ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- A little hot air, teamwork, and champagne are what it takes to lift off with Monticello Country Ballooning.

This hot air balloon ride is taking locals and tourists on a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but it also takes a lot of preparation from the ballooning team. 

“There’s so many hours of weather monitoring, and communicating with people, and just constantly evaluating and re-evaluating those weather resources and everything,” said Amanda Rossano, the owner and chief pilot of Monticello Country Ballooning.

It all comes together when people meet with their group and get to see the balloon come to life. They even participate in helping the balloon grow.

From there, they pile into the balloon basket and prepare to set off on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Once in the air, the balloon reaches almost 2,000 feet in altitude, offering amazing views and a special experience.

“It’s definitely a different thing for people who are terrified to start with," said Rossano. "You know, it’s like a bucket list thing or they’re doing it for someone else, so there's not just the absolutely amazing aspect of that experience, but also that hurdle, that personal hurdle and pride, of overcoming a fear.” 

From up above, riders can see all sites around the area like the Rivanna River, the Downtown Mall, the University of Virginia Medical Center, and many other landmarks.

Then after about an hour, the balloon comes down, returning to Earth. That's when there is a celebration with champagne, which is a centuries-old ballooning tradition. 

“One thing that people really tend to mention or make note of is our enthusiasm, so we just have so much fun and we love what we do,” said Rossano.

If you’d like to take part in this adventure, click here.