One World Trade: The Phoenix

City-Kid Review:

I like looking down. Governor’s Island looks like an ice-cream cone.

I was lucky enough to visit the top of one of the Twin Towers. My cousin’s friend was playing in a band in the bar at Windows on the World. I remember peering with great yearning at the diners in the restaurant, who had the prime view of Manhattan, like school kids who keep all the candy and refuse to share. I had to make do with the rest of New York, and the confluence of rivers.
On the other hand…I had the rest of New York, the confluence of rivers, the islands and, in the distance, the sea.

One World Trade has got it right.

They have learned from other high-building models and turned a trip to the top of their building not as just a visit, but as an event. Every part of the journey has been carefully thought through so you are not simply looking at a fabulous view, you traveling through history.

….***SPOILER ALERT***….

In this post I will reveal what we experienced at One World Trade. If you wish to enjoy the surprises, scroll down to Spoiler Avoiders Join Back Here. If you don’t like surprises or simply wish to know, then read on. (I’ll leave a gap, so you can avert your eyes)

You first walk down into a replica of the rock beneath Manhattan. This is fun and an historic reminder of recent events. In the daily hustle and bustle of city life, it is easy to forget that all of this is built on something and that something is rock, created by Mother Nature.

The elevator brings to mind the Haunted House at Disneyland, although this is one is steeped in the New York history. As you ride upwards to the 102nd floor, changing video graphics take you through the changing visual, urban geography of Manhattan through the decades. As you get closer to the top, there is the Freedom Tower.

You step out of the elevator, into a dark receiving room, along which is another video of the changing skyline and famous New York landmarks. You are encouraged to spread out along the barrier to watch the video.

Spoiler Alert. Again. 

If you want to be completely surprised, scroll down to Need to Knows.

This was a stunning trick. Everyone gave a collective intake of breath. It’s so funny as I try to find the right words to describe it without it sounding prosaic. But, please remember, they set this up so well – you have the ‘bowels’ of Manhattan, then climb to the heights in an elevator in which you ascend though the urban geographical history of the city, rising as the city rose, then you walk into a darkened room with interesting video and then…..Drum roll….
They open the blinds!
Yes! The video screen was actually a series of venetian blinds! You are in a darkened room. The blinds open, light pours in, you scrunch your eyes, and there, laid out before you is….the island of Manhattan. It is a tremendous spectacle and it really works.

Spoiler Avoiders Join Back Here (Or scroll down to Need to Knows)

The viewing area is capacious.

The windows on New York are floor to ceiling. beam to beam. There is plenty of viewing room, and it doesn’t feel as if you have to fight to see a particular view. You can walk around the entire 360 degrees for the view on all sides. Governors Island is, indeed, the shape of an ice cream cone. Lady Liberty a proud but diminutive symbol of freedom.

You can stay as long as you can enjoy the view. There is space for kids to play if they are not as excited about the view as you are. There is a gift shop and there is a place to eat upstairs. Unlike its predecessor, the dining area does not have private access to any particular view.

Need to Knows:

Admission ranges from $31-$64 but if you can arrange a group, it’s cheaper. Also, look out for Groupons and other special discounts, especially off-season.

Location: at the corner of West and Vesey Streets in Downtown Manhattan. The exact address is:
One World Trade Center, 285 Fulton Street, New York, New York 10007

Hours:
From February to the end of April, and Sept 5th- Dec 31st, they are open from 9am-9pm.
From May-September 5th they are open from 8am-9pm but folks can enjoy amenities until 10pm.

The café is not cheap but there are tons of places to eat in the area, including Brookton place and Wholefoods.

For obvious reasons, there is tremendous security at One World Trade. Make sure you leave extra time to take this into account.

Their website has more specifics.

Top-Tip

Take time to visit the September 11th memorial, almost next door. Also, explore the Occulus station, designed by Calatrava.

And…check out Groupon for ticket deals. I recently saw a 49% off deal for One World Observatory on Groupon Local.

What is your favorite building in New York? Please share with us in the comments section, below.

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