East Coast Attractions
Empire State Building
- Critic's rating
- LAT
Don't forget the Empire State Building -- but steel yourself for the hard sell. You can't stay away because the views are unbeatable, especially just after sunset. But from the moment you enter, you'll hear endless pitches for souvenirs and upgrades, and the lines can get long. The basic admission price ($19 per adult) gets you to the 86th-floor observation deck. To reach the 102nd-floor observation deck at the very top, it's $15 more. (The 86th floor, 1,050 feet above ground, was plenty good for me.) It's open 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., and you can call ahead to learn about visibility and the length of the line.
wherever it appears.