Ellis Island Immigration Museum

While it’s exciting to visit the Statue of Liberty, the landmark that so many held dear as they came to America, a stop at Ellis Island tells much more of the immigrants’ story.

At Ellis Island, you can learn about the places people came from, and what kinds of jobs they held in the old country and in the United States.  Where did they go when they got to America?  What things did they bring with them?  What did they leave behind?  The medical exams that were part of the immigrant process are detailed in displays, as are so many other pieces of the Ellis Island immigrant story. Read More »

by Linda (minnemom) of Travels with Children

We live in the rural Midwest, where wide open spaces are plentiful and a traffic mess consists of getting stuck behind a tractor on a gravel road.  We’ve mastered driving in Minneapolis.  We can manage Chicago if we have a very specific plan.  But driving in New York City?  No way.  Not gonna do it.

Still, when we visited Philadelphia and found ourselves with an extra day in our itinerary, the Statue of Liberty was tops on our list.  It’s big, it’s famous, it’s historic, the kids would love it.

Statue of Liberty. Photo by minnemom.

But then we remembered:  It’s in New York City.

We thought about driving to New York. For about two seconds.

And we almost gave up.

But then, in looking at the Statue of Libery website again, we found a possibility:  Park at Liberty State Park in New Jersey and take the ferry from there, rather than from the more famous and more popular option of New York’s Battery Park.

We decided to give it a try.

We had a few things going in our favor.  We would be visiting on the day after Christmas, which happened to be a Friday, and we were hoping that everyone who possibly could take the day off would have done exactly that, easing the traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike.  We also hoped that people who had spent the previous day at family Christmas gatherings would just want to sleep in and not go sight-seeing until later in the day.

And do you know what?  We were right.

Statue of Liberty Tickets. Photo by minnemom.

We left our hotel near Valley Forge and headed for New Jersey.  Traffic was a breeze the entire way, a feat that we couldn’t really believe.  How could New Jersey traffic be lighter than Minneapolis?  It didn’t seem possible.  We were to Liberty State Park in less than 90 minutes.

We followed the National Park Service’s driving directions, “Take the New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 14B,” which really seemed too simple to work, but that’s really all there is to it.  An out-of-state driver doesn’t even need to consult a map a directions like that.

After parking in the lot, we walked up to the ticket counter, purchased our tickets, and boarded the first ferry of the day.  We were right about people sleeping in; there were only about a dozen people on our ferry, and when we got to Ellis Island, we had the entire grand hall to ourselves for a while.

Ellis Island. Photo by minnemom.

After visiting Ellis Island, we reboarded the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty.  Although we had received monument passes with our tickets, we decided to forego the long line to go inside the pedestal, and we took a nice walk around the Statue of Liberty instead.

When the ferry once again deposited us at Liberty State Park, we got into our car and drove off to the west, with a car full of kids who couldn’t believe they’d really seen the Statue of Liberty.  It was a pretty big deal for our little guys, and we managed it without setting foot in New York City.

Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island from the New Jersey side worked out brilliantly.  Even in busier times of the year, there tends to be less waiting when boarding the ferry from New Jersey.  Parking issues were non-existent, and parking is reasonably priced.  Driving in Manhattan is eliminated.  For people who want to visit the Statue of Liberty without going to New York City, leaving from Liberty State Park in New Jersey is an excellent choice.

                                                                       by Carol Cain at NYCity Mama

Many New Yorkers often like to argue that there never really is a need to leave New York City, that we can find every kind of activity, food, event, and entertainment right here on our “little Island of Manhattan”. This is often true, but every once in awhile some of the best adventures are happening on the smaller islands surrounding it, making for a wonderful island hopping excursion, no plane ticket required.

Governor’s Island recently opened its shores for the season.  With events well on their way till the Fall, this destination is only a 10 minute, free ferry ride away.  Aside from many scheduled concerts and other family activities, you can also rent bikes, for individuals and families, big and small, allowing you to ride and fully enjoy the 2.2 miles around the island.  Enjoy a peaceful picnic on Picnic Point, take in some jazz on Colonel’s Row, or enjoy a dance performance at Fort Jay, all free of charge, while surrounded by the breath taking views.  The facilities for food are minimal, if at all, and consist of grilled hot dogs, burgers, gyros, chips and soda, so pack a lunch, and bring some cash, as there are no banking services available.

Promenade-Governor's Island

View from Governor's Island

City Island, in the Long Island Sound and just past the Bronx, requires a ride on the 6 train and a bus transfer (BX29) to get there, but the charm of this small nautical town makes it worth the trip.  It’s proximity to Orchard Beach makes it a popular summer destination, offering visitors a varied selection of seafood eateries. It is also the home to iconic Salsa musician’s Tito Puente’s restaurant.

Orchard Beach Promenade

City Island

Liberty Island and Ellis Island are accessible only by ferry, through either New York’s Battery Park or New Jersey’s Liberty State Park.  Liberty Island is home to The Statue of Liberty monument, while Ellis Island is home to The Immigration Center.  There is a fee for riding the ferry, but not for entering the park, or the monument.  It is highly recommended that visitors make a reservation (you must indicate if you are planning on going into the monument), and if you are reserving your ticket with access to the monument it is recommended to do so early, as lines tend to get long especially during the summer and holidays.

Statue of Liberty

Roosevelt Island is accessible by subway and The Roosevelt Island Tram which charges the same as a one-way subway pass.  The tram, which is the most recommended form of travel to the island, is a 4 minute ride both ways, and the views are the best in the city.  The island is not very big and is easily explored by foot.  Take in the architecture and walk along the seawall while admiring its neighbors, Manhattan and Queens, from a distance.

Staten Island is considered more of a borough than an “island”, however, it still remains as one of my favorite NYC Island day trips for all it has to offer. The free Staten Island Ferry alone is so peaceful and wonderful, that most New Yorkers and tourists alike take the ride one way only to immediately turn around and come right back.  However, venturing into Staten Island can be just as fun with visits to Snug Harbor Cultural Center, which in addition to the Staten Island Children’s Museum, happens to also be the home to the Staten Island Museum, The Noble Maritime Collection, and The Art Lab, a school of fine and applied art founded in 1975 by professional artists.  It is also where you’ll find the popular South Beach, with its fabulous boardwalk, picnic areas, and playgrounds.

Staten Island Children's Museum