See all of New York City from its observation decks
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PHOTOS : ( EMPIRE STATE BUILDING ) ESBNYC . COM ; ( TOP OF THE ROCK ) © NYC & COMPANY / JEN DAVIS ; ( ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY ) ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY
REACH for the Skies
See all of New York City from its observation decks
By Anne Pyburn Craig
From New York City ’ s three observation decks , you can watch tiny cars and people scurry about far below , and take in the city ’ s beautiful , dense , and ever-changing skyline at eye level . There ’ s nothing like looking down on Manhattan Island and the surrounding waters for a sense of the city ’ s beauty and sheer magnitude . It ’ s a view and perspective that you can ’ t get any other way , whether you choose to visit an observation deck in the daytime , at the magical sunset hour or for the nighttime spectacle of city lights . Not surprisingly , New York City ’ s observation decks are wildly popular , so consider reserving tickets online ahead of time .
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TOP OF THE ROCK
From the 70-story open-air roof deck atop Rockefeller Center ( 30 Rockefeller Plaza ), opened in 1933 , you ’ ll have a 360-degree view of all of Manhattan and the best views of Central Park , Midtown and Downtown . A mezzanine exhibit illustrates the story of the building and its colorful creator , John D . Rockefeller . Dine up high at the Top of the Rock Pulse restaurant , offering dishes specially created by a rotating roster of the world ’ s best chefs , or wait until you ’ ve descended to nosh and shop in Rock Center ’ s underground mall . And while you ’ re at it , don ’ t forget to check out the art galleries and museums situated in the complex at ground level — after all , Rockefeller Center was conceived as a city within itself . A VIP package offers immediate entry and priority elevator access , or add a tour of the classic art and architecture of the entire Rockefeller Center . The Sky Shuttle whooshes you 850 feet into the air in less than a minute . Topoftherocknyc . com
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EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
The Empire State Building ( 17-25 W . 29th Street ) opened in 1931 , just in time to inspire the iconic scene in King Kong . The Main Deck , wrapping around the building ’ s spire at the 86th floor , offers stunning views of Central Park , the Hudson River and East River , the Brooklyn Bridge , Times Square , the Statue of Liberty and more ; there ’ s an app that will give you background on the sights . Head to the top deck , on the 102nd floor , to see 80 miles away in every direction on a clear day . Open until 2 a . m . for epic night time viewing . ESBNYC . com
ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY
New York ’ s newest observatory experience at One World Trade Center ( 285 Fulton Street ) opened in 2015 atop the highest building in the Western Hemisphere , topping out at over 1,250 feet . The elevator ride lifts you to the 102nd floor in less than 60 amazing seconds , and along the way , you can watch a floor-to-ceiling LED display of a time-lapse look at 500 years of Manhattan ’ s development — from grasslands in the 1500s to today ’ s skyline . Once you ’ ve arrived at the See Forever glass-enclosed observatory , you ’ ll be presented with a montage of city views that only serves to amp up the audience for the unparalleled view down below . Don ’ t be surprised if the crowd cheers as the glass clears : You ’ re up high enough to see the horizon curve ever so slightly , and watch the activity below on every single city block . If you ’ re brave enough , stroll across the bird ’ s- eye-view 14-foot glass disk that lets you look straight down . Enjoy a meal prepared by top-name chefs in the restaurant or a snack and coffee in the café , and then head down again — perhaps to the 9 / 11 Memorial Museum near the base of the building , to learn more about the losses this resilient city pays tribute to with this incredible building .” Oneworldobservatory . com
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