Webcams let you travel from the comfort of your desk

NEW YORK — Ride the waves. Race down the slopes. Visit Times Square. Take a virtual vacation that requires no money, no vacation days and no planning.

Webcams, short for Web cameras, are capturing more than baby pandas at the zoo.

More than a million are offering images in real-time across the Internet, ranging from the not-so-interesting (a pug sleeping on a couch) to destinations like Iceland. Some are live streaming video 24-7, while others refresh the image every few seconds or longer.

Still, regardless of how "live" these images are, webcams are showing the world to the world, says Brian Curry, founder and CEO of EarthCam, a leader in providing webcam content, technology and software.

Here are some webcams worth checking out. Note that some of these Web sites may prompt you to download software before you can view them; many are best viewed at certain times of day, and some can be enlarged for better viewing.

Hawaii waves

www.mauiwindcam.com/streaming/ — Catch the waves on the reef in the North Shore of Maui. Two webcams capture the Uppers Kanaha and Camp One, famous windsurfing spots. Professional windsurfers launch right in front of the camera and train in the winter months before starting the Professional Windsurfers Association tour. (Note: The camera runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. HST but replays the previous 12 hours during dark hours).

Times Square

www.earthcam.com/usa/newyork/timessquare/ — One of the best webcams for people who are burning the midnight oil. The cameras show live streaming video of Times Square and the illuminated signs means the view is great 24-7. The main image captures the "Crossroads of the World" at 46th Street and Broadway and allows users to zoom in or zoom out. EarthCam has a total of 20 cameras in Times Square, including four inside the Hawaiian Tropic Zone Restaurant, Bar & Lounge.

African safari

www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/wildcamafrica/ — Go on a virtual safari with live streaming video of the Mashatu Game Reserve in Bostwana, Africa. Watch lions, tigers, bears, deer and other animals feed at a watering hole. The best viewing times are 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. EST or 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. EST, according to the site. (Note: You have to sit through a commercial — or two — before the live video).

Inside an aquarium