Empire State Building, New York City

Favorite thing: Here are some must-see's and must-do's in New York:

1.) Empire State Building (the queue here tends to be longer than at "Top of the Rock")
2.) Top of the Rock (shorter queue means less wait & designated admission time in ticket)
3.) Fifth Ave. (window-shopping or real shopping possibilities)
4.) Broadway Musicals/Off-Broadway musicals & plays (there are many shows to choose from)
5.) Times Square at night is supremely stupendous
6.) New York museums (e.g., Metropolitan, MOMA, Guggenheim, etc.)
7.) Chelsea/Greenwich Village neighborhoods for a walking tour and shopping/eating opportunities, etc.
8.) Soho for shopping
9.) Financial district to get a feel for life in this environment during a work week
10.) Bridges of New York have a dramatic effect
11.) Rockefeller Center (for "Top of the Rock," shopping/dining, skating in winter, people-watching, etc.)
12.) The restaurants of New York offer a wonderful array of cuisines from around the world
13.) Visit the various buroughs to get a full picture of New York
14.) Visit Central Park
15.) Visit the United Nations
16.) Visit Chinatown & Little Italy
17.) Visit South Seaport District
18.) Visit St. Patrick's Cathedral
19.) Get a glimpse of the Grand Central Station
20.) Have a frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity

There are so many more to see & do! Enjoy New York!

Fondest memory: Strolling along Times Square at night and being lost in the sea of humanity

Favorite thing: If there is a city where the word Skyline has a meaning, this is New York; and more particularly Manhattan. You will have to leave the island to fully appreciate it in all its splendour, be it from one of the bridges, from the shores of New Jersey or Brooklyn, from the ferries going to some of the islands in the port or, even better, from the air in a helicopter ride.

Alternatively, climb to the famous observation deck of the Empire State Building (or even better to the less visited one in the Rockefeller Center – with the plus that you get to see the ESB from there), and you will have almost the entire city at your feet.

Favorite thing: They have installed a webcam way up on the Empire State Building from which you can view miles around. The controls are intuitive and there is no software to install. Just point, click, pan and enjoy.

http://live7.truelook.com/face/newface.jsp?name=/strends/esb&width=640&height=480&overlay=default

Favorite thing: The Empire State Building has always been a favorite of the movies...where else would KingKong climb up to? The movie "Sleepless in Seattle" and the oldie, "An Affair to Remember" both chose the top of the Empire State to have that romantic rendezvous. Most of all, it affords you a remarkable view of NYC. As of my last visit, the observation deck was open 7 days/wk from 8am-2am so you may want to check to be sure this is still the case. There are two kinds of fees depending on how you want to go up the observation deck. For observation on the 86th floor, it's $20 for Adults (Ages 18-up) and below $20 for those under 18. Toddlers up to 5 years old are free. The Express Pass is $48 for everyone (Toddlers up to 5 years old are still free). Basically, this ticket let you get in front of the line. The lines for tickets are quite insane so you may want to consider buying your tickets online or ahead of time. Also there's a security check line so everyone's stuff gets inspected and of course there's a line for the elevators to go up the observatory. This is a great experience but you may want to do this when you have enough time to spend here and not in a hurry to be elsewhere.

Favorite thing: Go to the top of the Empire State Building!

Fondest memory: At first, I thought this was a pathetically touristy thing to do, but I'm glad we did it anyway. Despite an approximately three-hour wait in line to actually get on the elevator to the observation deck, it was an amazing view and worth every minute. You can see for miles! This is one of the many views from the top--the sheer size of NYC is overwhelming--even to me, and I'm used to the immenseness of Chicago!

Favorite thing: I love New York city especially during Christmas!!! What a beautiful city...even with the freezing weather you'll still want to walk around the city and visit the cute cafe's and shops! Lot's of people but lots of fun!

Fondest memory: The Big Apple Circus is great for kids and even fun for adults! I had a great time and would go again when in NY. Mars restaurant is another great place for kids and I was actually impressed with the food for a child friendly place. My pictures didn't come out ...unfortunately... yes I need a digital. ;)

Favorite thing: Bonnie and I actually enjoyed our visit to the Empire State Building. Observing the Big Apple from atop the 86th floor observatory at the Empire State Building is awe-inspiring.

But, you will not be alone. Quite a few people are interested in enjoying this classic NYC tourist stop. The line(s) to purchase tickets can be astronomically long. We were LUCKY to only be in line some 90 minutes to GET tickets. (Remember, there are two steps leading to the 86th floor....getting tickets and then getting to the elevator.) There is, happily, a way to speed the process.

BUY YOUR EMPIRE STATE BUILDING ADMISSION TICKETS ONLINE! This can be accomplished easily at

www.esbnyc.com

They will either send your tickets to your doorstep, or you can print them out yourself, assuming you don't have a Canon printer. (Sorry, just me attacking Canon....I had a bad experience with my former printer)

Fondest memory: Actually, it isn't really a FOND memory. We stood in line for almost 90 minutes just buying our tickets for the ESB observatory. It was stuffy and uncomfortable for most of the time. If we hadn't been in line with some very funny people (who enjoyed making fun of the audio tour sales goons as much as we did), it might have been insufferable.

Save your time. Get tickets online.

www.esbnyc.com

Favorite thing: Dominating the skyline of Manhattan, the Empire State Building rises to a height of 1454 feet. The 86th floor observatory offers incredible views of NYC and the adjacent areas. High speed elevators take you quickly (once you've managed to procure a ticket...see my tip concering buying your tickets online) to the 86th floor, where there are glass-enclosed viewing areas AND outdoor promenades. (Sadly, I read where a few days ago, some fellow chose to do a high dive from the 86th floor, which came to an abrupt, and I suppose messy, end on the 6th floor)

On a clear day, you can see up to 60 miles in almost any direction. I'm told the nighttime view is quite spectacular as well, if you get a clear evening.

