If you are in a hurry to get to where you want to go, there’s one mode of transportation that should never be on your list of options.

On the other hand, if you have time on your hands and want to see the world from a 360-degree perspective, then sign up for a hot air balloon ride.

For a couple of hundred dollars (per person), you can float for an hour or so, moved along at the whim of a breeze. A glance toward the ground, where the shadow of the balloon is emblazoned, is a reminder that you are aloft at an altitude equal to approximately five football fields.

Up and Away is a hot air balloon operation located in Windsor, Calif. Balloons depart from the Sonoma County airport, located outside of Santa Rosa. The Charles Schulz (yes, the Peanuts cartoon strip creator) Airport is home base for Up and Away.

As you await the arrival of the flight crew and equipment, there is time to recall memories of Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy and Woodstock, captured in bronze relief.

At 6 a.m. a vans roll up, towing flight baskets and the hand-packed balloons. The first 10-15 minutes are used by owner and pilot Mike Kijak to gauge whether weather conditions are suitable for a hot air lift-off.

The words that the waiting passengers do not want to hear from Mr. Kijak are: “Frost along with rain, fog, high winds or no winds.”

Having checked with the FAA flight service station, Mr. Kijak uses a more technical approach to measure the wind; he releases a helium filled balloon. All eyes turn skyward as the black balloon floats up and away. This precise balloon instrument is an inexpensive means to check wind currents and direction, two important factors for movement when airborne and for the ground-chasing crew that spots the potential landing site.

With the wind check complete and all signs “go,” the crew moves to an open area at the airfield. For 10 minutes the rolled-up mass of nylon becomes an enlarged, light bulb shaped object that is later attached to a wooden basket.

There is even a science lesson supplied at no extra charge.

The first air pumped into the deflated balloon is cold and is supplied by a ground fan. Hot air is released into the interior of the balloon from the burners that are attached to the pilot/rider basket. The hot air is lighter than the colder air which results in the balloon lift. Tom Harris, writing on a Web site — How hot air balloons work — states that to lift 1,000 pounds, 65,000 cubic feet of hot air is required. In choosing the occupants for the basket, the pilot asks each passenger to supply his or her weight so be prepared to be somewhat honest with the calorie count.

As the balloon rises and the ground slips away, stillness surrounds you. The only sound that breaks the silence is the occasional burst from the fuel burners that keep the balloon up and provide an occasional lift.

There is no steering wheel inside the basket. The tools of the trade for the pilot are an altimeter and a communication radio. And the balloon will only go as fast as the wind blows.

For those who have a fear of heights (this writer included) peering over the side of the basket to the ground some 1,500 feet below causes no trepidation. The balloon dances on the air over vineyards, sod farms, and open fields with the stretch of the horizon inviting you to imagine the ocean miles away or San Francisco which is 60 miles to the south.

Mr. Kijak welcomes questions and shares a story or two. He recounted the passenger who saw sparkling vineyards in the distance. She asked what type of grapes were being grown, and he replied, “Sparkling wine.” The passenger asked the name of the winery and his response: “Chateau Gullible.”

Even though the movement is slow, the time in the air appears to fly.

As landing nears, Mr. Kijak once more recites the safety instructions. There are no seated or standing belts or emergency doors, but passengers are encouraged to bend their knees and hold on to the rope handles as the basket kisses the ground.

After the air is forced out of the balloon through the use of a device that appears to be a gigantic paper clip, the balloon travelers are motored to a local Sonoma winery for brunch.

Patti, Mr. Kijak’s wife, prepares the meal. Having planned ahead, she accompanied her would-be diners on the balloon ride.

The closing ceremony for having successfully mastered the balloon excursion is the awarding of a cloisonné balloon pin and a certificate, suitable for framing, that states: “(You) hath braved the precarious elements, faced untold atmospheric conditions and viewed all manner of mortal beings from such lofty heights while ascending skyward.”