THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

When people ask me what my favorite building is in New York City, I always say The Empire State Building. It’s probably the most popular and well recognized skyscraper in Manhattan and I love it because it’s easy to spot it no matter where I’m at in the city. Not only is it stunning during the day as well as night, but the sight always give me a sense of gratitude for being able to call NYC home.

I have been to the Empire State Building maybe three times in my life (the most recent time being last week ) and sometimes I think I should visit it more. There is so much to learn about this iconic building and I learned so much from my VIP all access tour which I highly recommend doing if you ever visit New York City or simply want to learn more about what The Empire State Building has to offer. Aside from the premium experience, the other two ticket options include visiting the main deck (86th floor open air observatory) which provides 360° views of NYC including the Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, etc and the most popular option which includes the 102nd observatory which offers unmatched, floor-to-ceiling views stretching up to 80 miles on a clear day.

No matter what option you choose, I’m sure you’ll have an unforgettable experience because the views from both floors are absolutely stunning.  Here are some fun facts about The Empire State Building that you may not have known previously:

• At its top floor, the Empire State Building stands 1,250 feet (380 meters) tall. Counting the spire and antenna, the building clocks in at a mighty 1,454 feet (443 meters). It’s currently the 4th tallest building in New York City, the 6th tallest in the United States, and the 43rd tallest tower in the world.
• To make it to our 102nd floor observatory, you’d have to climb 1,872 steps.
• Of the top five tallest buildings in New York City, the Empire State Building is by far the oldest. Construction of the building began in 1930 and, after an incredible 13 months (just 410 days), was completed in 1931.
• The Empire State Building is the most photographed building in the world according to a 2011 Cornell University Study.
• Ride-sharing app Uber crunched the numbers to find out their users’ most popular destination in 2018 was The Empire State Building.
• The Empire State Building’s antenna is hit by lightning an average of 25 times a year, making for some incredible photo opportunities.

I had my tour in the evening and planned it so I capture the sunset. The next time I visit I want to aim for sunrise because I think it’ll give me a different perspective. The feeling of being able to witness the city from above is truly indescribable. I enjoyed every angle and this is surely an Instagram worthy spot so be sure to add this on your list if you haven’t already!