The cost of a trip to the 86th floor observatory is $11 for adults and $6 for children. Seniors are $10. If you get a Smartmap, you'll receive a discount of 20% on two admissions to the observatory. (See my Smartmap tip)

The Empire State Building observatory is open 7 days a week, with some variation around public holidays, from 9:30 am until midnight. The last admission to the observatory occurs at 11:20 pm each evening.

There is a gift shop on the observatory floor, and it's full of what you'd expect. Nothing, in my opinion, that one couldn't live without. : )

For more information, or for online tickets, visit the Empire State Building website at
www.esbnyc.com

Fondest memory: It actually took us a little less time to get to the 86th floor observatory that I'd thought. AND, I didn't expect to get a nice fresh-air outdoor peek from the top.

The feeling of being above it all is surreal, and it's often easy to forget that you're in a man-made structure that is nearly 70 years old. Truly an engineering marvel.

WARNING...all during your time in line at the Empire State Building, you are harassed by some outfit calling itself Tony's Audio Tours. You are constantly haranged about buying this joker's taped commentary of the view from the Empire State Building, and it is inferred that you'll be wasting your time without Tony's input. Baloney. We had little difficulty finding all sorts of landmarks as we peered over the Big Apple. If listening to audio tape tours makes you happy, buy one. You'll have plenty of opportunities, believe me. But, do not be chided into purchasing this business believing that your experience will somehow be substandard without it. A classic HARD sell, folks. In some ways, the dogmatic pounding you get while in line from Tony and his goons is kind of comical. We had a good time making fun of them, actually.

Favorite thing: In spite of the Twin Towers, this is The Building of Manhattan. For me is, without doubt, the most charming skycrapper ever built.

The building has created a Language of Lights that has its own grammar:

This is the standard annual lighting schedule with the related events:
Red, Black & Green: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Green: St. Patrick's Day, March of Dimes, Rainforest Awareness,
Earth Day
Red, White & Blue: Presidents' Day, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans' Day
Red: St. Valentine's Day, Fire Department Memorial Day, Big Apple Circus
Red & Blue: Equal Parents Day / Childrens Rights
Yellow & White: Spring / Easter Week
Blue, White & Blue: Israel Independence Day, First Night of Chanukah
Blue: Police Memorial Day, Child Abuse Prevention
Purple & White: Alzheimer's Awareness
Red, Yellow & Green: Portugal Day
Lavender & White: Stonewall Anniversary / Gay Pride
Purple, Teal, White: National Osteoporosis Society
Red & White: Pulaski Day, Red Cross
Red, White & Green: Columbus Day
Blue & White: Greek Independence Day, United Nations Day
Red & Yellow: Autumn
Black, Yellow & Red: German Reunification Day
Pink & White: 'Race for the Cure' / Breast Cancer Awareness
Green, White & Orange: India Independence Day
Red & Green: Holiday Season
Dark / No Lights: 'Day without Art / Night without Lights', AIDS Awareness

Favorite thing: Another New York symbol: THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
Don't hesitate go to top and see the best views of Manhattan.
If you don't like to be in a long line to get the tickets,is better do the visit late,before closing time,I went at 7.30 in evening and just stayed 5 minutes in line,instead more of 1 hour!.
Another interesting skyscraper to see in New York,it is the CRYSLER BUILDING,not far from Empire State.

Favorite thing: My dear ritual...as soon as I've arrived and settled in my hotel...off I go up to admire the view from the 86th floor observatory, 1,050 feet (320 meters), shown on the picture above!

Since the Observatory opened to the public in 1931, almost 100 million visitors have thrilled to the awe-inspiring vision of the City beneath them. Each year over 3.5 million people are whisked to the 86 th floor to be where Cary Grant waited in vain for Deborah Kerr in an 'Affair to Remember', while Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan had their fateful meeting in the movie 'Sleepless in Seattle'.

TOWER LIGHTS
To find out more about lights that colors the Empire State Building CLICK HERE

Favorite thing: ...for the best 360* views of this city! This cool and unusually-shaped FLATIRON BLDG is just one of the architectural wonders which await you! Hey, is that ZB down there? One of these days, it will be again, n'est-ce pas?!?!

Favorite thing: The Empire State Building is 1,453 feet 8 9/16 inches (443.2 meters) tall, was built in one year and 45 days (1930-1931) and has 102 floors. On clear days visitors can see the surrounding countryside for distances up to 80 miles, looking into the neighboring states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as New York. Anything this good is worth the wait! What more can be said about a feeling, a thrill and a memory that stays with you for the rest of your life. A person once said, "You can live in New York all your life, but until you see it from the top of the Empire State Building, you haven't seen the city."

Location:
Fifth Avenue at 34th Street
Observatory Hours:
9:30am to Midnight daily. Last elevators go up at 11:15pm. Open daily 365 days a year.
Admission:
Adults (18-61) $11

Fondest memory: The top of the cool Empire State Bldg glows with the colors of the season, maybe you know the holidays and special events being celebrated, maybe you don't, but it's always nice to see the different colors against the night sky...

Favorite thing: El Empire States Building uno de los simbolos de New york, se la ha llamdo la catedral del cielo.

SIN PALABRAS NI COMENTARIOS, es imprescindible subir para poder disfrutar de las mejores vistas de New York

El piso 86 nos ofrece unas vistas increibles de Ny y todo Manhattan.



Fondest memory: http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm