SeeCalifornia.com

People make all kinds of resolutions at the start the new year but one that many of us SHOULD make is to take time to enjoy life–riding a hot air balloon. The U.S. ranks at around 30 something internationally for health, while people in France are the most healthy of any country, and Italians are second for longevity.

What do the French do? They take breaks, stop working at night, eat & drink quality meals dining slowly and spending up to two hours on a meal and social time. They also like to enjoy the French countryside on bicycle or riding hot air balloons.

An M.D. in the United States summed it up as this: We Americans gulp down our chemical fast food meals from drive-through restaurants and rush in hurried pace, never allowing our bodies and minds to relax. Our diet and lifestyle takes years off our lives.  Be good to yourself this year and do something fun. California has fine wines, award-winning cuisine and hot air balloon rides with scenery to rival the French countryside. Some think California’s scenery is better!

BALLOON FESTIVALS IN CALIFORNIA

• Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival -  The annual  hot air balloon festival includes hot concert acts, lots of entertainment and wine tasting.  June 1-3, 2012 in Temecula, CA  (tvbwf.com).
• Citrus Classic Balloon Festival – Mingle with balloon pilots, enjoy outdoor dining, wine and beer garden, browse arts and craft vendors, get active with the Kids Activity Area, relax with live music. . . It’s the perfect day trip, family summer weekend or romantic getaway – conveniently just 1.5 hours from Los Angeles! July 27-28, 2012 in Santa Paula, CA (citrusclassicballoons.com)

HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES IN CALIFORNIA

• Temecula: California Dreamin‘ or A Grape Escape
• Del Mar, San Diego – Hot Air Flyer Balloons (hotairflyer.com)
• Calistoga: Calistoga Balloons (calistogaballoons.com)
• Santa Rosa: Above the Wine Country Balloons
• Napa Valley – Napa Valley Balloons (napavalleyballoons.com)
• Sacramento: Sky Drifters (skydrifters.com
• Lake Tahoe: Lake Tahoe Balloons  (laketahoeballoons.com)
• Palm Springs: Balloons Above (balloonsabovethedesert.com)
• Santa Paula: Balloons arranged by Limoneira Tours (limoneira.com)

Pictures above are taken from Temecula hot air balloon rides.