SUMMIT One Vanderbilt vs Edge: Which Is Better for Kids?
Summit One Vanderbilt vs Edge: Which is better for kids? A family comparison of New York’s top observation decks and which one is worth visiting for families.
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5/23/20265 min read
If you’re visiting New York with school‑aged kids, booking at least one observation deck is almost a must.
It’s one of those moments where the city suddenly makes sense — taxis look tiny, buildings feel enormous, and children finally grasp just how big New York really is.
The challenge is deciding which one.
There are now several observation decks, all priced at a premium, and most families will realistically only choose one. So the real question becomes:
Which observation deck is actually worth it with kids?
Quick Answer: SUMMIT or Edge?
If you’re visiting with children, SUMMIT One Vanderbilt is usually the better choice.
more interactive
more engaging
and more memorable as an experience
Edge is still impressive for views, but it feels more traditional — whereas SUMMIT turns the visit into something that keeps kids actively interested from start to finish.
We visited both SUMMIT One Vanderbilt and Edge on the same trip, which gave us a clear comparison of how they work in practice for families — not just the views, but how engaging they are, how busy they feel, and whether they’re worth the cost.
This guide is based on that experience. Where it helps with planning, we’ve linked to ticket options and booking tools — these may be affiliate links, but we only recommend experiences we’ve personally done and would choose again with our own family.
From here, we’ll break down:
how each observation deck actually feels with kids
what stands out (and what doesn’t)
and which one is most likely to be worth the time and cost for your trip
SUMMIT One Vanderbilt (Why It Works So Well for Kids)
Summit One Vanderbilt is located in Midtown Manhattan, right next to Grand Central Terminal. It’s one of New York’s newer observation decks and is designed as an interactive experience, not just a place to look at the view.
Inside, there are:
Multiple mirrored rooms
Glass floors and reflections
Different viewing areas you move through rather than stand still in
Instead of kids getting bored after a few minutes, they can walk around, explore and interact with the space. It feels modern, immersive and very different from traditional observation decks.
We spent around 90 minutes here without anyone getting restless, which says a lot when visiting with a child. At the end, we also bought the photo package, which turned out to be one of the funniest souvenirs of the trip — our faces superimposed into clouds and skyline scenes. Completely over the top, but genuinely funny and something our child loved.
For families, SUMMIT felt like more than just a view — it felt like a full experience.
If you’re visiting with kids and want something more interactive rather than just a view, this is the option that stood out most for us:
Edge at Hudson Yards (How It Compares for Kids)
Edge is located at Hudson Yards on the west side of Manhattan and is best known for its dramatic outdoor sky deck that juts out from the building. It offers open‑air views across the city, plus a glass floor section where you can look straight down.
The views are undeniably impressive and the platform looks spectacular, but the experience itself is short and fairly traditional. You go up, take in the view, snap some photos — and that’s largely it.
We visited Edge after SUMMIT, and by comparison it felt a bit underwhelming. While the views were great, there was less for a child to do or interact with, which made it feel less memorable.
If you’re looking for straightforward skyline views without the more immersive experience, this is the simpler option:
Key Differences for Families
The easiest way to think about it is this:
Summit = interactive experience with views
Edge = viewing platform with great views
For adults, you could argue either way.
For children, Summit is much more engaging because they can move through different rooms and the experience changes as you go. Edge is impressive, but it’s more of a “look at the view and take photos” experience.
If you're trying to decide between the two, this is how they compare in terms of timing, price and availability:
What About the Other Observation Decks?
There are a few other famous observation decks in New York that families often consider:
Empire State Building
This is the classic New York observation deck and probably the most famous. We did this on a previous trip before visiting as a family. It’s very iconic, but it’s more of a traditional viewing platform and can be very busy.
Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Center)
Many people say this actually has one of the best views because you can see the Empire State Building in the skyline. It’s a more traditional observation deck, but very popular.
One World Observatory
Located at One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, this is a fully indoor observation deck with a more museum-style experience on the way up.
If you’re still deciding, it’s worth comparing all the main observation decks before booking — each one offers a very different experience:
Our Honest Recommendation if your travelling with kids
If you are visiting New York with school-aged children and trying to decide between Summit and Edge, our honest view is:
Choose Summit One Vanderbilt.
It’s more interactive, more memorable, and feels like an experience rather than just a viewpoint. Children have more to explore, and you’re likely to spend longer there without anyone getting bored.
Edge is still good, and the views are impressive, but if you’re choosing one — especially with kids — Summit is the one we would recommend.
In our view, you don’t need to do multiple observation decks unless you really want to. Once you’ve seen the skyline from above once, you’ve had that experience.
If you want a deeper look at at all the options, we have reviewed them in detail here: Best Observation Deck in New York for Families
plan your NEW YORK FAMILY trip
If you’re planning a New York family trip, these are the key guides that will help you pull everything together. Start with the itinerary — it makes everything else easier to plan.
About Plan Family Escapes
We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.
Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.
