World’s Tallest Wonders

World's Tallest Church: Ulm Minster, Germany

When this Lutheran church in Ulm, Germany, was completed in 1890, the Catholics less than 300 miles to the south at Cologne Cathedral had to hand over their "tallest church" world record. Ulm Minster's spire, reaching 530 feet, stretched just 14 feet higher. Classic one-upmanship? Perhaps. But it would be the last in this category. No other church since has overtaken the longstanding title, which was no easy feat. The construction was paid for exclusively by town residents, most of whom wouldn't live to see the completion 513 years after the foundation was laid in 1377.

If You Go: Climb the 768 steps to the observation platform for a view of the Bavarian town of Neu-Ulm and, on a clear day, the Alps. Find a seat for the daily organ concert at noon, or book a guided tour through Neu-Ulm Tourism to learn more about the artistry of the choir stalls, the altar, and the stained glass.

World's Tallest Living Tree: Coast Redwood, California

It measures 379 feet, taller than an American football field is long (including end zones). It stands on a remote hillside somewhere in the Prairie Creek area of California's Redwood National and State Parks. It's an estimated 700 to 800 years old. And it even has a name: Hyperion. But the exact location of the world's tallest tree is a secret, protecting its identity from the climbing, carving, vandalizing public. In 2006 when botanist Stephen Sillett climbed to the top to measure Hyperion, he and his team filmed the experience and the amazing view. Check out their YouTube video narrated by Jim Spickler.

If You Go: To see other trees nearly as tall, drive the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway through ancient redwood stands, then stop and walk in to the Big Tree Wayside. The Stout Memorial Grove's half-mile loop trail also reveals colossal redwoods that reach heights around 300 feet.

World's Tallest Statue: Spring Temple Buddha, China

If you plunked this golden Buddha statue on the Vegas Strip, even without a flashing neon marquis, heads would turn. Its sheer size alone is enough to command attention. At a towering 502 feet, China's Spring Temple Buddha would stand nearly eye level with one of Sin City's tallest hotel casinos: the 36-floor Bellagio. Instead, this Buddha rises grandly among the rolling green hills of the Fodushan Scenic Area in east-central China. Its name, Spring Temple Buddha, is said to derive from the nearby Tianrui hot spring known for its healing properties.

If You Go: Other nearby attractions include the Foquan Temple, built during the Tang dynasty, and its massive 116-ton bronze Bell of Good Luck. When struck, the bell's resonance can be heard several miles away. Besides the hot spring, the area is known for its waterfalls and scenic Tongtian River.

World's Tallest Mountain: Mount Everest, Nepal/China

Part of the Himalayan mountain range along the border of Nepal and Tibet, Mount Everest marks the highest point on earth at 29,035 feet. Making the climb to the top of the world is a legendary journey, one that requires $60,000 (give or take) for a guide. The next best thing: Experiencing the view from Base Camp at approximately 17,500 feet for a fraction of the price. The hike to Base Camp, though, is still no walk in the park. You backpack four to seven hours per day for 12 days at muscle-cramping altitudes with thinning oxygen. But guided treks stop at Himalayan villages, a monastery, and close to the Khumbu Icefall near Base Camp, where climbers bound for the summit spend a couple of weeks acclimatizing.

Note: By another measure, Hawaii's Mauna Kea (13,802 feet) is the world's tallest peak from ocean floor to peak (33,796 feet).

If You Go: One World Trekking's Everest Base Camp Trek ($2,355 to $3,360) runs March through May and September through December.

World's Tallest Building: Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates

At 2,717 feet tall, this Dubai skyscraper scoffs at the rest of the world's high-rises, easily taking the record by about 1,000 feet. The Burj Khalifa, more than twice as tall as the Empire State Building, has the highest outdoor observation deck anywhere. From the 124th floor deck you can see Dubai's beaches and the Arabian Sea on one side, the city on the other, and the desert in the distance. But nobody who visits speaks only of the view. The elevator that shoots you to the top at 30 feet per second is one of the fastest lifts in the world.

If You Go: Don't miss the chance to take in other superlatives: the world's highest restaurant, At.mosphere, and The Dubai Mall at the base, one of the world's largest shopping malls. The Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre offers tours and transfers from Dubai hotels.

