Growing up in New York afforded me the luxury of being able to visit the city on a whim. I enjoyed school field trips to the amazing museums in New York City and have family living in SoHo and surrounding boroughs.
Now each time I visit, with my family in tow, there is still this amazing energy that invigorates me! This hustle and bustle, excitement, and motivation running through the streets is something you cannot replicate.
ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
Did you know that One World Observatory offers the most spectacular views of the city and surrounding areas? I have been wanting to check it out for the longest time and when I received an invite to check out the 2nd annual holiday experience, I jumped on the opportunity.
ONE WORLD OBSERVATORY
One World Observatory offers panoramic views of New York City from above 1,250 feet! The observatory itself is located at One World Trade Center, New York, New York, 10007 takes up three floors of the building – 100, 101, and 102. You can find more information about the observatory itself on their website.
WINTER ONEDERLAND
Winter ONEderland: An Experience Above It All truly captures the amazingly vibrant and bustling spirit of the holiday season. The combination of the festive experience and the breathtaking views make for the best family outing to truly get in the holiday spirit!
Meet Ollie the Snow Owl. He is the Observatory’s new mascot that you can follow and interact with throughout your experience at Winter ONEderland. Growing up, my mom loved and collected anything with an owl on it, so Ollie was a super special element for me!
Walking toward the observatory, you will come across the One World of Wonders. This multi-media experience brings you – and Ollie – through the wonders of the world. Ollie and I passed by the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and the Liberty Bell to name a few!
What’s super cool is that the visuals are so technologically advanced – the wall is made up of 144 individual monitors.
GLACIER CAVE & SKY PODS
Next, you walk through Glacier Cave which leads you to the elevators, or Sky Pods, which bring you to the 102nd floor in under 47 seconds. The Sky Pod ride has floor to ceiling LED screens that illustrate the development of New York City’s skyline over the years.
My ears popped during the ascent – understandably so as these are the fastest elevators in the Western Hemisphere!
Once at the Observatory you can’t help but stare. The views are unbelievable. On a clear day, you can see for miles and miles. We were able to locate the Empire State Building, bridges we’ve crossed dozens of times getting into and out of the city, and so many other major landmarks.
GIANT SNOW GLOBE
My oldest loved the Giant Snow Globe. He stood behind the globe, making it seem like he was inside, alongside the replica One World Trade Center, Ollie and the view of Manhattan.
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE
Technology is amazing! Using one of the iPads offered, you can enjoy a virtual reality tour of the city. Choose between a skyline tour via a helicopter, or a culinary tour of some of NYC’s best restaurants.
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING
Santa is coming to the Observatory this weekend and I can only imagine how magical that is going to be! He will be there every weekend leading up to Christmas Eve. We got a sneak peek of his sleigh.
EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY
Plan an afternoon or evening up there and enjoy a meal at ONE Dine, where you can grab a bite to eat, or a cocktail and enjoy the views. Tickets are required for reservations and it is recommended that your reservation should be made for 30 minutes after your scheduled arrival time at the Observatory.
Pick up something quick to eat at ONE Cafe or grab a specially curated cocktail at ONE Bar.
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