Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TOP OF THE ROCK OBSERVATION DECK
30 Rockefeller Plaza at W 50th St. Subway B, D, F, M to 47-50th St-Rockefeller Center. 212 698 2000,
www.topoftherocknyc.com
.
Daily 8am-midnight, last elevator at 11pm. $27, children 6-12 $17.
MAP
It's a lot to pay for a view, but what a view. Arguably as grand as that from the Empire State
Building (with the added bonus of being to able to see the Empire State), the panorama from
the top of the
GE Building
lets you examine the layout of Central Park and how built-up
downtown is compared to uptown, offers a vertiginous look at St Patrick's Cathedral and
looks out to the George Washington Bridge and beyond. The film that introduces a bit of
history on Rockefeller Center is missable; just head to the elevator that whisks you up to
floor 67, with additional decks on floors 69 and 70 accessible by stairs.
City views
Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building are the obvious places to go for panor-
amic views of New York, but you can save a bit of money and find unique angles on the
city at any of the following:
The mid-point of
Brooklyn Bridge
, to see the Financial District. The
High Line
,
for a
look up Tenth Avenue.
General Worth Square
next to
Madison Square Park
, for a look at the Flatiron, Met-
life tower, the park and a lot of whizzing traffic.
The Cantor Rooftop Garden
at the Met, for views of Central Park.
Empire-Fulton
Ferry Park
in
Dumbo
, for glimpses of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
1260 Sixth Ave at W 50th St. Subway B, D, F, M to 47-50th St/Rockefeller Center. Tickets 1 866 858 0008,
tours 212 247 4777,
www.radiocity.com
. Daily 11am-3pm. Tour $19.95, children 12 and under $15, ticket
prices for concerts vary.
MAP
Heralded by one of the most familiar marquees in New York, the world-famous concert hall
Radio City
is the last word in 1930s luxury. If you're not taking in a show - greats such as
Sinatra used to grace the stage here, but these days it's better-known for its “Christmas
Spectacular” than for any major bookings - you'll need to join one of the hour-long “Stage
Door” behind-the-scenes walking tours to see it. The staircase is resplendent, with the
world's largest chandeliers, while the huge auditorium looks like an extravagant scalloped
shell. The movable parts of the stage hold some fascination, and there's a brief meeting with
(and photo of) a Rockette too.
