The Rockefeller Center is one of New York’s main attractions. But what is it? To the uninitiated, it might sound like a shopping mall, or a sports stadium, or some kind of visitor services area where people congregate to browse leaflets and pick up discount vouchers for various things to do in New York.
What they may not realise is that Rockefeller Center isn’t one place, as such, but 19 separate buildings, complete with an outdoor plaza. Yeah. there’s a lot going on.
First, though, we must mention that New York traffic can be a little on the hectic side, and should you visit by car, it’s worth knowing that car crashes on the tiny island of Manhattan number in the thousands per year – you may wish to keep a note of car accident lawyer (for example, see here for more info).
Now, let’s find out about Rockefeller Center.
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30 Rock
The Top of the Rock observation deck is the 70 storey crown jewel of the whole shooting match. This is where most people start their Rockefeller Center experience (the address of the building is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, popularised by the TV show of the same name as just ‘30 Rock’).
From here you can view many New York must-sees, including Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, the Hudson River.
Retail Therapy
Explore more than 100 specialty shops and restaurants – this is where you’ll find big names displaying this year’s most luxury items and some of the most highly rated foodies in New York. To be honest, you could spend an entire day shopping alone, and if that sounds good to you, enjoy it! But wait, there’s more…
Take the TV Tour
Go behind the scenes on the NBC studio tour and get up close and personal with the sets of popular shows such as The Today Show and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
And why not become part of TV history yourself, by attending the taping of a Saturday Night Live show? You can also take in a show at the Radio City Music Hall … not as part of the TV Tour, but it’s part of a similar vibe!
Winter time ice skating fun
The Rockefeller Center is home to the iconic New York ice rink, used as scenery in multiple movies (including a seasonal family favourite, Elf). Although beware, the rink is not open year-round.
The rink generally opens to the public in October and remains open until after the holidays. And don’t forget to take a selfie with the 192 flags of the Flag Project that overlooks the rink while you’re there.
Featured Image |Dorian Mongel on Unsplash
That’s it, folks. Go, enjoy, and be a part of New York!
