Top of the Rock at night. It was just magical. I loved how the city just lit up…read more It gets cold up there, so bring a jacket. I loved the cute cafe where you can sit, relax, and drink. Great spot to check off from your bucket list if you want to see New York from a bird's eye view.

We went to the Top of the Rock on Jun 24, 2025 as part of the Road Scholar's "American Mosaic - An…read moreNYC Exploration" program. Entry to the top is through the "Observation Deck" entrance on the north side of the building (on W 50th St). Tickets were provided by our group, apparently one per family. After it got scanned, we went up the stairs to the mezzanine level and into an enclosed area. This area had a wide screen similar in size to the Immersive Theater in the Statue of Liberty Museum. A 5-minute film was shown summarizing 30 Rock's history, glitz and glamor. It culminated with a Christmas segment accompanied by a literal shower of snowflakes on us from the ceiling. "Now that's immersive," I thought. The door at the other end opened. We continued on until we entered the Welcome Gallery. At the far end, a staff member stood before a hall of elevators that would take us to the 67th floor. To our left was a miniature model of Rockefeller Center with light show and music. We were then directed a few at a time by the staff member to a specified elevator. Inside the elevator, an audio/visual material played from the ceiling almost like a fanfare to what was coming next. At the 67th floor, a staff member directed us to head right. I took in the view of the city skyline through the windows. Taking pictures was difficult due to limited field of view behind the walls. The unobstructed balcony view would be found on the 69th and 70th floors. Wife and Son weren't comfortable with heights so they hung out in the Weather Room. I was similarly acrophobic but that didn't stop me from taking the escalator to the 69th. After I got off the escalator, I saw the Beam to my right. Situated entirely on the deck and a maximum elevation of 10 feet from the floor, it didn't look as scary as the people sitting on it made it out to be. My attention quickly turned towards the balcony. From left to right as far as the eye could see, the unobstructed view was overwhelming. Reigning in my acrophobia - which was increasing the longer I remained at the Top - took effort. I proceeded to take pictures of the skyline. The 70th floor above me was accessible by stairs. The view was better. The Beam looked a lot less scary from the 70th floor. As I approached the windows, my breaths got slower and heavier. Taking each picture was laborious because the sunlight made it difficult to see my phone while managing the acrophobia at the same time. Yet I got through it and promptly went down. The experience at the Top of the Rock was much more enjoyable than that at the Empire State Building (ESB) back in Sep 2008. The wait line was much shorter (45 minutes alone just waiting for the elevator to get on top of the ESB). Top of the Rock didn't feel rushed. It offers a lot more space and more time to take it all in. I definitely recommend this place. If I ever return to New York City, I would like to try a different skyscraper (definitely not the ESB) for the next view from the top.

We paid extra for sunset hour, and was it worth it? Debatable. Cloudy weather has been the villain…read moreof this entire trip, so sunsets felt like a gamble. We lucked out and still caught a decent one. Small victory! One of the highlights was the see-through glass floor. Absolute chaos in the best way. The height-averse members of our group bravely stepped onto it, screamed a little, laughed a lot, and walked away with the cutest, silliest photos. 100% core memory material. The outdoor platform is super crowded, especially around sunset, so bring patience if you're hoping to get a decent spot for photo-ops. You'll probably have to wait your turn. Once you get that shot, it's worth it.

Visiting Edge at Hudson Yards was truly an unforgettable experience. The location alone makes it a…read moremust-see, but once you step out onto the beautiful outdoor veranda, it takes things to a whole new level. The views are absolutely breathtaking -- you get a stunning panoramic perspective of the city that makes you pause and just take it all in. Whether you're a visitor or a local, it's one of those places that reminds you how incredible New York really is. The space is modern, well designed, and surprisingly spacious, allowing you to enjoy the scenery without feeling crowded. Everything felt organized and seamless, making the visit relaxing from start to finish. Between the spectacular views, the prime location in Hudson Yards, and the impressive architecture, Edge is definitely worth adding to your NYC bucket list. Highly recommend stopping by if you want a memorable experience and some amazing photo opportunities!

I highly recommend taking your friends here visiting the city or looking for a place to go to! It…read morewas an overall fun experience. Was there for about 2-3 hours to explore and relax. We were there in cinco de mayo so I ended up getting a chips and quac was 10$ it was delicious but for the price I wish I could get more Quac. Now, the drink was outrageously expensive and I question why I even got it. In my opinion it was NOT worth it. The taste was OK. Price was 21$!! Never again. I get it it's the city and tourist but let's be real. . Lastly I got a horchata and hands down one of the best I've had so to me it was worth the price me and my friend split it. Overall, the experience is a 10/10 5 stars but the food/drinks I give it a 3 stars. The view is very nice though. This is the second time I've been here next time I'll be coming at night to experience it.

