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The Best NYC Observation Deck

March 9, 2023 / New York, New York Life / 0 comment

The Best NYC Observation Deck

New York City is best seen from above! Each NYC observation deck offers spectacular views over the city plus some bonus immersive experiences.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

More than just an observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is an immersive, multi-sensory art experience with breathtaking views over Manhattan. The newest viewing platform at time of writing, SUMMIT opened in October 21, 2021, and has the best and closest views of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building compared to any other observation deck in the city.

With mirrored walls reflecting the skyline, an installation by Yayoi Kusama, a floating orb ball room, a glass box that juts over the edge of the building and the world’s largest external glass bottomed elevator, SUMMIT has well and truly upped the game for observation decks in NYC by giving visitors endless unique photo ops as well. No binoculars.

Read more about visiting SUMMIT One Vanderbilt here.

Top of the Rock Observatory

Top of the Rock Observatory sits at the top of the Rockefeller Center in the heart of New York City. From this incredible location, the Observatory offers breathtaking views of the city including the Empire State Building and Central Park.

Top of the Rock offers outdoor viewing areas with and without glass. It’s the only NYC observation deck with an outdoor area and no glass or mesh to capture reflection and barrier-free photo ops. Binoculars are coin operated.

Read more about visiting Top of the Rock Observatory here.

Empire State Building

The Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan, is an Art Deco masterpiece. Built in 1931, the skyscraper is 102-stories tall and features the highest open-air observatory in New York City.

The 86th Floor Observatory offers 360-degree views of New York and beyond. On a clear day you can see views of Central Park, The Hudson River and East River, The Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square and even the tiny The Statue of Liberty, way off in the distance.

Empire State Building has outside and inside NYC viewing platforms. Their outside observation deck has a metal grid surrounding it. Head upstairs to the next level for indoor glassed viewing area. Binoculars are free!

Read more about visiting the Empire State Building here.

One World Observatory

Climb to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the One World Trade Center, in New York City. The One World Observatory is located on the 100-102 floors with breathtaking views, restaurants and exhibits on offer.

The One World Trade Center is located in Downtown Manhattan, near where the original Twin Towers in the World Trade Center complex used to stand. After the Twin Towers collapsed during the 2001 terrorist attack, the new One World Trade Center was build near to where the old towers used to stand. The footprints of the old Twin Towers have been turned into 9/11 Memorial Pool outside the new building.

There is no outside area at the Observatory, however the floor to ceiling glass windows offer are spectacular view. No Binoculars.

Read more about visiting One World Observatory here.

Read about more things to do in NYC with or without kids.

Get more tips on visiting New York City.

Best NYC Observation Deck: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

March 8, 2023 / Indoor Play, Museums & Galleries, New York, New York Life / 0 comment

Best NYC Observation Deck: SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

More than just an observation deck, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is an immersive, multi-sensory art experience with breathtaking views over Manhattan.

Located on the top four floors of the new One Vanderbilt skyscraper next to Grand Central Station, the over 6,000 square meter (65,000 square foot) space, which opened October 21, 2021, has the best and closest views of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building compared to any other observation deck in the city. The Empire State Building, which is only 8 blocks away from Summit One Vanderbilt, so the view and photo opportunities are incredible.

The SUMMIT journey starts on the ground.Underground actually, as the entrance is a level below the footpath. Instructions on how to find the entrance are here.

It’s quite a process lining up (even for timed tickets), going through security, putting on the special booties over shoes and scanning your face to connect with your wrist band for photo opportunities.

The elevator up to the 91st floor is cramped, but full of digital effects to start the immersive experience.

The 91st floor opens to Air, designed by Kenzo Digital, and the first within the installation, called Transcendence, a large mirrored space where visitors can enjoy being part of the skyline views in the mirrors surrounding them on all sides. New York is infinite in this space.

It’s hard to visit this space and get great photos with the mirrors due to the large number of people inside the space at all times. We booked the first time slot of the day and it was still completely packed and impossible to get a photo without a zillion other New Yorkers in it.

