The Top of the Rock observation deck is reached via an elevator from the visitor area/entrance. The building entrance (both outside and inside) are spectacular. Even if I had been waiting a while, I don’t think I would have minded.
This is the observation deck (don’t you love the architecture?):
It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the view from the top of Rockefeller Center, but that I was especially looking forward to going up the Empire State building. Unfortunately, due to problems with our attraction passes, we were unable to do so. Still, the Top of the Rock held some fascination for me, and would indeed have been a very romantic way to spend an evening, for those looking for that sort of thing.
I really enjoyed the area of Rockefeller Center—one of the Nintendo World stores is located a block or so away, there’s the famous ice skating rink you always see in movies, and of course—tons of places to shop and eat nearby.
A bit of history, from the Top of the Rock site:
With the country facing economic catastrophe and the world between two wars, John D. Rockefeller’s vision for his center never wavered. Rockefeller Center and the observation deck were his gifts to Manhattan- a place for locals and visitors to marvel at the city he loved.
This is just across the street from the Observation Deck entrance. I wish we’d had more time in New York—so many more things we could have seen and done!
All visitor questions can be answered if you look at the FAQ page on the Top of the Rock site.
Would I recommend this attraction? I’m not sure. I’m not really that into towers or things like this. I’ve been to quite a few, yes. This isn’t on my top ten list for New York, yet I can see why people would enjoy it.
