When I was a child things weren’t so bad. I could climb anything and there were no ill effects. For no logical reason, somewhere in my teens, I developed an irrational fear of heights. To combat my fear I decided to start rock climbing. I knew that the feeling of vertigo and the overwhelming urge to lean off a cliff and just free fall was purely psychological and something I could eventually overcome. Face the fear. Overcome the fear. And savor the release of extra endorphins that my body feeds my brain as a result of the adrenaline rush. With the popularity of observation decks and tourist attractions located in some amazingly high places, I feel that I am not alone in the classification of adrenaline junkies that choose to face their fears. If you’re afraid of heights, you may want to avoid these places. Or maybe, you’ll just decide to face your fears and be rewarded with a magnificent, once in a lifetime view that will be permanently etched into your memories.
1. Mont Blanc in The French Alps:
“Step into the Void” is the world’s highest glass floor. At 12,600 feet, Europe hosts these breathtaking views.
2. Burj Khalifa in Dubai:
At 2,700 feet tall, Burj Khalifa is almost twice as tall as the Empire State Building.
3. Grand Canyon Skywalk:
If you’re into viewing a 700 foot drop, the Hualapai Indian tribe can hook you up.
4. Sears Tower in Chicago:
“The Ledge” is the Sear’s Tower’s glass balcony that sits 1,300 feet above the streets below.
5. CN Tower in Toronto, Canada:
The observation deck resides near the top of the 1,800 foot high CN Communications Tower.
6. Langkawi Sky Bridge in Malaysia:
Crossing over the peak of Gunung Mat Chinchang Mountain in Pulau Langkawi, this sky bridge extends out 410 feet at a height of 2,300 feet above sea level.
7. Blackpool Tower in England:
Open to the public in 1894, The Blackpool Tower’s observation deck stands at a height of 518 feet.
8. Walk of Faith in China:
This glass walkway was built on the side of the 4,700 foot Zhangjiajie Tianmen.
9. Sky Tower in New Zealand:
Dominating the Auckland skyline at a whopping 1,000 feet tall, the Sky Tower offers bungee jumping. Um, I think I’ll pass on hurling myself off of any of these tall buildings!
10. Alpspix Viewing Platform in Germany:
Beneath this platform is a 325 foot drop. If you’re brave enough to venture out, I’m sure the breathtaking views will be well worth your time.
11. Spinnaker Tower in England:
Outside of London, this is the tallest tower in the UK, standing at 560 feet tall.
12. Trolltunga Cliff in Norway:
If you’re in the mood for a tough hike, this natural platform sits 2,300 feet above lake Ringedalsvatnet in Norway.
13. Petronas Towers in Malaysia:
The bridge that connects the Petronas Towers sits at 550 feet. That’s only 1/3 of the way to the top of these 1,500 foot tall towers.
14. Dachstein Stairway in Austria:
With a 1,300 foot drop to the base of the mountains, The Dachstein Glacier Resort is home to one of the highest bridges in the world.
15. Shanghai Pearl Tower in China:
This TV tower dominates the Shanghai skyline at 1,500 feet tall.
16. Lion’s Head Mountain in South Africa:
From the 2,200 foot tall summit, you can see most of Cape Town.
17. Tokyo Skytree:
The 2,080 towering feet of The Skytree makes this the tallest tower in the world.
18. Heavenly Stairs in China:
This path, more than 7,000 feet high, will take you to some of the best tea in the world. I’m not much of a stair climber, so I’ll go ahead and let you bring it back down for me.
19. Marina Bay Sands Hotel in Singapore:
This infinity pool, 57 stories above Singapore, offers some fantastic views. What a great place to relax, if you’re not too scared.
20. Cliffwalk in Vancouver, Canada:
Have you ever wanted to walk across a 700 foot bridge that holds you 300 feet above a river? Visit the Cliffwalk at the Capilano River to have your desires fulfilled.
21. Harbor Bridge Climb in Sydney, Australia:
You can climb the Harbor Bridge and walk on top, at 440 feet, and take in the views of Port Jackson in Sydney.
22. Half Dome Mountain in Yosemite National Park, California:
This particular granite dome rises 4,700 feet above the valley below.
23. Insanity at the Stratosphere in Las Vegas:
At 900 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard, Insanity is a ride that spins you 64 feet off the side of the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino.
24. Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado:
The Royal Gorge is 1,000 feet deep. This bridge holds the title of the highest bridge in the United States of America.
To continue battling my own fear of heights, you can bet your bottom dollar that I am going be adding these places to my bucket list. I mean, there’s just something spectacular about viewing places from hundreds or thousands of feet in the air to help put your life in perspective. We are smaller and less significant than we think. But sometimes, the smallest things can make the greatest difference in the world in which we live. Whether you’re an adventure seeking adrenaline junky, or you are deathly afraid of heights, these places are sure to open your eyes.