The best and easiest photos to get without your neighbour in them are by the windows overlooking the city. We visited on a dreary rainy day which wasn’t ideal for the view, however still managed to get some decent photos with the city’s famous landmarks in them.

Transcendence is continued on the next floor, where balconies overlook this space.

The next installation is Clouds (2019) by Yayoi Kusama, the artist behind the famous mirrored infinity rooms. The stainless-steel “clouds” fill the floor and encourage visitors to see new reflections and angles, meant to reinforce the feeling of infinity and perpetuity.

The most popular room follows, filled with floating silver orbs. The room is like a giant, shiny adult ball pit. The walls and floor are mirrored which can be fun to create effects in photos, but also makes it hard to get a shot without one of the many other visitors in them. For your best shot with no one else in the frame, try to head to a corner and angle the camera so as to avoid reflections from the wall that include the rest of the room.

We missed the instructions to scan our wristbands at the Unity section and didn’t realize our faces would merge with the clouds on the screen if we did. There was a lack of information and signage about this section, we just thought it was a pretty digital screen and nothing more.

Back to the view outside, a unique way to see the skyline is in Ascent, advertised as the world’s largest external glass-bottomed elevator that goes up to 1,200 feet above ground level on the outside of the building. It’s an extra $20 to go for a ride in the elevator.

Après lounge and café is at this end stage of the experience, featuring drinks and light snacks.

The final experience is Levitation, two all-glass sky boxes extend outside the building 1,063 feet over the bustling Madison Avenue. Visitors have a very limited amount of time in in the skyboxes which helpfully makes the line go fast but also makes it quite full of pressure to snap the perfect shot vs enjoy the experience of jutting out over the edge of the building.

There is a mounted camera that will take photos of your group that you can download for an additional fee. You can take your own photos however, just be quick about it before your time runs out.

Tips for visiting SUMMIT: One Vanderbilt:

Bring sunglasses. The reflective materials used throughout SUMMIT create a bright environment, especially at times of full sunlight. We visited on a very dreary day and didn’t need them, however if it was sunny I think they would be a necessity.

Dress wisely. SUMMIT features many reflective floors and recommend pants, shorts, or tights. If you wear a dress or skirt, make sure to wear shorts underneath.

Wear comfortable, non-marking shoes. Stiletto heels, work boots, cleats and certain other footwear that can damage flooring are not permitted.

Book well in advance. The experience is very popular and books out particularly in busy holiday seasons.

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt
45 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017
Entrance located on the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal
Hours: Wed-Mon 9am-12am. Tuesday closed.
summitov.com

Find the best things to do in NYC with kids.

New York Guide: Walking Across The Brooklyn Bridge

November 26, 2018 / New York, New York Life, Outdoor Play, Travel, USA / 0 comment

The Brooklyn Bridge joins Manhattan to Brooklyn, spanning the East River. Since its completion in 1883, the bridge has become one of the city’s most famous icons. Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best ways to explore the city’s neighbourhoods and experience breathtaking views along the way.

Walking Across The Brooklyn Bridge

When to cross the Brooklyn Bridge
The bridge is open 24 hours a day and is safe to cross even late at night. It is however a major tourist attraction and by midday can be jam-packed with people. I suggest crossing the bridge early in the morning to avoid large crowds. It can get breezy on the bridge so bring an extra layer.

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Manhattan

The pedestrian promenade begins as indicated by the arrow on the map. if arriving by subway, catch the 4, 5, or 6 trains to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall or the J or Z trains to Chambers St. Other options are the 2 or 3 train to Park Place, the N or R train to City Hall, or the A or C train to Fulton Street

Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Walkway and Bicycle Lane start at the intersection of Tillary Street and Adams Street. The road is busy so keep a hold of small children when crossing. The closet subway stops are A, C or F to Jay Street/MetroTech Station, N, R to Court Street Station, 2/3 or 4/5 to Borough Hall Station. This entrance is completely accessible and suitable for strollers, wheelchairs and bikes.

