Vessel

The $150 million interactive art piece opened in March and was conceived by Thomas Heatherwick and Heatherwick Studio as a “focal point where people can enjoy new perspectives of the city and one another from different heights, angles, and vantage points.”

Admission to Vessel is free, but visitors must have a timed ticket, available in advance online or day-of from an on-site kiosk.

The point of the piece—if there is one—is to climb nearly one mile vertically, using 154 interconnecting flights of stairs, 2,500 individual steps, and 80 landings. There is an elevator that will take you straight to the top if you don’t want, or are unable, to take the stairs—although the real joy is found in the meandering journey to the top.