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 24x7, 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 webcam 'locations' worth checking out. Note that some of these websites 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.

One of the best webcams for people who often burn the midnight oil. The cameras show live streaming video of Times Square and the illuminated signs means the view is great 24x7.

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 and Lounge.

Watch more than 150 species of sea life, including sharks, eels and turtles, in the circular, four-story Giant Ocean Tank at the New England Aquarium in Boston.

Check neaq.org for feeding times. Double click on the image to make it full size to set up a virtual aquarium at your desk.

Note: The lights in the exhibit are turned off at night, so make sure you take this vacation during the day.