HITTING NEW HEIGHTS IN NYC

Whether jumping into marriage or faux jumping off a skyscraper, New York has a couple of new attractions that will literally guarantee visitors will hit new heights in the city.

Launched earlier this month, Edge at Hudson Yards’ City Climb is the highest external building climb in the world. Located above Edge, the aerial adventure invites climbers to scale the outside of a 366-m. supertall building, then lean out from the outdoor platform at the top of the skyscraper.

Dubbed “the ultimate skyscraping adventure,” City Climb offers guests unparalleled views of New York, while traversing open edged platforms and stairways. Following a comprehensive safety briefing, climbers are fitted with specially designed safety harnesses, and secured into the course by City Climb guides via two cables attached to a trolley that seamlessly move with the climber throughout the entire journey.

After ascending 32 steps to The Cliff, and looking down 350 m. to the city below, climbers approach The Stair, which consists of 161 steps on an approximately 45-degree incline. Once they reach The Apex at 387 m., climbers will have the opportunity to lean out and hang over the platform.

The experience culminates with a celebratory medal for inaugural guests and a victory lap on Edge’s outdoor viewing area on the 100th floor, where climbers can experience a glass floor, angled glass walls, outdoor skyline steps, or a champagne toast in the sky to their bucket list accomplishment.

The attraction is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Opening hours will change seasonally. Tickets are currently US$185 and include the City Climb experience, entry to Edge, and a digital Edge image.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Meanwhile, for those ready to jump into marriage, the Empire State Building has launched “Happily Ever Empire” – an unforgettable proposal package that provides couples with VIP access to the Observatory Experience. Ticket holders are invited to pop the question at a prime, dedicated corner of the building’s iconic, open-air 86th Floor Observatory and pop a bottle of Champagne to celebrate the memorable moment.

The exclusive package – priced at US$1,000 per couple (one should be sure that he, she or they will say, we guess) – includes a private guided tour through the Empire State Building’s immersive exhibits, which feature the building’s history and the classic love stories that have taken place within. After couples have celebrated their engagement on the world-famous 86th Floor Observatory, they’re invited to head up to the 102nd Floor Observatory, with its floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking photos with stunning 360-degree views.

“There is no better place to celebrate love than the World’s Most Romantic Building,” said Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “The Empire State Building has played host to so many love stories in its history, and we are delighted to now offer an exclusive, romantic, and customizable proposal experience for couples from around the world.”

The Empire State Building’s Observatory Experience recently underwent a top-to-bottom overhaul that includes a dedicated guest entrance, a 930-sq.-m. digital and tactile museum that celebrates the icon from the moment it was conceived to its current place in pop-culture, and the completely re-imagined 102nd Floor Observatory.

Tickets are available on the ESB website (21 and older) and the package must be booked at least 24 hours in advance, with limited reservations available each day. Photographers, family, and friends must purchase Express tickets separately.

First published at Travel Industry Today