Have you seen this? I mean, really? How cool is that! A hot air balloon over Chicago!

I'm a little disappointed that I missed the Albuquerque‎ International Balloon Fiesta. Both times I visited New Mexico, I was off by a week. This is probably the next best thing, right in my own backyard! Did I mention that you can go INSIDE this balloon?!

I so want to do this once this summer. Can you image the photos I'd be able to take? **sigh**

Here's a little blurb from the Navy Pier website:

Float in silence 35 stories into the air on the Navy Pier AeroBalloon, an anchor, helium-filled, state of the art balloon. The balloon will carry up to 17 passengers at a time for spectacular 360-degree panoramas of a bustling downtown Chicago.

Tickets are $25 for an adult (for a 8-10 minute ride.) A little on the pricey side, but seriously, how often do you get a chance to be up in a hot air balloon?!

Now, all i need to do is find some friends who are NOT afraid of heights to go with me...

Have you been on this yet? What did you think?

photo credit: El Dave

Special thanks to El Dave for letting me use his images in this post. If you like his images, please check out his flickr page. If you're interested in purchasing any of his images as fine art prints, please check out his etsy shop and feel free to contact him for any special requests you might have!