There is another entrance closer to the foreshore which includes several stairs. To reach this entrance, catch the A or C to High Street. Walk across the large when exiting the station to reach the underpass. On the left side of the street are a set of stairs built into the bridge. They can be tricky to spot.

Safety on the Brooklyn Bridge

Keep in the pedestrian lane and watch for bikes. The pedestrian lane is narrow and if there are people who have stopped you will have to walk around them by walking across the bike lane. Be careful as you do as cyclists go extremely fast.

Time and distance over the Brooklyn Bridge

The Brooklyn Bridge is slightly over 1.1miles or 1.8 km long. It takes an average of 30 minutes to cross. 45-60 if you stop to admire the view or take lots of photos.

Enjoy seeing the sights in Brooklyn!

When you reach Brooklyn, enjoy our favourite neighbourhood with this guide of our fave places in DUMBO.

Visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) New York With Kids

November 23, 2018 / Indoor Play, Museums & Galleries, New York, New York Life / 0 comment

Visiting the Museum of Modern Art (Moma) New York With Kids

One of the largest and most influential museums of modern art in the world is also one of the most welcoming to children. The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is a place to take kids to encourage their creativity, let them explore and, most importantly, have fun.

Kids, especially younger ones, can be a tricky mix with an art gallery, as kids love to move and art loves to basically stand still on a wall. However, art galleries and kids can work and even be fun. Here are my tips for ensuring everyone enjoys the incredible MoMA.

Talk about what you’re going to see
Have a quick chat before you go in about what modern art is, and what they are going to see and do at the museum. Paintings! Photographs! Sculptures! A helicopter! I find it helpful to tell kids what is on offer for them to do, and then what you’re going to do that you want to do (ie look at the art!).

Discuss the rules
Also important to discuss in advance. Explain especially to younger kids why they can’t touch the art because the natural oils on our fingers can leave harmful prints. Tell them to ask before touching anything as a general rule.

Research what exhibitions are on
A quick look at the website will tell you what special exhibitions or permanent works are on display. I choose the Impressionist gallery for our visit because Cheese has read books on this art period and I knew she would be excited to see the paintings in real life.

Attend a family program
While none of these were on the day we visited, I highly recommend scheduling a visit around a family-friendly tour, art workshop, film, or activity station are offered offered seasonally on the weekends for families with kids ages 4–14. There is also the “Create Ability” program for those with developmental and intellectual disabilities. See moma.org/family for more info.

Get real about how much art kids can take
The MoMA is huge and while it’s tempting to see everything, particularly if you are visiting the city and won’t have a chance to come back, aim to spend about 30-90 mins including breaks. Longer if your kid gets obsessed with ArtLab like mine did.

Pick up free Activity Cards
The activity cards contain activities, questions and ideas for looking at pieces of art throughout the MoMA. They are available at information desks on each floor of the museum.

We loved these activity cards and they led us on a scavenger hunt throughout the museum to located the art works and then find out more about them.

Visit Art Lab
ArtLab is an interactive space that is free with museum admission. To reach it, walk across the Sculpture Garden or down the corridor on the second floor of the Museum (past Cafe 2), then downstairs to the first floor of The Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building.

ArtLab lets kids and adults engage with art through hands-on activities. They can play and experiment with different materials and concepts, create masterpieces and contribute to group projects. There are activities to engage toddlers through to grade schoolers and even their parents.

Stroll through the sculpture garden
We loved the sculpture garden! as well as being visually impressive, the sculptures can be walked around or through, and several can be touched. The sculpture garden is free to access even without a ticket to the museum.

Feed the kids
Cafe 2 is the most kid-friendly dining area in the MoMA, with a kids’ menu and high chairs. Cheese ordered the pasta which came with a side of fruit, and I ordered a tomato soup.
The Sculpture Garden café also offers snacks.

Take a bathroom break
There are diaper-changing stations available in most of the bathrooms, and the dedicated family bathrooms are on Floors 1, 5, T1, and on the mezzanine
level of the Education and Research Building.

Take an audio tour
Pick up a free audio tour for kids or download the MoMA app, which has kid-friendly information.

