Empire State Building

A great place to visit when you are in the Big Apple!

The Empire State Building is located at 350 5th Ave. This is located very close to the famous 5th Ave shops. This neighborhood is known as Midtown West. It is in walking distance to Times Square (which is where my hotel is always located).

History:  This skyscraper is 102 floors high. It stands a grand total of 1,454 ft (to the top of the antenna on top of the building). It was completed in 1931 and was named after the nickname for NY, or otherwise called "The Empire State." This massive structure held the title for the worlds tallest building for nearly 40 years. The title was taken by the World Trade Center's North Tower in 1972. In 2001 there was an attack on the WTC and the Empire State Building was once again the tallest structure in New York City. Also, this building is currently the third tallest building in the United States.

This skyscraper gives you the best views of Manhattan. From it you can see central park, uptown. When you look downtown, you can see all the way down to the new Freedom Tower. I think the most amazing site from this height is the view of Flatiron.

Visiting: There are several different options to choose from when visiting this massive landmark.

Main Deck Only: This includes access to the 86th floor only.

Main Deck Express: Gets you to the 86th floor faster.

Main Deck + Top Deck: This gives you access to the 86th floor and the 102nd floor, which is the highest point visitors can see.

Main Deck + Top Deck Express: Gets you to the 86th floor and the  102nd floor quickly.

This is an attraction that is not possible to do cheaply. Your best bet would be to buy your tickets 2 weeks in advanced. They are a bit cheaper online when compared to buying them the day of.

*please note that this is a very popular event. Regardless of weather and day of the week, expect to stand in line for a while. If you are unable to stand in line for 2 hours at a minimum (including express tickets) I would advise you look into another attraction.*

*Picture courtesy of ESB website*