13 homes with breathtaking big-city views

A 'Capitol' view

• Location: Arlington, Va.
• Size: Not available
• Price: $1.9 million

Talk about a front-row seat: This five-story, Federal-style townhouse sits next to the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va. For $1.9 million, you get all the usual comforts of a three-bedroom, three-bath luxury home, but what really sets this home apart is the spacious roof terrace. The views stretch across the Potomac River to the Jefferson Memorial, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol Building, all lined up in a row.

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West Side wonder

• Location: New York
• Size: 800 square feet
• Price: $965,000

You might answer the ad for this apartment in a 46-story residential tower on 42^nd Street on Manhattan's West Side because of the mention of white-oak floors and granite countertops, or the building's state-of-the art fitness center. But you'll probably forget about all that once you see the views. This northwest corner apartment has floor-to-ceiling windows that capture views across the city to the north, and west across the Hudson River to Hoboken, N.J., and beyond.

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California dreamin'

• Location: Los Angeles
• Size: 7,500 square feet
• Price: $12.9 million

Want a view in L.A.? It's going to cost you. This minimalist, Zoltan Pali-designed home in the hills above Los Angeles is a stunner — as it had better be for a cool $12.9 million.

As you enter the home, a wall of silver travertine crosses the entire length of the house, while on the other side, a wall of water two stories high greets guests.

But the real highlight of this home is the views from the walls of windows throughout the 7,500-square-foot house. The master bedroom, for instance, seems to float over the Los Angeles Basin, with views of Century City and the Pacific Ocean beyond.

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From mountains to saltwater

• Location: Seattle
• Size: 1,503 square feet
• Price: $699,995

Some of the best views in Seattle can be seen in one glimpse from this 1,500-square-foot penthouse condo in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. Look out the floor-to-ceiling windows or step out onto the 43-foot deck and take in 180-degree views that include downtown's skyscrapers, Lake Union, cruise ships on Elliott Bay and Day-Glo sunsets on the Olympic Mountains beyond. And, of course, the Space Needle stands front and center.

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Above the fog in San Fran

• Location: San Francisco
• Size: 1,000 square feet
• Price: $550,000

There's a lot to recommend this handsomely remodeled two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot home in a 1920s four-unit building in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood. This top-floor, corner unit has Edwardian details, hardwood floors and a remodeled kitchen with granite counters and stainless-steel appliances. But maybe the best thing is something that hasn't changed since the '20s: the great views, especially from the roof, of the city and the classic Golden Gate Bridge.

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The view from Beantown

• Location: Boston
• Size: 1,210 square feet
• Price: $599,000

On the 26^th floor in one of the Boston waterfront's few luxury high-rise condominium buildings between Rowes Wharf and the New England Aquarium, this 1,200-square-foot condo has staggering views. Standing on the private balcony, you can see the sailboats moored in the inner harbor and the tall buildings of downtown. Inside this home are hardwood floors, oversized windows and one bedroom and 1.5 baths.

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Windy City winner

• Location: Chicago
• Size: Not available
• Price: $699,900

Looking for hip digs in the Second City? Check out this contemporary, 26-story building right off Michigan Avenue. The $699,900 home, a corner unit on the 16^th floor, has 10-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace that spans the entire unit; sit outside with a glass of wine and overlook the hustle and bustle of the Magnificent Mile, the city's famous shopping and restaurant destination. Inside isn't shabby either; the three-bedroom apartment has walnut floors, custom built-in cabinets and a kitchen with Bosch and Sub-Zero appliances.

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A Gotham grabber

• Location: New York
• Size: Not available
• Price: $1.08 million

What's a place of your own in New York City without at least a little peek of the skyline? This two-bedroom, two-bath apartment in a doorman building on the East Side near 30^th and Park Avenue has got that beat: The west-facing unit has orchestra seating to a view of the Empire State Building not far away. The $1.08 million home has been renovated and sits on a quiet, tree-lined block, just close enough to Gotham's bustle.

NOTE: This property is no longer listed.

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• Video: Discover Manhattan

Texas-sized views

• Location: Dallas
• Size: 4,292 square feet
• Price: $4 million

High above the swanky Turtle Creek neighborhood, this penthouse in The Warrington building has it all — as it should for $4 million. The 180-degree views of downtown Dallas really sparkle in the cooling evenings, and you can drop the shades — electrically — to block out the view, and the heat, during those roasting Texas afternoons. Inside, the 4,292-square-foot penthouse has luxuries such as a wine room and his-and-hers master baths.

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Bloom on the Rose (City)

• Location: Portland, Ore.
• Size: 3,820 square feet
• Price: $1.2 million

Riverscape is a new neighborhood of 12 city blocks built on the site of old terminals on the banks of the Willamette River near the heart of Portland. This waterfront, five-bedroom, five-bath condo makes the most of the location; its windows and balcony stare out at the grand Fremont Bridge just to the south. The condo is in a great location, next to Portland's trendy Pearl District and close to the downtown business core.

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• MSN Glo: Extreme rooftop retreats

Southern belle

• Location: Charlotte, N.C.
• Size: Not available
• Price: $525,000

Charlotte is the South's big banking center, and you can see some of those big bank buildings up close from the veranda of this two-bedroom, two-bath condo on the 17^th floor of a newer uptown high-rise. The flat Carolina countryside stretches for miles beyond the skyscrapers. Back inside this condo are hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances, and the building has an exercise room on the seventh floor. 

NOTE: This property is no longer listed.

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Sin City scenery

• Location: Las Vegas
• Size: 1,394 square feet
• Price: $850,000

Who says there's nothing to look at in the desert? This one-bedroom condo on the 36^th floor in the middle of a three-tower complex says differently. From its balcony, the condo has sweeping views of tourist attractions City Center, Planet Hollywood and New York, New York. But you might never want to go outside to explore: Each condo is designer-furnished, with plasma TVs and access to all the amenities of the adjoining MGM Grand Hotel & Casino.

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A Florida dream pad

• Location: Aventura, Fla.
• Size: 11,000 square feet
• Price: $3.19 million

Can't decide between city and ocean views? If you have the dough, why choose? This waterfront, 11,000-square-foot penthouse in Aventura includes 2,500 square feet of open terrace, so you can recline while looking at the turquoise Atlantic Ocean — then shift your chaise lounge and see nearby high-rises. The rest of the place is pretty tricked out, too: A private elevator leads to the two-story home with sculpted ceilings and a summer kitchen.

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• Video: How to leave the city behind in Miami