Is This Crazy or Am I Cheap?

I'm a New Yorker and going to the top of the Empire State Building has always been and remains one of my favorite things. Please don't skip it. Go at night, late, when it is so very beautiful and peaceful. You can get a great and different view from the middle of the GW Bridge too. Have you looked into a City Pass?

Meh--it's not about the admission price--it's about making memories and participating in life experiences! I'd go for it.

If you are also planning to see museums and other sights, you can purchase a coupon book that will save on multiple activities including the Empire State Bldg. Plus, I think it gets you in faster.

Ny is not cheap these days. I'm not surprised. But as previous post said its about the memories. I love NY and I love to visit but hell of expensive to live there

NY is pricey... do it right and go make great memories.

yep it's expensive but I am not surprised at the price.

Well don't forget the camera - because each picture will be worth probably $5 each, right? Take a lot of pictures and perhaps you'll find one worthy enough for next Christmas's Christmas photo?? Or hopefully at least frame-worthy.

I think it is expensive too. When I went to Chicago, it was about the same price to go to the top of the Sears tower. You could pay extra to stand on the glass platform too. I am afraid of heights, so I decided to save my time and money.
You might be able to find discount coupons if you google them. Sorry I cant help you with other options. I personally wouldnt pay it.

I like eating in the restaurant at the top of the Marriott Marquis. It revolves, so you can see the skyline and eat dinner or have drinks. My daughter loved it, but she was a bit disappointed that it didn't spin like a carousel. I guess I shouldn't have told her it was going to go around, because she was expecting something more exciting.

The Empire State building has a viewing deck at like 76 or 80 floors or so with a gift shop that is cheap, if I recall correctly. It has been several years since we have been, but I know we didn't pay to go to that level. I was too cheap, too! You could always go there and just not hit the top...

if you are cheap then so am I! I wouldn't pay for that either. LOL! Good luck. hope you find something more cost effective to do that is fun too. :)

We stay at the Affinia Shelburne and they have a small rooftop bar that has great views of the Chrysler Building and Empire State Building. It's only about 18 floors, but at night it is beautiful. I've never seen many people up there so you could probably sneak up with kids if you wanted to.

I've done the Empire State building, but not Top of the Rock. I'm not really into seeing the sights either, but had a friend that wanted to go to the Empire State Building and it was pretty neat. We did the audio tour.

Here is a link to the hotel, I could not find pics on their site.

http://www.affinia.com/New-York-City-Hotel.aspx?name=Shel...

We took our two boys, 10 and 14 to NYC a couple of summers ago. We bought a citypass and that saved a lot of money on several different things. The Empire State Building had a really long line that took several hours, so we did the Top of the Rock and my kids loved it! There was a room outside of the elevators that had a light show inside it. I think they enjoyed that as much as the view. Of course, you can get a pretty good view from the Statue of Liberty also.

Some day when we go to NYC a high-rise viewing platform is a must-stop, but I've always thought it would be Empire State. Given the choice, I'd choose the cheapest. If hubby didn't live in NYC for 4 years too, then I understand his desire because I share it. Is he a fan of the show 30Rock? That might be part of it. It's not just about looking at a view, it's about being there. Take lots of photos and videos. The kids will love it, if that's not enough reason either.

How old are your kids? If they're old enough to remember the experience, I'd do it. And I agree with the poster who said to look into getting a city pass/coupon book. If you're planning to do enough of the big tourist things, it'll pay for itself.

I love the view from the top of the ESB, but have never been to the top of the Rock.

Have a great trip.

If I were going to NYC with my children or without, I would want to experience seeing such a view because no where else will you get that experience -and I personally think it's worth the money,even if it is $20. It's a once in a lifetime experience (who knows when you'll go back) and to have pictures of them/you for a lifetime with that view is priceless. And everyone asks if you've gone to NYC what you did and saw. And you can say We went to the "Top of the Rock" or the Empire State Building. It's a touristy thing to do and yes, it's expensive, but you gotta do it once in your life. I've been to both and am so glad I did. There is so much history in both. I rented a movie on Netflix before i went to learn more about nyc and i appreciated it soo much more. I personally went to both and loved both. I will say I loved going to the Empire at night. I went to the ESB at 11pm/midnight and there were only like 10 people there. no lines at all. It was so beautiful. The view was amazing. Of course during the day it will be busier but the whole experience of going to the top of a building that was built during the depression and the most iconic building in the world was a must do for me. And who hasn't seen Sleepless in Seattle? Now youcan say, "i've been up there". The Top of the Rock is also very cool. You can find coupons around town for $2 off admission (look in Macy's, or anywhere where they have tourist pamplets) and the great thing about that is the admission allows you to go twice -during the day and come back in the evening for the price of one. A lot of people don't know that. You get to go twice. There is a cool movie to watch while waiting in line and the elevator ride was fun. The photo opp once you are up is awesome. You get the Empire STate in the background. Way cool photo opp. The people working up there told me that the best/coolest time to go was right when the sun was going down-you see some of the most beautiful sunsets in NYC and talk about a cool photo. I say splurge on this. Be cheap when you leave NYC. You will regret it if you don't. I love my NYC experience and look at my photos even to this day of people up so high. I say go for it!

No it's crazy - although I have been told I'm cheap. But I have also been unemployed for 2 years, so a lot of things seem to much for me.

I do hope you have a great trip!