I’m in the city that never sleeps, which seems an appropriate moniker right now since it’s already tomorrow and I’m still awake. It’s been a long day 🙂
I came down for an end-of-summer trip, and to visit two observation lookouts. Let’s compare them.
The first was One Vanderbilt, which is the big silver skyscraper you can see in the middle (towering over the library in Bryant Park). The observation levels are the 91st through 93rd floors, and the experience is accompanied by an art installation that begins the moment the lift doors open and you notice the mirrored floors.
This gives a startling impression of walking on air while inside the building, and momentarily draws your attention away from the striking views just outside the windows.
It’s very high (1300 feet) and the views are in every direction. As you can see it was lovely today (a bit hot actually) and I could see forever from up there! Can you see the Empire State Building in the above photo?
As you move through the various levels of the observatory there are other art installations, like the ‘bubble room’ and a room with a giant video screen showing creepy living clouds. But I was mostly taken by the views, which were fantastic.
That’s Bryant Park, with my hotel the black one on the left side. I’m in there right now typing this entry!
There were loads of people and I had to be a sneaky little rat to get clean photos. But I was amused by the abundance of girls posing for their Instagram snaps or making TikTok videos. I suppose that’s what you do these days?
Overall, it was a wonderful lookout and is highly recommended.
Later in the day – after dinner – I visited Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center. This is a more famous and popular lookout than the previous, and consequently had many more people. That said I didn’t have significant waits at either site, possibly because I bought tickets in advance.
No art installation here, just views. It was past sunset when I went up, and the city lights were already on. You get access to the three highest levels, each of which have outdoor sections, and one of which is mostly open (not even glass shields). At 800 feet it’s not as tall as Vanderbilt, but being outside gives it a different sort of thrill.
A word on the elevators for each of these towers: they were super fast and super smooth. Vanderbilt had a crazy light show which simulated movement since the lift was so smooth you could barely feel the acceleration, and Rockefeller had a glass ceiling and a lit lift shaft so you could appreciate how fast the lift whizzed up!
I stayed on top until it got darker, but there were just so many people it wasn’t easy to relax and I was deeply exhausted after my long day. So I bade goodbye to the lovely views, but not before imaging living at these heights (or even higher, like the apartment buildings visible in the photo two above)!
That photo shows both (Vanderbilt on the left) viewed from the other. I’ve circled the observation levels. If you’re only visiting one, I’d suggest Vanderbilt (since it’s higher and has the funky mirrored floors), but if you like lookouts then both are absolutely worth the visit. I enjoyed them both so much I may have to one day visit the other two I haven’t yet gone to here in NYC!
As I’ve said it was a busy day with lots of other stuff I could write about but I’m almost asleep so I’ll leave it here. Happy end-of-summer 🙂
