As part of our "New York City Trip" (which the resort sponsored the third or fourth day of our vacation), we traveled from the boat from Ellis Island to Battery Park, and within striking distance, was the national monument, the Statue of Liberty. This was a phenomenal moment. Seeing this gift which the French had given this nation so many years ago (in 1885).

We were told that a visit to the Crown of the Statue could often mean a 2-3 hour wait in line, and required a 22 story climb, our wait wasn't that long at all, probably along the lines of about an hour. There is a museum in the pedestal which includes exhibits on immigration which recall through words, objects, and photographs, the arrival of millions of new Americans, and this was an exciting moment. While we didn't get to the very top of the crown because of some work which was being done, the actual looking out from beneath the crown was a little anti-climactic. The climb up was the most interesting, and it was kind of a strange feeling, walking along this stairway which snaked around to the top, and if you had claustrophobia, there were plenty of encouragements not to take the trip. A great time, though. At the end of the trip, you can donate any dollar and cents amount you want, as there is no admission fee, and the donations are gratefully accepted.

The statue is a must for first time New York guests! First you will take a fairy over to the island, making a stop at Ellis Island, at one time the first stopping point for every immigrant coming into the US. This is such an amazing experience. I must warn you that the lines for the statue are usually two to four hours long, so if you are planning on going and don't want to wait in line, find out what time the statue opens and be one of the first people! But go, just to say you have!

The Status of Liberty is a must see in New York for two reasons. One is that the Statue itself is an icon of America. Secondly, the view of the Manhattan skyline from the ferry is incredible. My recommendation is to get in line two hours before departure to secure a seat. Tickets can be purchased a head of time at this website, but you must still wait in line to present your ticket. If you do not mind you may be able to take the ferry to the Statue on a rainy cold day. I did this on a Saturday and there was no line. The stairs up the Statue were closed, but this is a great option if you are on a crunched timeline.

The Statue of Liberty was the second stop of our Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty "tour". SEE THE ELLIS ISLAND JOURNAL ENTRY FOR INFO ON THE LOCATION AND FERRY INFO. Unfortunately, only the grounds are open for visitation (Hours 9:30am-5:15pm - longer during summer months). For security reasons the Monument, Museum, Crown, and all Monument Observation Decks are closed indefinitely. There are ranger guided talks/tours of the grounds, however. There is also a nice gift shop and you get wonderful views of the NY City Skyline from the Island.

The Statue, located in the NY Harbor, was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the U.S.A. The Statue was dedicated on October 28, 1886 and was designated a National Monument on October 15, 1924. It is one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy; and is a MUST SEE if you are in this area. It was one of the highlights of our trip to the East Coast. Our 5yr old son, to this day, gets EXTREMELY excited when he sees the Statue of Liberty on TV or in a photograph. I must admit, I STOOD IN COMPLETE AWE WHILE STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS STATUE. Even though you can not go inside the statue, it is a very worthwhile place to visit.

This is a great day out. We began by wandering around downtown New York, this is the financial centre and includes places such as Wall Street and the World Trade Centre site. The buildings here are HUGE, and really interesting. We took a map and walked down Broadway, occasionaly turning off to visit a site. As you walk southbound you will eventually reach Battery Park and the boats to visit Liberty and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty is amazing. Make sure you have your camera because the views from the boat of the Statue of Liberty with Manhattan in the background are breath-taking.