What all do you see when you do the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center? Should I not go to the ESB at all, does this experience cover it for me? How much does it cost to go to the ESB and Statue of Liberty? Thanks

The one big advantage of the view at the Top of the Rock is that you can see the Empire State Building from there. And it is a wonderful sight, especially at night.

imo...we've started taking out of towners to Top of the Rock in lieu of the ESB because the views are equally as good and the Top of the Rock allows you to buy tickets for a specific entry time. Contrast that with an almost 2 hour wait to take the last out of town guests we had to the top of the ESB. However, some may certainly want to specifically go to the top of the ESB.

There are some great pictures this person took while in New York on the link below -- some from Top of the Rock at night. You get a 360 degree view of Manhattan and area from Top of the Rock from the large observation tower at the top. If you go right before dusk, you can see the city in daylight (along with Central Park) and also when the lights go on. You can stay up there as long as you want. Didn't go to the Empire State Building so I can't compare.

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/...0491&members=1

Here is a web site for Empire State Building. Looks like its about $18 for an adult.


http://www.esbnyc.com/tourism/index....TOKEN=83466660


Here is one for the Statue of Libery. It is free, but the only way to get there and Ellis Island is from Circle Line. There are harbor cruises and the (free) Statin Island Ferry that go by with a good view, but you can't get off at the Statute of Liberty with them.

http://www.nps.gov/stli/

http://www.circlelinedowntown.com/statueFerry.html

I'm taking out of town guests to Top of the Rock next week, largely because of the timed entry - we don't want to wait on the lines for the ESB. Tickets for Top of the Rock are $17.50 for adults and $11.25 for children over 6 (under 6 are free).

This may be a dumb question, but can you see Central Park from the Empire State Building? (It actually appeared from where we were - on Top of the Rock - that the Central Park view from the Empire State Building may have been partially obscured by the Rockefeller building) We especially enjoyed the Central Park view from Top of the Rock since we had just been there the same day.