After a hearty American breakfast with donuts and bagels, we took the subway from hotel Towards Lower Manhattan. Our first destination was the Statue of Liberty (on Liberty Island) and Ellis Island. With the New York Pass, we skipped the ticket line, but the wait at the security check for the ferry was an hour.
The State Cruises ferry departs from Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The limited number of free tickets for the pedestal are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Access to the crown is limited to 240 people daily. A separate ticket is required, which can be reserved online up to a year in advance. Unfortunately, we were unsuccessful with either ticket, leaving us with only a visit to Liberty Island.
After touring Liberty Island, which boasted a magnificent view of Lower Manhattan, we boarded the ferry again and were driven to the next stop, Ellis Island. The island was the long-time seat of immigration for the state and city of New York and, for over 30 years, the central collection point for immigrants to the USA. Today, it houses a museum commemorating the immigrants.