World's Tallest Animal: Rothschild Giraffe, Kenya/Uganda

Stand next to this giraffe's spindly limbs and you'll still be eye-to-leg if you're less than six feet tall. The tallest of all giraffes, the Rothschild species tops out at 20 feet high with its long neck, five "horns," and spots that aren't as clearly defined as the more common reticulated giraffe. Found in the wild only in Kenya and Uganda, the Rothschild is one of the most endangered giraffe species. One of the best places to see the giraffe is in Uganda's Murchison Falls National Park. You can stay within the park and take a guided tour to see giraffes or take a boat ride on the Nile River to Murchison Falls, spotting crocodiles and hippos along the way.

If You Go: Paraa Safari Lodge and Premier Safaris run tours in Uganda. Acacia Africa offers tours in Uganda and Kenya.

World's Tallest Roller Coaster: Kingda Ka, New Jersey

For thrill-seeking coaster fans, the quest for highest leads to the 456-foot Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure park in Jackson, New Jersey. Lock down your shoulder restraints and hold on. Kingda Ka rockets riders from zero to 128 miles per hour (almost double the New Jersey Turnpike speed limit) in less than four seconds to reach the top, 45 stories high. No time to admire the view; after a quick vertical hairpin you nosedive into a spiraling freefall before bunny-hopping one last hump, a breath-stealing weightless moment, before you turn into the station. From the launch, the ride lasts only 59 seconds.

If You Go: Choose a sunny day. Kingda Ka is so fast that it closes even in light rain, which can painfully smack riders' faces.

Tallest Swing Carousel: Prater Tower, Austria

While we're at it with high-flying amusements, Vienna's 383-foot Prater Tower (Praterturm) takes the Guinness World Record for tallest swing carousel ride. In the city's landmark Prater Park, you can fling through the air from the seat of a chair that would easily clear the Statue of Liberty's torch and Big Ben's clock tower spire. Before the swing ride was built in 2010, Prater amusement park's giant Ferris wheel boasted the best city view from the park. For a view from the top of the world's tallest Ferris wheel, head to Singapore. The Singapore Flyer's 28 capsules rise 541 feet above the bay and, on a clear day, offer views as far as Malaysia and Indonesia. You can book a private capsule for a four-course meal and butler service.

If You Go: In Vienna admission to Prater Park (Wiener Prater) is free. You pay for rides individually. The park also houses a museum, a planetarium, and a miniature railway.

World's Tallest Waterfall: Angel Falls, Venezuela

Plunging over the edge of Venezuela's Auyantepui mountain in Canaima National Park, Angel Falls (at 3,212 feet) is nearly 20 times the height of Niagara Falls. Though the falls look divinely angelic, they're actually named after an American pilot who discovered them in the 1930s: James "Jimmie" Angel. His plane now sits in front of the airport in Bolivar, the closest city to the falls. Venezuelans say by plane is still the best way to see the immensity of the falls. Angel Falls is located in an isolated jungle, and getting to the base is time-consuming but rewarding. Tours fly you to the landing strip in Canaima. From there you take a motorized dugout canoe through lagoons and rapids to the falls.

If You Go: River trips to the base of the falls generally run June to December.

World's Tallest Bridge: Millau Viaduct, France

Imagine stringing a four-lane highway between a series of Eiffel Towers across a deep gorge. Then picture the bridge towers about 62 feet higher than the iconic Eiffel and you've got the Millau Viaduct, the world's tallest bridge. (Highest bridge deck goes to China's Si Du River Bridge.) At 1,125 feet tall and often above the clouds, the Millau Viaduct is part of the A75 route connecting Paris with the Mediterranean and Spain. Why not just drive on land through the town of Millau? Before the cable-stayed bridge opened in 2004, traffic jams in the Tarn River Valley lasted up to five hours at the beginning and end of the summer holiday.

If You Go: Beneath the bridge is a free visitor's center with films and models showing how the bridge was built. For a small fee you can take a 45-minute guided tour to the sky-high viewing pier. The best viewpoints for photo ops are from the valley's roadside pullouts and from Millau's 17th-century belfry tower.

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