Gorge-ous View

When an outdoor activity is featured on a state's license plates you know it's got to be good. There may be no better place in the world to hot-air balloon than Taos. Sure, it's a splurge, but sometimes you've just gotta take things higher. Go with Ed Smith; he's been running Pueblo Balloon Company for almost 20 years. Help the crew inflate the balloon as the sunrise bathes the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Then clamber inside the basket and get ready for the smoothest takeoff you've ever had in air travel, orchestrated by a little pilot know-how and a lot of hot air. Rise over the desert for a spectacular aerial view of the Rio Grande Gorge. Ready for the close-up? On a fair-winds day, the pilot will guide the balloon into the gorge, getting just feet above the river for a swooping good thrill. Then soar back up into the cool mountain air, gently drifting above the gorge and its iconic suspension bridge—the second-highest in the United States. The pilot will point out landmarks and other interesting wonders, including the largest freestanding volcano (long dormant) in the world, and the curious "ballooner eclipse." The balloon goes where the wind blows, so when it's time to land the pilot will mark the spot. Touch down in a sagebrush-filled field, and celebrate with a post-ride champagne toast and an official hot-air balloon flight certificate. That's rising to the occasion.

Pueblo Balloon Company; 575-751-9877. Hot-air balloon rides are $225 per person. There are cheaper rates for children and teens.