500 Adrenaline Adventures (Frommer's) - Lois Friedland [203]
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, China: It’s just an optical illusion. Those tall buildings you‘re passing only look like they’re leaning, as you ride up Victoria Peak in the world’s steepest funicular railway. After the 8-minute ride to the top, the bustling Hong Kong Harbor and its islands are laid out before you. From the viewing area on the Sky Terrace, your eyes are drawn to the intense blue of the water surrounding the islands packed with buildings. Take time to walk on some of the lush footpaths, such as the one that leads into Victoria Peak Garden. www.thepeak.com.hk/en.
CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: The ride to the Observation Deck at the skinny CN Tower in urban Toronto takes just 58 seconds in a glass-sided elevator. When you step out you’re on the Look Out Level at 341m (1,136 ft.) above sea level. From the Observation Deck, you’ll find awe-inspiring 360° views. For a bigger thrill go one level below, step out on the Glass Floor, and look down. To reach the Sky Pod for a sky-high view of Toronto, you’ll need to take a second elevator, which shoots up another 33 stories. You can also dine in 360, the revolving restaurant on the Observation Deck. www.cntower.ca.
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colorado, U.S.A.: Denverites love to attend concerts at Red Rocks, an open-air amphitheatre that’s nestled between two towering 250 million-year-old sandstone monoliths. From the seats in the theater is a stunning view of the sprawling Denver metro area and the farmland and prairies beyond. On a clear day you’ll swear you can see to the Kansas border. You don’t need a concert ticket to enjoy walking around the park’s trails that thread through rocks and meadows. Unless there’s a concert, you can visit the amphitheatre to learn about this site’s unusual geology, the famous musicians who’ve played here, and lunch at a window table in the Ship Rock Grill. www.redrocksonline.com.
Petrona Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: You can see these two 88-story buildings—the tallest twin towers in the world—from almost anywhere in the city. And you can see most of the city from the glass-walled skybridge—the highest double-decker sky bridge in the world. It links the 41st and 42nd floors in the two buildings. You won’t be allowed much time on the bridge, so be prepared to take photos quickly. The bridge tours are free, but it’s popular so get to the Towers early. www.petronas.com.my.
Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China: The view from one of three transparent walkways on the 100th floor observation deck, the highest in the world, is dizzying. The ground is 467m (1,556 ft.) below you and the spectacular city of Shanghai envelopes you from all sides. From this vantage point you can also see the Huang Pu River. www.swfc-observatory.com/en.
Top of the Rock, New York City, New York, U.S.A.: Perhaps there’s no skyline in the world as glamorous, glorious, and recognizable as that of New York City. The Top of the Rock is a new three-level observation deck on the 67th, 69th, and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Two of the floors have outdoor terraces where you can look through big panes of safety glass to enjoy the view. If you want a breeze along with the view, head to the 70th floor, which has an open-air, unobstructed view of the city, the rivers that surround it, and beyond. www.topoftherocknyc.com.
An incomparable view of New York City from the Top of the Rock.
Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center, Macau: Take the glass-fronted elevator up to the Observation Lounge, which has vast windows and glass sections on the floor making visible the ground 220m (732 ft.) below. If you’re gutsy, do the Skywalk X stroll around the outer