Travel Tip: Learning the Basics of Hang Gliding or Paragliding [ 1:00 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Photograph by Greg O'Beirne

Want to know what it feels like to fly like a bird? Then try your hand at free-flight hang gliding or paragliding.

As a beginner, you will want to first fly tandem with an expert. The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming runs a tandem paragliding program that takes you above the Rockies for spectacular mountain views.

Kitty Hawk Kites in Destin, Florida is another beginner option. The lessons ease you into paragliding with short flights of 30 to 100 yards. You start just 15 feet in the air with forgiving sand dunes right below.

For the best of both worlds, Eagle Paragliding in Santa Barbara has tandem rides with mountain or coastal oceans views.

Torrey Pines Gliderport in La Jolla, California will take you from beginner to pilot. The paragliding school has been hosting pilots for 80 years. Start with a tandem flight and if you get hooked, you can even train to become a certified paraglider pilot.

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