind-reading, timing, and teamwork behind every safe touchdown.

August 3, 2026 · 5 min read
Morning vs. Evening Flights: Which Should You Book?
Your First Ride

Morning vs. Evening Flights: Which Should You Book?

Weighing the best time of day for a hot air balloon ride? Compare calm sunrise flights and golden sunset flights before you…

August 3, 2026 · 5 min read
How High Can a Hot Air Balloon Fly?
How Balloons Work

How High Can a Hot Air Balloon Fly?

How high can a hot air balloon go? From record-setting stratosphere flights to a typical sunrise ride, here's what really determines a…

August 2, 2026 · 5 min read
Balloons Go to War: Ballooning in the Civil War
History & Origins

Balloons Go to War: Ballooning in the Civil War

How Civil War hot air balloons carried Union and Confederate aeronauts aloft for battlefield reconnaissance in the 1860s.

August 2, 2026 · 5 min read