Museum of Modern Art
Hours: Daily, 10:30am–5:30pm. Open till 8pm Fridays.
11 W 53rd St, New York, NY 10019
Kids 16 and under receive free admission to the Museum.
moma.org

American Girl Place New York

November 23, 2018 / New York, New York Life, Travel, USA / 0 comment

American Girl Place New York

American Girl Place is the flagship store for the iconic doll brand. The store stocks the full range of American Girl dolls, clothes and accessories, a cafe and salon where girls and their dolls can get their ears pierced and receive spa treatments.

The American Girl dolls were released in 1986 by Pleasant Company. Made to portray eight- to eleven-year-old girls of a variety of ethnicities, the dolls are wildly popular and one step inside American Girl Place will show you why.

Located in the heart of the Rockefeller Center, the American Girl Place is all things pink and girly. Dolls and their accessories line the walls and fill the floors.

Girls (and boys!) can wander around the multi-floor store and play with the dolls that are on display, or enjoy one of the hands-on stations set up around the store, designed to engage kids.

A really fun experience for kids at the store is the American Girl Salon. Girls and their dolls can get matching hairstyles, mini manicures and get their ears pierced.

We’ve previously been to the salon at the LA store for a hairstyle and ear piercing (above) and it’s the sweetest experience – expensive, but really fun for a special occasion.

The cafe inside the store is open for brunch, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner. Bring your own doll or borrow a doll from the cafe to dine with.

Each doll is given their own special chair that attaches to the table and a special dining set with placemat, plate and cup. On the back of the placemat are conversation starters, such a cute idea. Diners are welcome to take home the doll dining set.

The napkins are tied with American Girl hair ties that are also a take-home gift.

When dining at the cafe, their lunch and dinner menu has the best selection for kids, with their “Truly Me” menu for kids aged 9 and under. The menu includes a choice of refillable beverage, entrée, and dessert plus a special souvenir, for $21 per child, plus tax. The entrees offer plenty of choice for fussy little eaters, with options such as chicken tenders with fruit, a cheese burger and mini hot dog, pasta (plain or marinara), mac and cheese and pizza.

When we dined, Cheese chose the Fancy Bow-Tie Pasta with butter and
grated Parmesan, plus a breadstick. The portion size was absolutely massive – big enough for us to share it.

American Girl Place New York
75 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10019
Phone: +1 877-247-5223
americangirl.com

One World Observatory, New York

November 22, 2018 / New York, New York Life, Travel, USA / 0 comment

One World Observatory, New York

I did visit New York a few months prior to the attack and went up the old Twin Towers to admire the view, so it was an emotional visit for me to return to the scene and head up the new building.

Entrance to the Observatory is on the West Plaza located alongside West Street at the Northwest corner of the World Trade Center complex.

There is usually a long queue to visit the One World Observatory so I highly suggest buying tickets online in advance. Tickets are timed, which can make it tricky to book ahead, but you can book tickets on your phone just before you’re thinking of heading up and chance that the time slot won’t be sold out. This is what we did and had no issues. We stood at the entrance, noticed the huge queue and then booked the tickets on my phone and walked straight in, past the queue, and through security.

After security, visitors walk through a really cool “bedrock” exhibition that consists of the rocks that form the base of the city.

The elevators are called “Skypods” and transport visitors 102 floors in 47 seconds. The elevator ride itself is incredible, with a video display on the walls and roof that shows the transformation of New York City from unsettled lands to today’s skyscrapers.

At the Observatory level, you’ll find special exhibits, the See Forever Theater, the obligatory green screen photo op, restaurants, bathrooms and shops.

Also at the Observatory level is the Sky Portal, which was hugely popular with Cheese. The Sky Portal is a 14-foot wide circular disco that shows high definition footage of the streets that lie 100 floor below. Not for those who are scared of heights, perhaps!

There is no outside area at the Observatory, however the floor to ceiling glass windows are absolutely massive (no other way to describe it!) and so large that they could almost not be there. Standing by the edge of the windows is quite the experience, peering 100 floors down.

