Best Places for Photographing New York City Skyline and One World Trade Center

Downtown NYC and 1 World Trade Ctr at night

Most tourists planning on visiting New York City, will include Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center Twin Towers on their itinerary. Here are some easy one hour long side trips across the Hudson River to capture the famous downtown New York City skyline in all its glory, along with the new One World Trade Center, formerly known as Freedom Tower, towering above everything else. Just remember, each of these spots have 9/11 memorials, so be respectful of your surroundings. These neighborhoods lost several men and women in the World Trade Center collapse, and even ten years later, the skyline brings back memories of a horrific day for area residents.

New 1 World Trade Center
The new 1 World Trade Center, the tallest building in New York City as of April 30, 2012, will complete construction in 2014. Over 100 floors of the total 104 floors are now complete, and the building now stands at 1,271 feet above the ground. When complete, the building is expected to be 1,776 feet tall, including its 408 foot roof-top needle. It is no surprise that the Freedom Tower, or One World Trade Center building is clearly visible from as far north as the George Washington Bridge.

Public Transportation
The World Trade Center area is well served by public transportation, both PATH subway train and NY Waterway Ferry Service. The PATH train accepts Metrocards and runs frequently. NY Waterway fare is $6 from the downtown ferry stops to NJ and operates on a schedule.

Read on to find the best places tourists can take public transportation to capture amazing views of the World Trade Center and downtown New York City, and return back to Ground Zero in under an hour. Located in the gold coast of New Jersey, each viewing spot is extremely safe, easily accessible by public transportation, less than 20 minutes from New York City and offers amazing, panoramic views of Manhattan, especially downtown New York City and the World Trade Center. Although these spots lend to excellent photography opportunities all day and year round, the best time to go is late afternoon, when the setting sun casts beautiful, dramatic reflections on the glass buildings and stay until sundown, when the skyline lights up.

Space shuttle Enterprise passes 1 World Trade Ctr

Exchange Place, Jersey City, NJ

Take the NY Waterway Ferry from the World Financial Center to Paulus Hook. Alternatively, you can take the PATH train from World Trade Center to Newport, and get off at Exchange Place, which is the first stop. The pier at Exchange Place, a massive deck built from sturdy Trex material, offers panoramic views of New York City, from the George Washington Bridge to the Statue of Liberty. Situated directly across the World Financial Center, it offers the most dramatic, close up view of downtown Manhattan, with One World Trade Center towering over the skyline. There is a small 9/11 WTC memorial on Exchange Place.

Newport, Jersey City, NJ


Downtown from Exchange Place c2006

 Ferry service from downtown NYC is no longer offered to Newport, NJ but tourists can take the PATH train and get off at the last stop, Newport Pavonia, and walk to the waterfront, which is a couple of minutes away. You will pass a Starbucks and Komegashi Japanese restaurant to your right. Although the area consists of several highrise buildings behind a gate, the waterfront walkway is in fact open to the public. On your way to the waterfront, pause at the small, yet poignant 9/11 WTC memorial, which provides a straight view to the former World Trade Center twin towers.

Pier A or Pier C Park, Hoboken, NJ
Downtown Hoboken is serviced both by NY Waterway ferry as well as PATH train. Pier A Park, located on Sinatra Drive between First and Second Street offers a lush Great Lawn with panoramic views of New York City, from the Statue to Liberty to the George Washington Bridge. A glass memorial for 9/11 victims, oriented toward the former World Trade Center is expected to be built on Pier A Park, Hoboken. Walking north on the Sinatra Drive waterfront pathway will bring you to the brand new Pier C park, a kidney shaped $25 million marvel that is built above the Hudson River. The views of New York City, including downtown and World Trade Center are out of the world.

Best Hotels for Watching Macys New York City 4th of July Fireworks

In 2012, NYC Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York, the largest fireworks display in the USA, will be held on the Hudson River between Manhattan and Hoboken and Weehawken, New Jersey. If you are looking for information on the best spots to view the NYC Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York, you can click here for a local expert's guide.

For a list and description of the best hotels for watching New York City Fourth of July fireworks, read on.

According to the official Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks website, the best views from New York City are on the West Side Highway (12 ^th Avenue) below 59 ^th Street, which can be entered through access points listed on the website. The actual barges from where the Macy's fireworks go off are located between 18 ^th Street and 43 ^rd Street on the Hudson River. The Macy's NYC fireworks are not visible from the East River, Long Island City or other points in Queens, Battery Park, or the Hudson River walkway north of 59 ^th Street. However, crossing the Hudson River and coming to New Jersey will help you not only get front row seats to the fireworks show along the miles of public waterfront walkways on the NJ Gold Coast, but also the stunning backdrop of the Manhattan skyline behind it. Here are the top picks on where to stay overnight to view the NYC Macys Fourth of July Fireworks from the comfort of your own room.

W Hoboken
225 River Street, Hoboken, NJ

The W Hoboken should provide fantastic views of the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks as it is a waterfront property and the highest building in Hoboken with unobstructed views stretching from George Washington Bridge to Statue of Liberty. The W Hoboken is within walking distance of the PATH and downtown Hoboken ferry. It houses the highly rated Zylo Steakhouse, and is in close proximity to several top restaurants and bakeries in Hoboken, including Carlo's City Hall Bakery (of Cake Boss fame). Rates start at about $400 for NYC facing rooms and suites.

Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel

500 Harbor Boulevard, Weehawken, NJ

Situated almost directly across from one of the fireworks barges, the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, which would provide a more close up view of the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. The Lincoln Harbor ferry (from 38th Street Pier in Manhattan) gets you to the doorstep of the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel. There is a Ruth Chris' Steak House and Chart House restaurant across from the hotel. Rates start from about $229 for non city view rooms to $429.

