Prudential Center & Tower

A standard-issue shopping mall plus office complex hybrid, the Pru, as it's commonly known, is frequented by local workers and tourists alike. The mall forms the base for the 52-story tower above. Since the closure of the John Hancock observatory deck, the Skywalk Observatory on the 50th floor has been Boston's lone skyscraper viewing point. The glassed-in walkway offers a 360-degree perspective from a height of 750 feet; on a clear day, you can see as far as 80 miles in any direction, and two audio tours, picking out historical sites, are available. The classic Top of the Hub Restaurant & Lounge, two floors up, is recommended more for the fabulous view than for the food.