Visiting the Statue of Liberty - Know Before You Go!
Lady Liberty! This symbolic site is a meaningful place for both children and adults to visit. And yet, even as I grew up outside of, and then LIVED in NYC, I had never gone to Liberty Island until last month. My eldest daughter requested a trip there as part of her 10th birthday NYC weekend, and I couldn’t say no. Here are some tips and things to know before you make the trip yourself.
Free to visit…kind of. While there’s no charge to be on Liberty Island and for the museum onsite, you have to pay to get there. This means paying for a ferry service. Statue City Cruises is the only authorized ferry with service to Liberty Island (and also Ellis Island!). Additionally, there are separate fees for going UP inside the statue. If you want to climb to either the pedestal or crown levels, expect to pay more (price is rolled in with the ferry price so it’s just one ticket). Don’t want to pay or don’t have the time? Simply take the free Staten Island Ferry and do a drive, err, sail-by.
You can go from New Jersey OR Manhattan. Cruises from Manhattan leave from Battery Park, and those from New Jersey leave from Liberty State Park in Jersey City. Since we were driving from DC to NYC, we decided to take the ferry from Jersey City since it was on the way, and then drove into NYC afterwards. We also opted for this because, as we had a car, parking at Liberty State Park is abundant and inexpensive ($7), whereas it is much more difficult near Battery Park. However, not everyone feels comfortable driving in NYC! If you are taking the train to the city or coming from a different direction, it probably would make more sense for you to take the ferry from Manhattan.
Go as early as possible. I was so thankful my daughter and I took a morning ferry (11 am — we left DC around 6:30, got in at 10 am, which gave us enough time for a snack and bathroom break before going through security and waiting in line). It was crowded in the morning, but even more so when we left a few hours later. Also, even though the sailing only takes about 15 minutes, be prepared to spend a lot of time waiting in line for security and boarding beforehand. Plan to arrive at your selected terminal at least 45 minutes in advance.
Items inside the Statue are highly restricted - bring a quarter! We were surprised that we weren’t allowed to bring our stainless steel water bottles with us for the climb up to the pedestal level, and were told to rent a locker. These are 25¢ each. Bring a quarter - we experienced the change machines to all be broken, and had to rely on the kindness of a stranger! (Other restricted items include food, all drinks except in clear water bottles, backpacks, and strollers).
It’s a National Park Site. This means, for kids, that it is also a place where they can take part in the Junior Ranger program and earn a badge. The activities are best for kids ages 5+.
It’s not ideal for very young children. Not going to sugar coat it - this is a place where you really need to watch young ones. The ferry can be tight and crowded, and difficult to use a stroller, so if you are bringing a little one, baby-wearing is the way to go. While I want all my children to experience the Statue of Liberty, I felt much more at ease not making this a trip where I’d have to worry about my highly energetic toddler!
Don’t miss the museum! I’m so glad we didn’t rush things and went into the museum. My daughter loved soaking up the history of the construction of Lady Liberty and seeing the original torch, inspiration for the statue, replicas of the face and feet, etc. The visitor center is also inside the museum.
