Empire State Building, Wall Street and Ferry on East River

If you are going to do one thing on your visit to NYC go to the top of the Empire State Building (or at least the 86th floor). Pre-purchase your tickets and pay the extra $30 each for the VIP fast track and save yourself potentially 3-4 hours of waiting to go both up and back down. The views are spectacular and you really see how Manhatten is an Island from up there.

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

50 cents to brings things up close

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

Andy is close to the edge

View from 86th floor viewing platform

View from 86th floor viewing platform

Empire State Building

View from 86th floor viewing platform

I was really surprised by the level of security in the area and how much of a tourist spot Wall Street is. I expected it to just be a bunch of offices. The buildings are impressive, solid stone and built in the early days of settlement. Wall Street was named from the original timber wall that was built by the Dutch to keep out the American Indians, Pirates and the English unsuccessfully.

Wall Street

George Washington outside Federal Hall National Memmorial

Wall Street

St Paul’s Chapel

Part of the original wall

Wharf 9 area at the end of Wall Street

Wharf 9 area at the end of Wall Street

Wharf 9 area at the end of Wall Street

It was a beautiful day so took the opportunity to see the sights without the fog from yesterday. We caught the ferry from Pier 9 from Wall Street back past the Statue of Liberty to Pier 48 for our final Subway trip home to Long Island City this visit.

Manhatten from East River

Manhatten from East River

Manhatten from East River

Manhatten from East River

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

Manhatten from East River

Manhatten from East River

Statue of Liberty

Statue of Liberty

Manhatten from East River

Manhatten from East River

Freedom tower from Hudson River

Freedom tower from Hudson River

Empire State Building from Hudson River

Empire State Building from Hudson River

Empire State Building from Hudson River