Top of the Rock AND Empire State Building?

Our tour includes Top of the Rock so I%26#39;m wondering if it would be a must to go to the Empire State Building too? Or would our time be better spent seeing something different? I was thinking about doing ESB our 1st night but would you suggest doing something else (cheap)? It will be me and my 2 teenage boys staying at Milford Plaza this summer on a group tour with plenty of free time.

I%26#39;m so happy to have found this forum. I do tons of research but the advice/tips/personal experience found on boards is priceless. Thanks for your help.

Jen

Top of the Rock AND Empire State Building?

Though the views are slightly different, you don%26#39;t need to do both and the time can be spent to see the many other things.

Top of the Rock AND Empire State Building?

How many days will you be here, and what else is on the agenda?

Thanks, I was hoping to save my time %26amp; money by not having to do both if the experts agreed they were both too similar to have to do ESB also. I don%26#39;t have the full itinerary yet but here%26#39;s what I know. We%26#39;re flying from WI late morning/early afternoon (don%26#39;t have times yet) and staying 6 nights.

Monday: arrive at LaGuardia, meet local tour guide who will give us an welcome introduction on our coach to the hotel. Evening free to enjoy as we wish (Times Square, 5th ave? not sure what would be a good 1st night activity)

Tuesday full day of touring by motorcoach includes Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, South Seaport, Ground zero, Financial District, Greenwich Village, SoHo and walking tour of Chinatown %26amp; Little Italy with included dinner. Evening is free

Wed: Free day to use the included all loops 2 day double decker hopper pass. Tonight%26#39;s show Producers

Thursday: Free day to use bus pass. Tonight%26#39;s show Hairspray

Friday: Touring by foot or subway includes Times Square, Stage door tour at Radio City, Top of the Rock, Rockefeller Center, %26amp; St Patrick%26#39;s Cathedral. Afternoon Circle Line ferry 3 hour cruise. Night; an evening illumination tour with our guide.

Saturday: Free morning. Afternoon matinee of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Free evening

Sunday: Fly home with lots of great memories.

So far I%26#39;ve come up with this list of things to do in our free time: Start free days with a full loop tour and go back to anything we want to see more of (not sure of what stops it makes still researching), Central Park, Grand Central Station, 5th ave window shopping, walk across Brooklyn Bridge (sunset? maybe on last day after the matinee) %26amp; maybe a museum (not high on my priority but probably natural history if time). Fit in time for souvenir shopping. Eating at quick and cheap venders, delis, cafes.

Comments %26amp; suggestions welcome, Jen

If you and the family enjoy Top of the Rock, and want another bird%26#39;s eye view, then by all means, go to the ESB the next evening. It would be interesting to get a night view of the city.

...otherwise, sounds like a great trip, and you already have great ideas on what to do.

During your free time, go back to Greenwich Village, esp St. Marks Place and Bleecker Street. Do your teens like sci-fi/role playing/fantasy/comics? Go to Forbidden Planet on 12th St. and Broadway.