I've Been to Every NYC Observation Deck — Here's Why the Newest One Is My Favorite

"Perched discreetly on the 70th-floor rooftop, Skylift is an open-air circular fiberglass platform that rises about 30 feet above the roof and spins 360 degrees to deliver panoramic views—during my test spin the platform rose so gently I barely felt it, then rotated so Skylift could show me the city while I simply took it in. The three-and-a-half-minute ride makes you feel like you're floating among the city's greatest hits—Central Park unfolding to the north and the Empire State Building looming to the south—while 96 LED pixel flutes at the base can radiate color upward, a central speaker plays music, a panoramic camera captures photos, and mid-ride the frosted floor turns transparent for an adrenaline-boosting peek straight down; the experience blends seamlessly with 30 Rock's 1933 Art Deco architecture and costs an additional $35 per person." - Rachel Chang Rachel Chang Rachel Chang is a travel and pop culture journalist who contributes to Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Lonely Planet, and more. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines