Singapore

The world’s largest observation wheel (almost 100 feet taller than the London Eye), Singapore Flyer is the next best thing to actually flying over Singapore. Each of its 28 glass-walled capsules rises to roughly the height of a 42-story building, offering 360-degree views that slowly change during the half-hour ride—on a clear day, you can see as far as Changi Airport, Sentosa Island and even parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. At the base of the Flyer is a manmade rain forest, and on a sultry day, it’s a cool place for a stroll before or after your “flight.” The grounds also house a modern hawker center called the Singapore Food Trail, where food is served from 1960s-style pushcarts, and there are a few shops and services, too, including Kenko Reflexology and a fish spa (where fish nibble the dead skin off your feet).