I give credit for one of life's most memorable experiences to my friend, Carol. Prior to our first trip to Paris, I asked for her advice on the one thing in Paris that she would recommend without reservation. She thought about it only briefly before responding, "We took the tram up to Sacre Coeur Basilica on Montmartre in the late afternoon. After touring the beautiful basilica we came out to sit on the steps to watch the lights of Paris come on as the sun was setting. It was magical."

If you’re traveling to one of these urban destinations on business, try to sneak in a couple of hours to catch an incredibly breathtaking view (and be sure to take good walking shoes):

Vancouver, B.C. – the Capilano suspension bridge provides an amazing view of the Capilano River Canyon.

San Francisco – the view from the top of Mt. Tamalpais, just a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge off Hwy. 1 may well be the best in the entire Bay area.

Austin, Texas – Town Lake Park has a terrific area overlooking the bluffs along the Colorado River and the nearby Texas Hill Country is the best part of Texas.