Statue of Liberty, New York City

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The Statue of Liberty is probably the most recognizable symbol of New York City. It is also posisbly the most overrated. Don't get me wrong - it is certainly a site to behold and I am grateful to the French for the gift. However with everything to see and do in NYC, why wait in lines up to a few hours long to pay way too much to take a boat to an island to see Liberty up close, when in reality the only way to get a good view is from afar?

Unique Suggestions: Get there first thing in the morning.

Fun Alternatives: The Staton Island Ferry. The SI Ferry leaves every half hour, a few blocks down the street from the overcrowded Circle Line and Liberty Island boats.

It is 100% FREE.

You will get on the first boat once you arrive.

It takes you within a few hundred yards of the Statue of Liberty - close enough to get some fantastic photos and close enough for you to enjoy the grand view of Liberty and the skyline of Manhattan.

The boat even has a cafe that serves beer.

My suggested plan of attack: When you arrive at the SI terminal, go up the escalators and get as close to the big doors as possible. You will know the doors by the cluster of people around them. When the doors open and people are let on to the boat, immediately head straigh to the other end of the boat and outside to the outdoor deck area at the front of the boat - standing on the right side of the boat. This will afford you the best views of the Statue as the boat heads to Staten Island. (You can always send someone up for a beer.)

Upon arrival in Staten Island, quickly depart and follow the signs back around to get back on the boat to head to Manhattan. (There is no other reason to stick around Staten Island.) Once again head through the boat to what is now the front. This will give you the best views of Brooklyn, the Brooklyn/Manhattan Bridges to the righ side of Manhattan and of course the Manhattan skyline. (As well as Liberty once again.)

The total trip will take you 1 hour instead of the 4-5 often needed to go to Liberty Island.

When going to see the Statue of Liberty from the inside, know that you will be standing in line forEVER. The line is horendously long, and gets longer the later into the day you get there.

Unique Suggestions: The Statue of Liberty is one of those things that, as a tourist, you have to go to. If you don't, everyone will ask why?. But just a warning....if and when you go...go REALLY EARLY. THe line up is hours long to get in and if you don't go early enough, you could waste your whole day in that line.

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As you can see from my picture here you can get your picture taken with these people dressed up like the Statue of Liberty.

He quoted me $5 USD to take as many pictures as I wanted. I hesitated not sure I wanted to pay to get my picture taken and in the end dropped in the $5. When i asked for a couple more pictures to be taken because I thought that was part of the deal, he gives me a dose of NY attitude and tells me I only gave him a dollar!

I managed to get a second picture and then didn't bother to debate this with him.

Fun Alternatives: Get your picture taken with the real Statue of Liberty and spend your $5 USD on a local corned beef sandwich or something.

The lines are incredibly long and the ferry is expensive. Then you get there and you can see the Statue which I actually like. It loses its specialness with the crowds though. I don't know if it's opened again, but you had to climb 100s of circular stairs to get to the top. Wasn't worth it. BUT you can take the Staten Island Ferry which is free and is actually used by real New Yorkers and see the Statue from afar, just as our ancestors did. Another more touristy but still fun thing to do is to take the Circle Line line for 3 hours and you can go all the way around Manhattan Island and still see
the Statue.

Unique Suggestions: See above for alternatives.

Fun Alternatives: Staten Island Ferry or Circle Line Tour.

Through my ignorance, I didn't realise the Statue of Liberty was on its own island! You think I would have noticed in at least one of the movies it appears in!!!! Anyway, it was closed to tourists when I was there in 2004. I heard it is often closed, so it pays to check first!!

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Well no trip to New York would be complete without the boat trip around this great landmark the combined round trip also takes in Ellis Island, and do give yourself time to read all about this immigration staging post the gateway to America, but back to the statue, it was built in France in1884 with the central iron work core designed by Mr Eiffel, the design itself was by Frederic Bartholdi it arrived from France aboard the frigate Isere in 1885 and took 4 months to re assemble it came in 214seperate crates and comprised of 350 seperate peices, it was opened in 1886
other facts its 305feet tall, and comprises of 31tons of copper and the index finger is 2.4m long

Although visiting of Ellis Island and Liberty Island both is something one shoud not miss under no circumstances during our short stay in NY city we were discouraged with the veeerrry long line in front of ticket office as well as a lot of people waiting for a ferry. Maybe it is not like that throught the year, but we were there around Christmas when expected wait time was about 4 hours. Frustrating, freezing, and, I would say, time-consuming.

Unique Suggestions: Try during the peak season (if any in NY city)

Fun Alternatives: Take Manhattan boat cruise on pier 83 (Circle line boat trip) and you will be able to see both islands stretching not so far away from the your boat.

The Statue of Liberty is one of America's most potent icons. It has said that
for New Yorkers this great monument is practically a cliche. When you have
strolled around Liberty Island, you have two options: you can take an elevator
10 stories to the top of the pedestal or you can climb 354 steps to the crown.
It usually takes two or three hours to walk up to the crown because of the long
lines. Admission is free. It's open daily 9am - 5 pm.