VIBE

Since 1933, America’s first broadcasting network has offered its dedicated viewers the chance to step on the stages of some of their most recognized sets and get a glimpse of where the magic happens. Today, intimate group tours of NBC's home base 30 Rockefeller Plaza ("30 Rock") are led by NBC pages who whisk tour participants via elevator to various floors where they can scope sets from NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams to Saturday Night Live. Peek inside a makeup room where stars are primed for the cameras, wander the hallways where actors often dash through during costume changes, and perhaps even score a chance to peek though soundproof windows at live “On Air” broadcasts unfolding right before your eyes.

GO HERE WITH

Family; friends; fans of NBC television shows; film students; yourself

WHY WE LIKE IT

It really is something special to see these sets “in the flesh” and to gain insight into just how complex the creation of a TV program is (the sheer amount of lighting and cameras used is staggering!). We also rather enjoyed hearing the thumping beats of The Roots (house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon), who were rehearsing on the floor below (which is why we couldn't tour that particular studio the day we visited).

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

Unfortunately, there are no set schedules for when specific studios will be in use, so tours cannot guarantee that any one studio will be available to see.

GOOD TO KNOW

In addition to touring studio sights, participants are offered a chance to read a weather report on a real set at the end of their tour. All tours start in the NBC Experience Store and include a visit to a combination of sets from any of NBC’s more famous studios, including Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams, The Today Show, NBC Football Night America, The Dr. Oz Show, and MSNBC. Tours run every 15 minutes or half hour, depending on the season.

CLOSEST COMPS

Universal Studios/Universal City Walk (Los Angeles)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to New York City.