13 Dec 2024 - Top of the Rock, Bryant Park skating
13 Dec 2024 - Top of the Rock, Bryant Park skating
This morning Lizzie and I had reservations to visit the "Top Of The Rock" observation deck at Rockefeller Plaza. We met up with Laura and walked downtown with her and she went off to look around whilst we took a look from above.
We've now done two observation decks - Empire State Building, and Top Of The Rock. ESB was wonderful, and gave us a great view of downtown Manhattan, including 1 World Trade Center. It was also special because we were actually at the ESB, a famous NYC landmark. The downside was that the view north to Central Park was obscured by quite a few buildings, including Rockefeller Plaza!
Now seeing the view from Rockefeller Plaza, we had an incredible view of the ESB with 1 World Trade behind her, and a great view to the north of Central Park!
If you only had the choice to do one observation deck, I would advise to do Top Of The Rock because of these iconic views!
On the top level of 30 Rock was also a new attraction called the Skylight. This is a circular pedestal with glass walls that elevates out of the top of the building and then rotates to give you a 360 degree view of the city. Lizzie and I both watched as this thing went up and decided neither of us had the courage to do it!
Top Of The Rock Skylift
We made our way back down to terra firma and met up with Laura to walk home and pick up our ice skates. Then it was another walk back downtown to Bryant Park where all three of us were booked in to skate at the ice rink.
This was Laura's first time skating (she can snow ski though) and it was SICKENING how quickly she picked it up! (Just joking Laura, it was actually great to watch you take to it like a skater to ice)
It was beautiful skating around the rink, although very busy and the ice was incredibly rough. The gorgeous Christmas tree made up for it though!
After skating we couldn't get out of Bryant Park quick enough! It seems every day NYC is getting just that little bit busier. Just as well we're leaving here before Christmas!
We walked home, and picked up a pizza for dinner. But not before stopping off in front of the Yves Saint Laurent building to watch their light show.
The three of us returned to our apartment and devoured our pie before heading back downtown yet again! This time, we travelled to Penn Station to meet our friends Peter and Lynn who were arriving after a 16 hour train ride from North Carolina!
We found them without a problem and told them not to worry about a thing, as Lizzie and I were now experts on the subway and we'd get them to their hotel on the Upper West Side (West 77th Street) without a problem.
So all five of us jumped on a train and headed uptown. We passed through Columbus Circle, and knew that we only had a couple of stops to go...but then the train started speeding up!
We passed through 72nd Street Station without even looking like slowing! Through 79th, 86th, 96th...something was wrong here...103rd Street and no sign of slowing...110th, 116th...when will this bloody train stop???...125th!!!...and we finally stopped! Poor Peter and Lynn! All they wanted to do was get to the hotel to go to sleep and we took them almost 50 blocks past their destination! We'd caught a bloody express train!
So we found our way over to the downtown platform and caught a local train back to 79th street where we safely disembarked and walked the couple of blocks to the hotel and saw them safely checked in. Then Lizzie and I walked Laura back to her hotel before returning to our apartment and turning the lights out on a big day!
I hope Lynn and Peter are still talking to us tomorrow!
Don't go anywhere folks - there is still more to come!
We've now done two observation decks - Empire State Building, and Top Of The Rock. ESB was wonderful, and gave us a great view of downtown Manhattan, including 1 World Trade Center. It was also special because we were actually at the ESB, a famous NYC landmark. The downside was that the view north to Central Park was obscured by quite a few buildings, including Rockefeller Plaza!
Now seeing the view from Rockefeller Plaza, we had an incredible view of the ESB with 1 World Trade behind her, and a great view to the north of Central Park!
If you only had the choice to do one observation deck, I would advise to do Top Of The Rock because of these iconic views!
- 1 Top Rock downtown pano 6.jpg (9.33 MiB) Viewed 47 times
- Empire State Building with 1 World Trade Center over her right shoulder and Lady Liberty in the distance on the right
- 1 Top Rock ESB and WTC 5.jpg (2.15 MiB) Viewed 47 times
- 1 Top Rock Lizzie ESB 4.jpg (2.39 MiB) Viewed 47 times
- View to the north
- 1 Top Rock north 1.jpg (2.89 MiB) Viewed 47 times
- 1 Top Rock Central Park 2.jpg (2.69 MiB) Viewed 47 times
- St Patricks Cathedral on 5th Avenue
- 1 Top Rock St Patricks Cathedral 3.jpg (4.19 MiB) Viewed 47 times
Top Of The Rock Skylift
We made our way back down to terra firma and met up with Laura to walk home and pick up our ice skates. Then it was another walk back downtown to Bryant Park where all three of us were booked in to skate at the ice rink.
This was Laura's first time skating (she can snow ski though) and it was SICKENING how quickly she picked it up! (Just joking Laura, it was actually great to watch you take to it like a skater to ice)
- 2 Bryant Park Laura first skate.jpg (286.94 KiB) Viewed 44 times
- 2 Bryant Park three amigos.jpg (363.83 KiB) Viewed 44 times
After skating we couldn't get out of Bryant Park quick enough! It seems every day NYC is getting just that little bit busier. Just as well we're leaving here before Christmas!
We walked home, and picked up a pizza for dinner. But not before stopping off in front of the Yves Saint Laurent building to watch their light show.
- 3 YSL trio.jpg (216.33 KiB) Viewed 44 times
We found them without a problem and told them not to worry about a thing, as Lizzie and I were now experts on the subway and we'd get them to their hotel on the Upper West Side (West 77th Street) without a problem.
So all five of us jumped on a train and headed uptown. We passed through Columbus Circle, and knew that we only had a couple of stops to go...but then the train started speeding up!
We passed through 72nd Street Station without even looking like slowing! Through 79th, 86th, 96th...something was wrong here...103rd Street and no sign of slowing...110th, 116th...when will this bloody train stop???...125th!!!...and we finally stopped! Poor Peter and Lynn! All they wanted to do was get to the hotel to go to sleep and we took them almost 50 blocks past their destination! We'd caught a bloody express train!
So we found our way over to the downtown platform and caught a local train back to 79th street where we safely disembarked and walked the couple of blocks to the hotel and saw them safely checked in. Then Lizzie and I walked Laura back to her hotel before returning to our apartment and turning the lights out on a big day!
I hope Lynn and Peter are still talking to us tomorrow!
Don't go anywhere folks - there is still more to come!
Re: 13 Dec 2024 - Top of the Rock, Bryant Park skating
You know we’re still talking to you, it was quite funny as we had no idea and trusted you implicitly 
We got there eventually, you also know we appreciated seeing the three of you at the station
We got there eventually, you also know we appreciated seeing the three of you at the station
Re: 13 Dec 2024 - Top of the Rock, Bryant Park skating
Thanks Lynn. You know me... never let the truth get in the way of a good story! It was great to see you both in New Yark! Now if you'll excuse me, I'm walkin' heeeeer!