On every trip, if my husband can find an adventure that involves heights, he's all in. Me? Not so…read moremuch. I've mentioned in other reviews that I'm definitely afraid of heights, so going into this, I was a little nervous. But honestly -- this ended up being such a beautiful experience. The views are incredible, and each room offers something a little different, which keeps it interesting the entire time. I thought I'd be anxious the whole way through, but instead I found myself actually enjoying it. It's immersive, unique, and surprisingly calming despite being so high up. If you can, I recommend going during the week when it's less crowded. Later in the day is also a good option if you want to avoid heavier traffic. That said, if you're aiming for sunset and want to grab a drink at the rooftop bar, that's definitely a great experience too. We went the day after Valentine's Day, so they still had their Valentine-themed drink menu, which was a nice bonus. Overall, it's absolutely worth it -- even if you're a little nervous about heights like I am

Visited One World Observatory and it was definitely a highlight of our trip! The views are great,…read moreseeing the entire city laid out in every direction gives alot of appreciation for the city. Totally worth it for the views alone. We also had dinner there and the setting was gorgeous. We both left impressed from the experience. If you're visiting NYC, this is a must-do!

One World Observatory at the top of One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, and it stands out as…read moreone of the most impressive observation experiences in New York City. Located at the summit of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the observatory offers sweeping panoramic views that capture the full scale of the New York skyline. The atmosphere begins building even before reaching the top. The elevator ride itself is part of the experience, featuring a visual timeline that shows the transformation of New York City's skyline over several centuries as you ascend the tower. By the time you reach the observation level, the sense of height and perspective is already striking. The observation deck offers unobstructed views in every direction. From the windows, visitors can see landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Hudson River, and Midtown Manhattan stretching into the distance. The indoor design keeps the environment comfortable year-round while still delivering dramatic views of the city. The experience also includes interactive exhibits and multimedia displays that help visitors understand the geography, neighborhoods, and history of New York. These elements add context and depth rather than simply presenting the skyline as a visual spectacle. Service throughout the observatory felt organized and professional. Staff guide visitors efficiently through the entry process and help maintain a smooth flow even during busy periods. From a global travel perspective, One World Observatory ranks among the great urban observation decks I have visited in cities like Tokyo, Shanghai, and Dubai where skyline views become a defining part of the travel experience.

Folks, the Empire State Building built in 1931 in just over a year during the Depression, when…read moreAmerica built fast and huge. Iconic, baby. I went up recently, and let me tell you, it's no One World Trade Center. One World? Smooth, modern, straight to the top no nonsense. Empire State? Lines, more lines, security gauntlet, then they dump you halfway into a gift shop full of overpriced junk. Total tourist trap gimmick! They're making a fortune, but come on let me see the view already! But then you hit the 86th floor deck, wind smacks you in the face, city noise roars up from a thousand feet below horns, life, energy. Tremendous! 360-degree views that make you feel like King Kong himself. Nostalgic as hell Art Deco soul, real history you can touch. Not some sterile glass tower; this is old-school New York grit. Sure, if you want quick and slick, skip to One World. But the Empire State? Pure character. Worth every hassle. Go early, grab the express pass if you're smart, soak it in. It's legendary, folks. Huge! Make New York great again one windy deck at a time.

I hadn't visited the Empire State Building in probably 20 years, but I decided to visit with my…read morehusband last weekend. It's such a different experience now. 20 years ago, I remember just walking into the lobby, buying a ticket, and heading up to the observation deck. But today? You enter in a different spot, and it's a whole experience. There's a "museum" now and you can spend more time here than just taking in the views from the 86th floor. So why go? It was the world's tallest building when it was completed in 1931 and until the North Tower of the World Trade Center was completed in 1970. (Sad aside: It became NYC's tallest building again after 9/11 until was surpassed by One World Trade Center in 2012.) It features gorgeous art deco architecture and design. It's a cultural icon (one of my favorite parts of the museum experience was a room where you can see dozens of film clips which feature the Empire State Building). The new experience includes exhibits that explain the history, design, and construction of the building. What I learned about its construction was particularly interesting! The construction of the building involved more than 3,500 workers, many of who were Irish and Italian immigrants, and led to an unknown number of deaths of workers (official reports say 5, newspapers at the time reported higher numbers). While I felt this museum addition really added to the experience of visiting the Empire State Building, it has also certainly made visiting the building more expensive. So let's get down to the brass tacks. The base ticket (which gets you entry into everything up to the 86th floor) is $44 for adults, $42 for seniors, and $38 for children (plus a $5 booking charge for each transaction). If you want to visit the 102nd floor for that additional observation deck, it's $79 for adults, $77 for seniors, and $73 for children (plus the booking charge). Then there are ways to spend even more money: a Starbucks Reserve Sunrise ticket ($135 per person); an Express Pass (starting at $85/120 per person); a Premium Experience ($175 per person); and All-Access Tour ($500 per person)... I'm generally not into these expensive view experiences that have popped up all over NYC. But the Empire State Building is special. It's an icon and a view. But I still wasn't willing to pay $80 to visit, so we stuck with the base ticket that gets you access only to the 86th floor observatory. The 86th Floor Observatory contains an enclosed viewing gallery and open-air outdoor viewing area. It's the classic observatory you've seen in movies. And it was certainly enough for me - the museum and the 86th floor observatory! Don't miss/rush through the original main lobby as you leave the experience. Or - if you're not willing to pay for the experience to see the view - stop in at the lobby on its own - it's open to the public (follow the signs for the Starbucks Reserve which is entered through this lobby). The lobby is gorgeous - marble, terrazzo, a scale model of the building... But the highlight is that aluminum relief of the skyscraper as it was originally built (without the antenna). It's incredible. It's an icon for a reason, and it was fun to visit and to see it again after so many years. They've certainly made it more of an experience than it used to be (although now, you can't just pop by for the view on a pretty day, since it's prohibitively expensive for a quick visit), but I had a really good time.

