Five reasons One World Observatory is a must-visit NYC Attraction this summer

Want to experience all of the colors and rhythms of New York City without dealing with the dreaded summertime heat and humidity of the streets below? Take the SkyPod Elevators—climbing a cool 102 floors in a staggering 47 seconds, all while you enjoy a time-lapse video depicting the development of New York from the 16th century to today—all the way up to One World Observatory, where you’ll be immediately welcomed to the See Forever Theater. Beamed on large 3D screens, the awe-inspiring audio-visual installation captures the bustle of traffic, the rumblings of the subway and the hum of pedestrians all those stories down. And once you venture deeper into the observation deck, you’ll also find the Sky Portal, which gives visitors an unprecedented perspective from high-definition cameras feeding directly from the tower’s spire.

One World Observatory offers several restaurant options for guests’ dining needs, whether they want a simple grab-and-go iced latte and almond croissant at IllyCaffé or a more seated fine-dining experience for lunch, happy hour or dinner at ONE Dine. (A separate purchase of tickets to One World Observatory is required to access the 101st floor restaurant, adding to the exclusive feel of the meal.) At the latter, you’ll find a seasonally inspired menu complemented by small-production wines, local draft beers and craft cocktails—just imagine enjoying a bowl of lobster fusilli with chili crisp or a plate of steak frites with chimichurri as you overlook those equally delicious views?

With the days stretching longer and longer, summer always sees a lovely influx of sunset photos being posted across social media, with folks snapping those picturesque nightfalls from the beach, at the park, at the pier or during a hike. But even the tallest peak in New York couldn’t compare to the sunsetting sight you’ll see from the heights of One World Observatory. The observation deck is open nightly until 9pm, giving you plenty of time to capture that colorful summer night sky. And if you’re ever worried about weather conditions ruining your pic, the Observatory has you covered—on the rare occasion of zero visibility, the One World Observatory team will grant you an invitation to return on a day with better conditions.

Yes, you can give your regular date night a major upgrade at One World Observatory by booking a Private Dining Package for two at a cool 1,250 feet in the sky. At Aspire, the observatory's 9,000-square-foot private event space that has historically been reserved for weddings, corporate events and the like, you can now reserve the space for that special occasion with your significant other. Guests can get exclusive access to the 102nd floor, along with a customizable food menu and wine service—including a welcome bottle of Dom Perignon—curated by Executive Chef Reuel Vincent, who food-competition fans may remember as a season 1 finalist on FOX's Next Level Chef.

New York City has plenty of wine bars and local wineries, but nowhere in the city is offering the kind of high-rise vino experience that you can find at One World Observatory. The observation deck’s Wine Wednesday special package—which includes admission to enjoy One World Observatory before or after your reservation—allows you to wine down with four pours of hand-selected red, rosé or white wine, lite bites for you to enjoy, along with a dedicated bartender to guide you through all of the tasting notes, wine history and food pairings. And if you want to extend your evening, One World Observatory will keep the wine flowing by giving you 20-percent off a bottle of wine of your choosing to enjoy with dinner. Cheers to that!