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Editor Pick
Lady Liberty and Her Island
- October 29, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
airynfaerie from St. Augustine, Florida
Standing proudly in the harbor, the Statue of Liberty is one of the icons that most people think of when they picture the Big Apple. A visit to Liberty Island is an amazing treat during anyone's visit to New York and an icon that lives up to the hype.
This monument, which was a give from France and dedicated in 1886 is a masterpiece of copper with symbols throughout. As one of the first sights to many immigrants arriving to Ellis Island in the past years, the Statue of Liberty is not just a visit for the aesthetic views and iconic semblance, but also for the historic significance. Standing over 305ft above ground level, the statue is a glorious sight for visitors walking just meters from the base.
As a national park, Liberty Island admission is free, but the only way to get there is to take a ferry which requires an admission fee. This ferry also makes a stop atthe historic Ellis Island so you can do two visits in one. *Tip: Of course taking the ferry which stops at Liberty Island will give you the best look at the Lady herself, but if your budget is tight, an alternative view from the water is the free Staten Island Ferry which runs every 30 minutes.
Liberty Island in itself is a wonderful place for a relaxing day, as there's a promenade and large grassy areas. Bring a picnic lunch with you to enjoy on the grounds, or grab a snack at the cafe on the island. Recently opened again to tourists, the interior and crown is now available for visits since being closed on Sept 11, 2001. One can even visit the pedestal observatory area with the original torch up close and personal.
To get tickets and board the ferry, head to south Manhattan at Battery Park where you'll see signs guiding you to the Liberty Island Ferry (Statue Cruises). Expect a bit of a line, but be patient...it's worth it!
• National Park Services Liberty Island
• www.nps.gov
• Open 8:30am - 6:15pm (changes seasonally)
• Island Admission is free
• Ferry Admission $12 (discounts for children, seniors)
From journal Must-See Visits in New York City
Lady Liberty
- September 7, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
Katrina012 from toronto, Ontario
I had such a wonderful time travelling to see the statue of Liberty. We've been waiting for our new york trip for along time, and we visted the city on our honeymoon, it was great. Travelling through battery park, all the artists there, great. We bought the tickets to the fairy in advance in lastminutetravel (wasn't expensive, so we didn't think much about it), when we got there we realized we could have just taken the staten island fairy, but we ebded up having a good time.
Visiting Lady Liberty was a treat
- June 25, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
CoupleTravels from Concord, California
Visiting the Statue of Liberty was great, for this West Coast couple we've only seen her in books and movies and getting up close was a great way for us to say we'd "seen New York".
We secured tickets to go to the museum inside and were able to tour the museum, take pictures, walk around, get Megan's National Parks Passport stamped and buy Jason a mug in about 60 minutes.
There were a lot of people just hanging out on the island and while I wish we'd had a little more time to just hang out and soak up the atmosphere or take a tour; you can see everything in about an hour.
From journal Our First Trip to New York
The Cheapest Way to See Liberty
- April 26, 2009
- Rated 4 of 5 by
BriDee from Dundee, United Kingdom
If you want a cheap way to see Liberty then hop on the Staten Island Ferry. It is free and takes you right past Liberty.
If however you want to pay do the tour from Battery Park. Be warned however the security is tighter than a ducks ass. If you want to go up Liberty you have to book your ticket a week in advance.
Any bags, backpacks etc must be stored in lockers which cost $2 each.
Statue of Liberty (The)
- February 14, 2008
- Rated 3 of 5 by
sizemoretravel from Jacksonville, Florida
The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom, is one of the most recognizible sites in New York City. I have been to New York dozens of times, but have only been to Liberty Island one time. Lady Liberty (who was given to the US by the French and whose inner structure was designed by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, who is famous for designing the Eiffel Tower) is beautiful, but I have never really had the overwhelming desire to climb up inside.
Since 2001, security has become very tight and sometimes (depending on terror threat levels), the US park service won't allow anyone to enter the statue, which was the case during my visit.
For those of you who would like to visit; admission to the Statue of Liberty is free, but you must pay for the ferry that takes you from Battery Park in lower Manhattan. Admission also includes entrance to Ellis Island Immigration Museum.
The current price is:
$12 Adults
$10 Seniors
$5 kids 4-12
Passes are issued to enter the statue (when allowed) starting early in the morning and those who don't get to Battery Park early enough won't make it inside, but the grounds are beautiful and you can see gorgeous views of Manhattan (I really miss those twin towers) and of New Jersey. Bring your camera, but beware, you must go through security so don't bring large bags.
From journal Best of New York City