New York

The best part of the trip was the voyage to visit the Statue of Liberty (although it was close).

Quick Tips:

Go to Central Park. It's as easy as that. Nature lover? Trees and lakes. Animal lover? ZOO! Art lover? Manhattan Museum of Art? Music lover? John Lennon Memorial? Need I say more?

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get around New York is not limited to one simple form of transportation. You are presented with two choices: get caught in traffic or not. The two easiest ways to get around New York are (1) by foot and (2) by tour bus. Although walking long distances may become tiresome after a couple of hours, the walks are worthwhile, especially through the beautiful Central Park. Although a tour bus may occasionally get caught in traffic, you do not have to endure the stress. That's the driver's issue. So either walk or book a tour because not much else will get you into the heart of New York easily.

Due to the 9/11 attacks, security is at an all time high. However, the building is not closed to the public. The wait for the elevator is about a couple of minutes. It quickly takes you to the 80th floor (or near it), where you transfer to another elevator, which takes you to the observation deck. From afar, you can see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island above the skyscrapers of Manhattan. At that height, it gets cold enough to snow, something I missed out on but some of my friends reported to me just after I left. The elevator trip downward is a little rough. If you have ear pressure issues, be forewarned. Your ears will constantly pop, but nothing too serious. Otherwise, the building is a wonderful stop for a classic NY visit!

Walking around the park is an adventure in itself. If you like the Beatles, they have a John Lennon Memorial. If you like art, there's the Manhattan Museum of Art. There are countless statues, pillars, monuments! The place is packed with performers and musicians! Around the park are horse carriages! The options are endless!

Although no access was granted to enter, I could walk around the Statue and admire it. The grand symbol of liberty. Only the gift shop was open (as with any sight), but the place was still magnificent. It is surprising to see what people can do with a relatively small island. The sight was beautiful (although the statue is smaller than it appears). Hopefully, I will be able to visit it once more!

Ellis Island has a great history behind it. It is even possible that some of my family members passed through. The place has a computer database of every immigrant who passed through the processing. Withing showcases are articles from other countries to show what the immigrants carried with them. Although it is a splendid sight, the atmosphere of the place is relatively gloomy. Probably not the best place for kids if they do not like history.