Fodor's Expert Review NY SKYRIDE
Editor's Note: This location is no longer in operation.
Although some parents blanch when they discover both how much it costs and how it lurches, the NY SKYRIDE, on the second floor of the Empire State Building, is New York's only aerial-tour simulator, and much cheaper than an actual aerial tour of New York. Narrated by actor Kevin Bacon, the ride takes a 30-minute virtual tour of New York, soaring by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, Yankee Stadium, and other top attractions along the way. There's also a brief but poignant trip back in time to visit the World Trade Center's Twin Towers—a sight sure to drive you straight into the arms of the first "I [Heart] NY" T-shirt vendor you see after leaving the building. It's a fun way to get a sense of the city's highlights, though teenagers may find the technology a little dated. When you purchase a SKYRIDE–Empire State Building combo ticket, you visit the SKYRIDE first, then join the line for the observation deck at the elevators, skipping up to half... READ MORE
Although some parents blanch when they discover both how much it costs and how it lurches, the NY SKYRIDE, on the second floor of the Empire State Building, is New York's only aerial-tour simulator, and much cheaper than an actual aerial tour of New York. Narrated by actor Kevin Bacon, the ride takes a 30-minute virtual tour of New York, soaring by the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, Times Square, Yankee Stadium, and other top attractions along the way. There's also a brief but poignant trip back in time to visit the World Trade Center's Twin Towers—a sight sure to drive you straight into the arms of the first "I [Heart] NY" T-shirt vendor you see after leaving the building. It's a fun way to get a sense of the city's highlights, though teenagers may find the technology a little dated. When you purchase a SKYRIDE–Empire State Building combo ticket, you visit the SKYRIDE first, then join the line for the observation deck at the elevators, skipping up to half the wait.
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