Exploring New York’s Top of the Rock with a CityPASS

We’ve explored quite a few cities recently using a CityPASS and we did the same in New York City over the last weekend. Launched first in Seattle and San Francisco, CityPASS is a booklet that offers prepaid and discounted admission into a city’s top attractions. From what I’ve noticed the booklet, which is available in 11 North American cities to date, offers a fair discount if you plan to visit all the attractions on feature. We’ve made use of these booklets in Chicago and California and love the flexibility and line by pass options it offers. Kids under 6 are free at most attractions so you only need to grab a CityPASS for the adults.

Disclosure : Our visit was hosted by NYC & Company but as always, opinions are totally mine.

The NYC CityPASS cost about $110 and gives access to the following attractions :

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART
9/11 MEMORIAL MUSEUM OR INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
TOP OF THE ROCK OBSERVATION DECK OR GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM
STATUE OF LIBERTY & ELLIS ISLAND OR CIRCLE LINE SIGHTSEEING CRUISES

If you plan to visit all the top attractions in a city, the pass is most definitely a bargain.  Given that most attractions cost between $30 and $20 per visit if you plan to visit even 4 attractions out of the six on offer you’ve made your money back. We had big plans but only got around to visiting two spots as it was very cold during our visit and we spent far too much time eating and drinking this time around.

Top of the Rock was my favourite because we got some stellar views of the city. In addition, there’s so many good food spots in the same building and you’d be remiss not to plan a lunch or dinner (heck even a snack) here. With your CityPASS you don’t need to stand in line, instead you redeem your tickets at an automated kiosk and make your way inside. The building is a bit confusing so ensure you ask for directions from the security guards around the place. The space was very stroller friendly and we did have to empty our stroller to go through security but once inside the kids were strapped in the whole time. The Top of the Rock has a couple different floors to explore and has both indoor and outdoor viewing areas. The hubs and I gritted our teeth through the wind one sunny day to take some pictures of the city. You definitely get some stellar panoramic views from here. Today I share those with you!

We also visited the American Museum of Natural History in a very large group (8 adults and 4 kids) and I wish we had more time to explore the space. A friend of ours who lives in NYC said he has been there six times and is yet to see the entire space. Yes it’s THAT massive! Little Monkey was promised that she’d see dinosaurs and that’s what we did during our two hour visit. We also let the kids run around and hang out with each other as it was the only chance our friends’ kids and ours were to meet. The museum is very stroller friendly and there are change tables available. As part of the CityPASS offer we also got to choose a movie screening of our choice but the kids were tired after a busy morning and I wasn’t going to push a thirty minute movie on them! Between four floors of exhibits and displays they have butterflies, whales and the solar system to explore.

We’ll be back to NYC and there’s no doubt that we’ll grab a CityPASS the next time around ( in the summer hopefully) as I really want to take the kids to the Met and the Empire State Building and of course I want to do that Circle Line Sightseeing Cruise as well. Didn’t manage to get as many spots in during the winter but spring and summer in New York is quite gorgeous and perfect for exploring. If you’re looking for more tips and ideas check out this NYC guide.