We arrived just before it was due to open and already the queue snaked its way through most of the basement. We queued and we queued. We're English, so we’re quite good at it, but it was stuffy and the woman in front of us was wearing a garish pair of trousers that wasn't making the time go any faster.

After what felt like an eternity, we reached the elevator to go partway up, and then we queued some more. Eventually we reached the top to be greeted by a man in a dinner jacket playing a small Hammond organ. He was playing "Here comes the Bride." It was St Valentine's Day, and several couples were getting married at the top of this landmark, but at the same time, there was a throng of tourists who had paid money to go up there, which one bride wasn't too happy about, so she started shouting at the queue that they were ruining her wedding. Outside on the viewing deck, we were still tussling for space with wedding-reception guests clutching their champagne glasses, but we managed to take in the views.

The views were impressive, and it is a great way to see the whole city, but it’s not the sort of thing you need to do again, and I certainly won't be booking my wedding up there.

There are pros and cons to the Empire State Building. The pros: It's one of the most famous buildings in the world, and you can feel a little thrill thinking about the fact that you're in the very place where King Kong once placed his mighty foot. Also, the view really is spectacular, especially at sunset. The Empire State Building is located on 34th Street and 5th Avenue, so you have a close but not too-close view of the other skyscrapers, a vista to the south of New York Harbor, and to the north the full extent of Central Park. If you're not really oriented in the city yet, this is a great place to figure out what's where. The Empire State Building is open from 8am to midnight, so it's sure to fit in your schedule somewhere.

The cons... may not matter, depending on your attitude. There's a lot of standing in line. You stand in line first to go through security (leave your pocket knife at home); then again to buy tickets; then to get in the fast elevator which takes you up... not to the observatory which is located on the 86th floor, but to the 84th floor, where you stand in line all over again to have your picture taken; then to reach the observatory you have to stand in line for the final elevator. The indoor portion of the observatory is all gift shop, of course, full of "I [Heart] NY" mugs and T-shirts, but there's access to the outdoors, too. During all the time you spent standing in line, there have been people sternly telling you to rent an audio tour for $6, because there's no information available at the top; this of course turns out to be false, and there are perfectly good signs explaining what the major buildings are in each direction.

The ESB is pricey. Entry for adults is $16; seniors and youth ages 12-16 are $14; children under 12 are $10 (under 6 free). There's also a "skyride," which is really a video screening on the ground floor, which you can see for an additional fee (though it's not clear why you'd want to). And then there's that picture they snapped of you on the way in, which they'll try to sell to you, for $20, as you're on your way out.

So... your call. I could happily spend a lot of time in New York without going up the Empire State Building, but that may be because I've already been up. How much are you willing to do for a great view?

The day we went, it was raining and foggy. Adding the fact that the wait was long, we decided to move onto our next spot.

The funny thing about it was that I never realized I was right on top of the Empire State Building until our friends pointed it out.

The mural in the front lobby was very neat.

The Empire State Building… Standing at 1,453 feet, the tallest building in New York (at the time of writing this, until the Freedom Building is finished being built).

One of the main attractions about New York is the Empire State Building. It is located on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street and cannot be missed. It took us about 10 minutes to get up to the top. However, we bought our tickets online and we went early on a weekday.

We visited the Empire State Building on our first day in New York, so it was a great overview of the city. We were able to see all the parts on Manhattan before we explored it. Trying to get pictures up there is more difficult - there are so many people trying to get the perfect shot that you just have to be patient, smile, and enjoy the wonderful views. We explored the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, enjoying the sights and looking around the gift shop.

TIPS:
GO EARLY !
BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE!
ENJOY THE VIEW!

here is the web site:

*It's expensive, but with the City Pass (pay about $50 for an adult to get in to six attractions/activities around the city), it's not bad.

*The cost is worth it because it's an incredible view. Central Park is right there, and all of lower Manhattan is clearly visible. For those of us only visiting after 9/11, it's very strange to think what the towers looked like from there.

*If you've got the time, do the cheesy Skyride. It's fun.

*Be prepared to stand in line!!