NYC ferry Statue of Liberty questions

[mtquinn]

We will be in NY this weekend, and would like to take the kids on the ferry.

Anything I should know? Never been on the ferry before.

Thanks!

 

[hsmamato2]

Now I've been a few times.... I personally like the (free) Staten Island ferry- it goes right by the island,and the views are great,when you get to SI, just get back on the next ferry.... I've done the'real' ferry years ago where it lets you off....is the statue even open right now? I prefer the free deal, most people I've brought seem to like it a lot

 

[MichelleinMaine]

As said- you can do the Staten Island Ferry and go right by it for free. It also takes less time. (Just about an hour round trip, if I remember right.)

I do still think it's worthwhile to go TO the island though. I believe it is closed now (not sure if you can go in the museum portion.) They do have a free national parks walking tour of the island though, not sure if it runs in winter. It is a nice tour, though, because you get alot of the history of the statue. They also had a (free) children's craft when we were there in May. (My daughter made a embossed metal picture of the statue.) Again, not sure if that is a summer thing.

The ferry also goes to Ellis Island, which has a nice museum with a movie explaining the immigration process. I'd recommend for kids maybe 8 and up?

The downside is SoL and Ellis Island and the ferry itself could eat up 1/2 the day. I think it's worth it, but depends on what else you want to see.

If you have the option to be in NJ and don't necessarily need to be in all the way to the tip of Manhattan- there are also ferries to SoL and Ellis Island from New Jersey. You can drive right there, plenty of parking. It's the same ferry company as from Manhattan.

I don't know that you need to this time of year, but you also can buy your ferry tickets ahead of time online.

 

[rvchat]

As said- you can do the Staten Island Ferry and go right by it for free. It also takes less time. (Just about an hour round trip, if I remember right.)

I do still think it's worthwhile to go TO the island though. I believe it is closed now (not sure if you can go in the museum portion.) They do have a free national parks walking tour of the island though, not sure if it runs in winter. It is a nice tour, though, because you get alot of the history of the statue. They also had a (free) children's craft when we were there in May. (My daughter made a embossed metal picture of the statue.) Again, not sure if that is a summer thing.

The ferry also goes to Ellis Island, which has a nice museum with a movie explaining the immigration process. I'd recommend for kids maybe 8 and up?

The downside is SoL and Ellis Island and the ferry itself could eat up 1/2 the day. I think it's worth it, but depends on what else you want to see.

If you have the option to be in NJ and don't necessarily need to be in all the way to the tip of Manhattan- there are also ferries to SoL and Ellis Island from New Jersey. You can drive right there, plenty of parking. It's the same ferry company as from Manhattan.

I don't know that you need to this time of year, but you also can buy your ferry tickets ahead of time online.

Isn't most of the SOL closed since 9/11?

 

[chabs]

Google the website and buy your tickets ahead of time. SOL was very boring and had long lines to get into the museum portion (we did not go up into the Statue) because of security. Ellis Island was well worth the trip and was suprisingly very interesting (thought the kids would be bored). I was not so impressed with the SOL museum. You should definitely buy your tickets ahead of time and try to pick the earliest time to go to avoid waiting in long security lines. The later the day, the longer the lines get.