When you're traveling to New York City, one of your must-see tourist locations is definitely the Empire State Building. No New York trip can be complete without a visit to the worlds' most famous observation deck.

If you didn't already know, the Empire State Building is a 102-story art deco skyscraper in New York City, New York at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building became for the second time the tallest building in New York City.

And of course the Empire State Building has one of the most popular and scenic outdoor observatories in the world, having been visited by over 110 million people. The 86th floor observation deck offers an impressive 360-degree view of New York city. There is also a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public. It was closed in 1999, but reopened in November 2005. This deck is completely enclosed and much smaller than the main deck, and you should check before booking your day trip, as it may be closed on high-traffic days.

The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and confirmed by the New York City Board of Estimate. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986. In 2007, it was ranked number one on the List of America's Favorite Architecture according to the AIA. The building is owned by Harold Helmsley's company and managed by its management/leasing division Helmsley-Spear.