We spent about 45mins-1 hour at the Observatory, which I’m told is the average visiting time.

If you’d like to purchase your souvenir photo, you can do so at the exit on the ground floor.

There are no binoculars at the Observatory which was a bit of a shame, as they are always a highlight particularly for kids.

Tips for visiting with kids

Kids under 6 are free

Strollers are allowed but you will be asked to remove your child and fold your stroller up for access to the elevators as well as the escalators within the Observatory.

Buy tickets in advance to avoid lining up.

One World Observatory, New York
Hours: Daily, 9am-9pm
Phone: +1 844-696-1776
285 Fulton St, New York, NY 10006
oneworldobservatory.com

Ellen’s Stardust Diner, New York

November 22, 2018 / Eat & Explore, Manhattan Munchies, Midtown, New York, New York Food, New York Life, Travel, USA / 0 comment

Ellen’s Stardust Diner is an iconic 1950s-themed diner with singing servers and a massive menu filled with American classics. Located in the heart of Times Square, your server at Ellen’s may be the next star on Broadway!

While Ellen’s may be considered a bit of a tourist trap, it’s incredibly fun and we have been several times. The food is overpriced but adequate – it’s really the great singing and lively atmosphere that are the draw card here.

Our server, after introducing herself, hopped up on the tables to belt out a Broadway classic that left us speechless. The staff here truly have extraordinary talent.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner serves up plenty of options with an absolutely massive menu. It’s an extremely popular spot, especially with tourists and tour groups, and there is usually a queue to get in that runs around the block. My advice is to come for breakfast since they open at 7am.

Not only is this a great time to visit and get a table immediately, it will also save you a few dollars on your meal. While there is an all-day breakfast menu, their dedicated breakfast menu is a different menu entirely and is served between served from 7am to 11am. It features cheaper food choices, making this a great time to go for both crowds and cost saving.

We ordered the plain Jane classic three egg omelette with tater tots ($13.50) and Joseph & The Technicolor Bagel (Yes! It’s a Rainbow Bagel, served w/ rainbow sprinkle cream cheese and tater tots, $10.50). The omelette was really flat whereas we prefer fluffy omelettes and the tater tots packed a bit of spice, which meant while I liked them, Cheese didn’t. She did however love her rainbow bagel.

I do have to mention how excellent the service is from the singing waitstaff. Not only are they amazingly talented, they are also really great at their jobs. About 30 seconds after being given a massive glass of OJ, Cheese accidentally knocked it over. Our server dashed over, cleaned it up and replaced it with another in a spill proof cup, without being asked. Really great service.

You can read about our previous experience at Ellen’s Starburst Diner here.

Ellen’s Stardust Diner
Hours: Daily, 7am-12am
(212) 956-5151
1650 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ellensstardustdiner.com

National Museum of Mathematics, New York

November 22, 2018 / New York, New York Life, Travel, USA / 0 comment

The National Museum of Mathematics or MoMath is the only hands-on science center in Manhattan. Dedicated to mathematics, the museum explores math through dynamic exhibits and fun activities. You’ll never look at math the same way again!

MoMath does a wonderful job of showcasing how mathematics is all around us, shaping the world we live in. The two floors of hands-on exhibits show that math can be fun and exciting, particularly helpful in helping foster a love of mathematics in kids.

The museum is spread over two floors. You could easily spend a whole day here working on each exhibit – many of them with levels of complexity that make them appealing to both kids and adults.

The exhibits explore concepts such as patterns, formulas, statistics, geometry, velocity, acceleration, parabolas, mathematical rules, fractal patterns and number probability.

Note: this is not just a museum for kids! Adults who love math will really enjoy it, too. In fact, the lower level has an area that features complex puzzles that are geared towards adults.

There is no cafe in the museum, but there are plenty right outside, including Eatily, and the excellent Madison Square Park and playground.

