The Great Park Orange Balloon Ride

To celebrate our anniversary, Daniel and I wanted to do something other than just go out to eat. We decided to go to the Great Park in Irvine to ride the GIANT ORANGE BALLOON!!! I drive by the balloon every day on the 405 and have been wanting to visit it because it reminds me of the book James and the Giant Peach.

The balloon is 72 feet in diameter and filled with 5,500 cubic feet of helium. The ride is free for now and open to the public on a first come first serve basis.

You can go to the park, get a ticket, sign a waiver and head over to the balloon ride. From Orange County Airport, take the 405 South, exit Sand Canyon and make a left. Head east on Sand Canyon and just after you drive under the 5 freeway, make a right on Marina Way and follow the signs to the Great Park.

There are tents under which to wait near the ride and a pilot will collect your ticket. It was already 84 degrees when we got there today so the tents were a nice relief from the heat. They let 8 people on per trip today. The trips last about 10-15 minutes and depend on wind conditions. We went around 10 a.m. which, according to the website, is during the best times for wind conditions.

The balloon is tethered to the ground by a cable that is controlled by a winch.

The pilot said that we rose about 500 feet in the air to see a 360 degree view of Irvine.

When the wind picked up, the cable holding the balloon to the ground was pulled to an angle. The wind had picked up so much that the group after us had to wait awhile. The balloon was still on the ground when we exited the park.

Where's north? There's north.

Earth from above Orange County.