The international human resource consulting company Mercer ranked Vienna, Austria as the top city in the world in its 2010 Quality of Living survey. According to Forbes Magazine's website, Vienna possesses a thriving opera scene, a comprehensive public transportation system and a hospitable business environment. Vienna is also culturally rich with over 100 museums and a plethora of historically significant architectural sites. According to Vienna's visitor website, there are over 27 castles and more than 150 palaces in the city of Vienna. Vienna's historic center is recognized as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Landmarks located within the historic center include the Gothic-inspired St. Stephen's Cathedral, the Baroque-influenced Imperial Palace, the Vienna State Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts. Vienna is also environmentally pleasant with more than half of its metropolitan area made up of green spaces.
Honolulu received the highest ranking of any U.S. city in Mercer's 2010 Quality of Living survey. According to Mercer's website, Honolulu came in at 31 in the world, followed by San Francisco at 32. Apart from Honolulu's warm climate and tropical atmosphere, the city is considered eco-friendly based on its clean air, widespread public transportation, numerous parks, and more. Additionally, Honolulu offers world-class shopping centered in Waikiki, a diverse population, and a vibrant nightlife. Honolulu residents also enjoy a high standard of health. According to a study done by AARP The Magazine in 2008, Hawaii residents had one of the highest rates of life expectancy among surveyed cities. Furthermore, the study indicated that Honolulu's residents exercising more than those in most other cities surveyed, and 95% of residents were shown to be covered by health insurance.
The Economist Intelligence Unit is another prominent organization that conducts surveys on the world's most livable cities. Its survey for 2010 ranked Vancouver in the top spot with Vienna a close second. Vancouver was ranked number one in the Economist Intelligent 2010 livability survey partly because of its infrastructure, cultural diversity and wide range of recreational activities. Vancouver is naturally blessed with surrounding mountains, beaches, lakes and forest areas. In Vancouver it is possible to scuba dive or sail in the morning, and then ski in the afternoon. Downtown Vancouver's seaside skyline is a remarkable sight, with tall modern skyscrapers dwarfed by the even large mountains behind them. The Vancouver Lookout tower sits high above the Vancouver skyline and provides visitors with views of Vancouver's cosmopolitan downtown and surrounding suburbs, as well as the Pacific Ocean, Coal Harbor, and the North Shore Mountains.
Vancouver Lookout
555 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 4N6
Telephone: 604-689-0421
