Vacation at your desk with Webcams

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.

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/ 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.

African safari

www9.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/wildcamafrica/

Go on a virtual safari with live streaming video of the Mashatu Game Reserve in Bostwana, Africa. Watch lions, tigers, and other animals feed at a watering hole. (Note: You have to sit through a commercial — or two — before the live video).

Old Faithful

www.nps.gov/archive/yell/oldfaithfulcam.htm Watch an eruption of the Old Faithful Geyser in Yellowstone National Park. The geyser erupts more frequently than any of the other big geysers, according to the National Park Service, with an average interval around 91 minutes. The geyser shoots as much as 8,400 gallons of boiling water into the air at heights that can reach about 185 feet. (Note: The image updates every 30 seconds, so you may have to watch for a while to see the eruption).

For divers

www.breathebonaire.com/ Go scuba diving in Bonaire National Marine Park in the Netherlands Antilles without donning a wet suit. The megapixel camera is located 49 feet below the drop off at the dive site and offers a view of the coral reef (in daylight hours). Control how fast the image updates by selecting the refresh rate in the lefthand corner of the screen. You can make it as fast as every two seconds.