For a quick and effortless bird’s-eye view of the seafront, take a spin on the Bournemouth Observation Wheel. Located right at Pier Approach, this 50-metre-tall wheel offers a relaxed 10-minute ride in enclosed, all-weather gondolas. Your three or four gentle rotations provide fantastic 360-degree panoramas, perfect for looking down the length of the historic pier and out across the sea. The wheel has lost its retro colour scheme after a full revamp in 2024, now looking sleek and modern. It’s a simple, classic way to see the bay from a new perspective.

Park Borély (Parc Borély) is a stunning development covering many hectares, situated not too far from the Prado beaches. Along with the 18th-century château, there are the superbly well-maintained English and French Botanical Gardens and a rowing lake.

There’s a reason why it’s called Earthquake Park. This is where parts of Anchorage slid into the inlet during the 1964 quake—the strongest ever recorded in North America. A short trail loops through the area, with signs explaining what happened. If you look closely, you can still spot some of the ground shifts and tilted trees. On clear days, there’s a wide view over the water—and sometimes even Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, way off in the distance.