National Museum of Mathematics New York
Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm
MoMath closes early the first Wednesday of every month, at 2:30 pm.
11 E 26th St, New York, NY 10010
momath.org

An Art Deco Masterpiece: Empire State Building New York City

November 21, 2018 / New York, New York Life / 0 comment

The Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan, is an Art Deco masterpiece. Built in 1931, the skyscraper is 102-stories tall and features the highest open-air observatory in New York City.

Enter the lobby via the 34th street entrance and enjoy the beautiful art deco ceiling murals and two story model building, before catching the elevator to the 86th floor, home to the most famous observation deck in the world.

There is a a green screen photo op before taking the elevator – we are always suckers and can’t resist.

Be sure to take a look at the Dare To Dream Exhibit which tells the story of how the Empire State Building was built. The exhibit is on the 80th floor.

The high-powered binoculars were a massive hit for Cheese, who used them to a closer look at the streets below. The binoculars are free to use!

Want to go even higher? An extra $20 USD will buy you a pass to the Empire State Building’s Top Deck, on the 102th floor.

Tips for visiting with kids

Under 6 is free.

Arrive early! The Empire State Building is quietest between 8am-11am.

If you’re bringing a stroller, you’ll need to fold it before entering the elevator.

Ues the bathroom on the second floor before getting in line for the elevators.

Rug up on cold days: it can get extremely cold up there!

Buy tickets in advance to save lining up.

Visiting the Empire State Building is a fab idea if you’re in New York and jet lagged too. Make use of those morning hours!

Empire State Building
Hours: Daily, 8am-2am
20 W 34th St, New York, NY 10001
esbnyc.com

Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Center, New York

November 20, 2018 / New York, New York Life, USA / 0 comment

The main entrance to Top of the Rock is on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. There is a red carpet out the front of the entrance – and usually a queue. If there is indeed a queue when you go, try the second entrance, located on the Concourse level of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Entry to the Top of the Rock is timed. The best way to get in with minimal queuing is to buy your ticker online in advance and select the day and time of your choice. Unscheduled tickets are also available but you will have to line up to exchange these for timed tickets at the box office and you might not be able to get in for a period of time if it’s a busy day.

After buying a ticket, all visitors must pass through the security checkpoint so be prepared for the scanners. No food and beverages allowed, however my water bottle and snacks were not mentioned and we were able to take them with us inside.

Once through security the queue winds through the mezzanine level, which is filled with information about the Rockefeller Center, its founder, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and how the Top of the Rock began.

Next is a photo-op against a green-screen to recreate the famous photo of construction workers eating lunch on a steel beam high above the city that was taken at the Rockefeller Center.

Before entering the Sky Shuttle to the Top, all visitors are ushered into a theatre to watch a short video presentation about the history of NBC and Rockefeller Center. We found the video interesting, particularly the parts featuring the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

The Sky Shuttle to the Top takes less than a minute to travel up to 850 feet (260 meters) above street level to the 67th floor. Look up when you’re in the elevator – you’ll be glad you did!

The Sky Shuttle brings visitors to the first of three observation floors. The 67th floor is largely indoors with two outdoor areas protected by high glass panels.

On this floor you’ll find the Radiance Room, which absolutely enchanted Cheese.

The room has a wall made up of glass panels that was created by Swarovski and contains crystals, fiber-optic lighting and lots of blown glass. It’s sparkly and mesmerising.

Head up to the 69th floor next which is completely open with glass panels. On this floor you will find the Breezeway Room, an interactive colour experience.

The final floor is the 70th, which has no glass or metal enclosures, so it’s the perfect spot for photos with no reflections.

On each of the 67th, 69th and 70th floors are binoculars that give a close-up view of various points of interest.

Tips for visiting with kids

Under 6 is free.

Arrive early! The Top of the Rock is quietest between 8am-10am.

Rug up on cold days: it can get extremely cold up there!

Buy tickets in advance to save lining up.

Top of the Rock
Hours: Daily, 8am-Midnight
Last elevator up at 11:00pm
30 Rockefeller Plaza,
New York, NY 10112
1-877-692-7625
topoftherocknyc.com