Point of View
Quintessential Experiences: The Skywalk Observatory
Before the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, more than 400,000 visitors a year rode elevators to the 60th floor of Boston's John Hancock Tower, where a public observatory offered incomparable panoramic views from the top of the city's tallest building. For security reasons, the John Hancock Observatory is now closed to the public, but a similarly lofty vantage point is still accessible on the 50th floor of another Back Bay skyscraper, the nearby Prudential Tower.
Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Skywalk Observatory offers exquisite 360-degree views from 700 feet above street level, as well as exhibits about local history and personalities, and a choice of two audio guides on hand-held MP3 players, one geared for children and another for adults. The Prudential Center also has a formal restaurant on the 52nd floor, and a large enclosed shopping mall at street level.
Admission to the observatory is $9.50 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6.50 for children under 12, with no extra charge for the digital audio guides. Be sure to call ahead before your visit, as the observatory is sometimes closed for private events, and check the weather forecast, because foggy or stormy conditions can blot out the view.
Skywalk Observatory
Prudential Tower, 800 Boylston St.
617-859-0648
www.prudentialcenter.com/play/skywalk
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