This place is awesome and always being improved. Aside from being an artist's dream air bnb, you…read morecan hold an event here. The owner, Micha, is hospitable and helpful with a great attitude and positive outlook. The bathrooms are always spotless no matter what size gathering. There are comfy couches and piles of floor pillows and a beautiful outdoor covered (rain) and uncovered (star-gazing)seating areas.

First time here last night at the Third Eye Blind concert put on by Instacart. This is a multi…read morelevel music hall that has no seating. On the upstairs floor they have a few benches around scattered, other than that nothing. As for drinks and food, well I did not see a snack bar only one I saw is that they were handing out free 90's themed ones. They did have a bar where the bartender was nice but my gin and tonic was horrible. It was probably house gin that made it taste bad. The sound system here to me was pretty good. I was upstairs for whole show and I could hear everything clearly. On the floor I was on, in the back that had a private section of individual stalls for bathrooms that were very small and I would try and avoid using. Would I come back for a show here.. only if it was someone I really wanted ti see or enjoyed seeing. But this venue is one I won't be running back to.

So it's one thing to have little to no good views available unless you camp out for a front row…read morespot. Or to have insufficient/not nearly enough restrooms. But what takes the cake .... After going to a show in the middle of winter, we were forced to wait outside for coat check after the show. Security had no sympathy or flexibility and we were more or less told "that's what happens when you go a show this time of night." I can only hope my favorite artists decide on better venues for their shows in the future.

Lush hilly terrain. The Arboretum is fenced in so deer can't bother the native plants. It turned…read moreinto a lovely day, so the birds are out. I can sit here for hours just watching the leaves sway. There are walking trails, plenty of benches, and a Stone house that has exhibits and information. Park is open all year round, but apparently the Stone house is only open on certain days. It is not open now.

Very quiet, so peaceful here. Another great place to do some bird watching. There are lots of…read moredifferent types of wildflowers and trees. Hilly walking trails. We love this place. Street parking is easy to find.

Historically speaking I had never been to the Queens Theatre before the other night when I caught…read morethe NYC appearance by the band Rolling Quartz. The band had embarked on their North American tour from their native South Korea. Since I had never seen the band before as well, the adventure to a new space for me made the whole thing more interesting to me. Now I travel via the MTA, and from Bay Ridge this event space is a bit of a hike. It's the R train to the N to the 7 to a fairly decent walk. Those who are driving or taking an Uber might have a little better trek experience than I did but that being said once I made it past the famed Unisphere and over to New York State Pavilion, it was time to go into the Queens Theatre. When I arrived there were already about 100 attendees lined up because the band was doing all sorts of VIP things with them. A cool part of the agenda for sure. Inside the theatre is a spacious lobby area with seating all around near the windows. There are concessions there but I only saw drinks being sold when I looked. There was a small merchandise table for the band set up and I imagine that when other shows happen here this will be their space as well. Right off the bat I connected to a complimentary WiFi signal which was good but seemed to go on and off during the course of the performance. Once I was in the actual performance space I was quite impressed. The stage is sizable which was great because this was a five member band with a full backline and the seats were oh so comfortable. Yes this was a Rock Show and people would likely be standing throughout the performance but when it was time to sit you could do so in comfort. I positioned myself in the eighth or so row on the aisle since I needed to shoot photographs and I was happy to report that there were no bad sightlines in the theater. The sound was also clear and impressive which was partially a testimony to the bands team on the tour. While I didn't get to explore the venue all that much outside of the show, I did see one of the spacious side rooms which I guess they do talks in or smaller events. The band has set up their meet and greets there so it was in and out in terms of time to examine. There was a complimentary WiFi that I did find to be spotty at times but I feel this was based on the amount of people choosing to live stream the show. There were obviously restrooms and while I can only speak for the men's facility it was quite clean which is always a pleasant find. Overall this was a great experience for me but I cannot fathom when and if I might make a return based on the logistics and scarcity of what most interests me happening here. I will be keeping tabs on their calendar for good measure just in case and maybe some other localized Hard Rock bands can look into it or even local promoters who wish to do something that is no too crazy.

This was my first visit to the Queens Theater. I secured tickets through the library cultural pass…read more We went to watch "Sugar Skull - A Dia de Muertos Musical Adventure." We had a hard time finding parking as the show was about to start and the park is always busy. There were two small lots nearby that were full. Upon entering check in was easy. They had a small concession stand. The seating was great with no obstructed views. The play itself was kid friendly and told the meaning and traditions of the special day. It was very informative and entertaining. I enjoyed the different styles of dances performed, the colorful outfits, the creative scenery (which was simple but effective). I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and look forward to visiting again.