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Calgary is a major Canadian city with numerous museums, world-class shopping, and great restaurants, including the Teatro and the Belvedere. Eau Claire Market (pedestrian only) and Prince Island Park are great to just relax and take it easy. The Glenbow Museum has a wonderful interpretation of the settlement of western Canada and the life of its Native tribes. Hiking, running, fishing, and biking are popular pursuits within the city. Banff, one of the truly beautiful mountain towns in the world, is only an hour and a half drive from Calgary. —LF

Shaw Millennium Skate Park, 1220 Ninth Ave. SW ( 403/268-2489;www.calgaryskateparks.ca).

When to Go: Year-round.

Calgary.

$$ Kensington Riverside Inn, 1126 Memorial Dr. NW ( 877/313-3733 or 403/228-4442; www.kensingtonriversideinn.com). $$$ Fairmont Palliser, 133 Ninth Ave. SW ( 800/441-1414 or 403/262-1234; www.fairmont.com).

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Riding the London Eye

Big Wheel, Bigger View

London, England, U.K.

The world’s largest observation wheel, the London Eye, is like a giant Ferris wheel, but with capsules that hold up to 28 people, instead of the usual two-seater arrangement of a Ferris wheel. This is no mere amusement park ride—after all, what is there to see from the top of ordinary Ferris wheels? From the top of the Eye, you can take in a glorious view, the vast panorama of one of the world’s greatest cities.

Opened in 2000, it is the fourth-tallest structure in London. How high are you? Picture stacking 64 red London phone booths atop each other and you’ll get a sense. You’re 135m (443 ft.) above the city when you’re at the top of the Eye.

Passengers are carried in 32 air-conditioned “pods” that make a complete revolution every half-hour, hardly a breakneck pace—at the bottom, the pods keep moving, but so slowly that disembarking is no problem. The capsules are surrounded by windows, allowing riders to take in the dramatic London skyline.

From the top of the wheel, in clear weather, you can gaze in all directions for some 40km (25 miles)—as far as Windsor Castle—over this famously spread-out metropolis, easily spotting not only the Gothic spires of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey across the river, but also the British Museum, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, and the green necklace of parks that runs through central London.

At 424m (1,391 ft.) in circumference, it’s the world’s largest observation wheel. Built out of steel by a European consortium, it was conceived and designed by London architects Julia Barfield and David Marks, who claim inspiration from the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Some 2 million visitors are expected to ride the Eye every year.

The Eye lies close to Westminster Bridge. (You can hardly miss it). Tickets are £16 for adults, £12 for seniors and students, £7.75 for children 5 to 15. It’s open October to May daily 10am to 8pm; June to September daily 10am to 9pm.—LF

London Eye, Millennium Jubilee Gardens ( 0870/5000-600;www.londoneye.com).

When to Go: Year-round.

London.

$$$ London Bridge Hotel, 8–18 London Bridge St. 9 ( 44/20/7855-2200; www.londonbridgehotel.com). $$ Vicarage Private Hotel, 10 Vicarage Gate, South Kensington ( 44/20/7229-4030;www.londonvicaragehotel.com).

9 Breathtaking City Views

We’ve devoted many of the pages in this book to fast-paced, quick-moving adrenaline adventures. But we think that slowing down and taking the time to stand still and take in an extraordinary view can be a thrill on its own. Each of the following city views is spectacular. —LF

Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa: During the 10-minute ascent in the cable car to the top of Table Mountain, which towers over Cape Town, the view begins to stretch from urban to endless ocean. Step out of the car and there are paths to meander that lead to 360-degree views. You’ll see Cape Town, Table Bay, Robben Island (the prison-turned-museum where former South Africa president Nelson Mandela