Short Term Furnished Housing at Shipyard and 333 River

Applied Development Company, which owns several premium high rise waterfront buildings in Hoboken, including Sovereign, Independence, Vanguard, Constitution Court (collectively called Shipyard) and 333 River, has a handful of fully furnished short term luxury rental apartments. Several of these will provide access to viewing the Macys Fireworks either from inside the apartment, or from common areas, like the community pool. For more information, please visit the Applied Development Co website.

Fireworks CruisesIn the event these hotels are sold out, fireworks cruises offer an opportunity to view the Macys 4th of July Fireworks up close, yet from a safe distance. For more information, please visit July Fourth Cruises.
Need more local information? Please read: Guide to Viewing 2012 New York City 4th of July Fireworks

Useful Links:

PATH train

NY Waterway Ferry

Hudson Bergen Light Rail

Google Maps

City of Hoboken

City of Weehawken

Macy's Fireworks Home Page

Best Places to Watch New York City Macys Fourth of July Fireworks

Looking for information on the best spots to view the NYC Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York? Here is a local expert's guide.

When: July 4^th at approximately 9:20 pm and lasting 25 minutes (rain date July 5^th). For best seats, plan to arrive before 7 pm.

How to get there: Due to various street closures and parking restrictions, viewers are strongly urged to take mass transit. For information on watching NYC Macy's Fireworks from Manhattan, please visit the official Macy's 4^th of July Fireworks website. If you are watching from New Jersey, your public commute options include PATH, NY Waterway Ferry, NJ Transit, and Hudson Bergen Light Rail.

Where: The NYC Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks show will be set off from six barges positioned on the Hudson River, stretching from 18th to 43rd Streets in Manhattan. This corresponds to the city of Weehawken, which is directly across from the barges, and north Hoboken.

Where to stay overnight: If you are planning to stay at a hotel, the W Hoboken should provide fantastic views of the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks as it is a waterfront property and the highest building in Hoboken with unobstructed views stretching from George Washington Bridge to Statue of Liberty. It is within walking distance of the PATH and downtown Hoboken ferry. The other option the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, which would provide a more close up view of the Macy's 4th of July fireworks. The Lincoln Harbor ferry (from 38th Street Pier in Manhattan) gets you to the doorstep of the Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel.

Manhattan

Every year, tens of thousands of tourists come to New York City to witness the largest fireworks display in the USA--The Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. According to the official Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks website, the best views from New York City are on the West Side Highway (12^th Avenue) below 59^th Street, which can be entered through access points listed on the website. The actual barges from where the Macy's fireworks go off are located between 18^th Street and 43^rd Street on the Hudson River. The Macy's NYC fireworks are not visible from the East River, Long Island City or other points in Queens, Battery Park, or the Hudson River walkway north of 59^th Street.

However, crossing the Hudson River and coming to New Jersey will help you not only get front row seats to the fireworks show along the miles of public waterfront walkways on the NJ Gold Coast, but also the stunning backdrop of the Manhattan skyline behind it.

Weehawken

My top picks for watching the NYC Macy's 4th of July Fireworks are, not surprisingly, in Weehawken. The best views should come from JFK Boulevard East on top of the cliffs. However, Kennedy Boulevard East is closed for traffic beginning early afternoon, and open to pedestrians from then on. New for 2012 is a waterfront walkway that now connects Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken with North Hoboken. This gets you front row seats right in front of the fireworks barges.

JFK Boulevard East (from Highwood Terrace to about 50th Street)
Waterfront walkways from 19th Street onward
Lincoln Harbor Park (Weehawken residency proof required)

Hoboken

Sinatra Drive from First Street to 15th Street is a waterfront road with public walkways along much of it. New for 2012, this walkway now connects to Weekhawken's Lincoln Harbor. This stretch will be closed to traffic and open to pedestrians for viewing the NYC Macy's 4^th of July fireworks. A portion of the street is generally reserved for food vendors, although the famed Washington Street with many restaurants is only three blocks away. As a reminder, north Hoboken, especially around 10^th and 15^th Street has unobstructed viewing of the fireworks on the Hudson. In 2011, the newly opened Pier C Park, a $25 million park on the Hudson River was closed off for security purposes. Do not plan for it to be open. Some other spots in Hoboken to watch the Macy's Fourth of July fireworks on Hudson River include:

Hudson Tea
Maxwell Place
Pier A Park

Jersey City

Since the cancellation of the fireworks show in Liberty State Park, Jersey City officials have been urging visitors to go to Weehawken or Hoboken instead. However, since many of the fireworks should reach up to 1500 feet in height, you will probably get a decent view of the New York city 4^th of July fireworks from Exchange Place, which has a fantastic pier and walkway, and amazing views of downtown Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.

Restrictions

The cities of Weehawken, Hoboken and Jersey City typically impose a variety of restrictions for the 4th of July fireworks. Street closings, no parking areas and a zero tolerance toward barbecuing, public consumption of alcohol, and in some cases, rooftop viewing, apply. Due to safety issues, several of the best Hudson River waterfront parks in Weehawken and Hoboken that should provide great views to the Macy's fireworks are also expected to be closed. Chief amongst these are: Hamilton Plaza, Weehawken Stadium, and the new Waterfront Park in Weehawken, and the new Pier C Park and Sinatra Park in Hoboken. For a complete list of street closures and restrictions, and hours of service of mass transit, please check the links below.

Happy Fourth of July!

Useful Links:

PATH train

NY Waterway Ferry
Hudson Bergen Light Rail
Google Maps

City of Hoboken

City of Weehawken