New York from Above

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The Empire State Buildinghas been completely reimaged over the past year with a newly renovated 102nd floor observatory with 360-degree views through floor-to-ceiling glass windows. Credit: Empire State Building My husband and I live in New York City and often host friends and family. The one thing everyone inevitably asks for is a tour of the best views of NYC — and believe me, sometimes that list feels endless! It makes sense to use clear glass panels here because the sweeping view of Central Park is downright breathtaking and obstructing that view would be a crime!

Fun fact: The One World Trade Center stands at 1,776 feet (including the spire), in honor of the year America declared independence. We can’t talk about the best free viewpoints in New York City without mentioning one of the most beloved parks in NYC, Brooklyn Bridge Park.Brooklyn Grange’surban farms at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Long Island City, Queens, offer visitors farmers’ markets, workshops, yoga and more along with three unique vantage points of New York City. Credit: Brooklyn Grange’sUrban Farms Amusement Parks Luna Park @ Coney Island The 80-acre park hosts outdoor movies during the summer months, which takes date night to a whole new level. Watching a movie while sneaking peaks at one of the best views of New York City, it’s an unforgettable experience to be sure. What’ more, some helicopter companies ever offer doors-off tours where you can dangle your feet outside the helicopter, it’s a memorable experience – to say the least! The Metropolitan Museum of Artis celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. Credit: Julienne Schaer What’s more, we saw so many folks biking around the epic esplanade, it looked like a very popular activity on Governors Island and thankfully there’s a handful of Citi Bike stations to choose from.

A new addition to one of the most iconic places in NYC, visit the Statue of Liberty Museum ,including a climb to the building’s green roof, which offers unobstructed views of Lower Manhattan and Liberty Island, including the statue herself. Credit: Statue of Liberty MuseumBut I’ll be honest, I also love this viewpoint for sentimental reasons. Living in NYC was a longtime dream of mine and until that dream was realized I’d find small ways to motivate myself to make the leap one day. I highly suggest visiting during sunset but prepare for crowds — this is a beloved NYC viewpoint for good reason. Admissionis completelyfreeto all visitors. However, you need to pay the ferry ride to the island. Governors Island To cap off our great day on the island, my friends and I chose to swing by Island Oyster for oysters, drinks and food. I must say, the food was surprisingly good!

Empire Outlets, New York City’s only outlet shopping destination, offers incredible views of Lower Manhattan from its multilevel space and sustainable green roof in St. George, Staten Island. Credit: Empire Outlets The Shops at Hudson Yard The Shops at Hudson Yards, one of the City’s newest hot spots, features amazing views of the Vessel, Shed and Public Square from Neiman Marcusand many of their restaurants, particularly on the fifth and sixth floors. Credit: Related Oxford The Shops at Columbus Circle To this day, the view of New York from the Manhattan Bridge is still one of my favorites, even if for sentimental reasons. 😉 The Roosevelt Island Tramwayprovides spectacular views of Manhattan and Queens as passengers rise through the city then descend across the East River to reach Roosevelt Island. Credit: Roosevelt Island Tramway From April to October, the Javits Center offers free tours of its 6.75-acre green roof. Tours are typically provided Monday through Friday, and the time of the tour can vary depending on their event schedule. Brooklyn Grange’sUrban FarmsThis is quite possibly my personal favorite view of NY because it’s seldom crowded (thanks to the noisy subway that runs the length of the bridge every few minutes). And there’s no denying that New York City is a beautiful city — thankfully there’s no shortage of spectacular New York City views from which to take in the iconic Manhattan skyline. If you’re an adrenaline junkie (*raises hand) this is the best experience for you. A helicopter ride over New York City will provide you with a very unique Birdseye view of NYC. Liberty State Park is located in Jersey City, just across from the Financial District and is often overlooked by visitors because it’s not in the heart of the city. Don’t make the same mistake! This is a lesser known spot but the view of New York from the Manhattan Bridge is one of my favorites.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (better known as the Met) is often considered the best museum in New York City. It’s not hard to see why, with over 2 million pieces of art, it’s the largest museum in the country and the fifth largest museum in the world. You can only imagine how elated I was to finally snap the photo for myself after officially moving to New York! Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the best free things to do in New York City so there’s a good chance you’ll make the trek for yourself while visiting — I highly suggest adding a stroll through DUMBO to your itinerary because it’s an experience you won’t soon forget. Coney Island’s famous amusement park Luna Parkhas rides for travelers of all ages and thrill levels, including new developments coming in 2020 such as a ropes course and zipline. Credit: Julienne SchaerHowever, there’s a well-known annual phenomenon in New York City known as Manhattanhenge, which is when the sun aligns perfectly with east-to-west running streets as it sets. Visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Hudson River and the New York City skyline, as well as walk across a section of the see-through glass floor. Credit: Hudson Yards Local’s Tip: If you’re looking to save money while visiting the viewpoints in New York City, we highly recommend getting the New York Pass. We had a chance to try it out firsthand and found it incredibly easy to use.