7 Ways to See Lady Liberty
This Independence Day weekend, gaze upon the glory of the city's iconic monument to freedom
The Statue of Liberty is scheduled to reopen to visitors on July Fourth for the first time since Superstorm Sandy. But for those who just want a photo op with the statue, there are many other vantage points downtown.
STATUE CRUISES TO LIBERTY ISLAND
Statue Cruises - www.statuecruises.com - is the sole operator for boats that take visitors to Liberty Island, where the Statue of Liberty is located. Boats are scheduled to resume departing from the Battery in Lower Manhattan on July 4, when Liberty Island reopens to the public for the first time since Superstorm Sandy last October. The statue itself was not damaged by the storm, but landing docks and infrastructure, including electrical, phone and sewage systems, required months of repair work by the National Park Service, which operates the statue.
You can buy Statue Cruises tickets in person at the Battery, but the cruises do sell out, so advance online purchase is strongly recommended. There are three types of tickets: Access to the statue's crown, $20 ($17 for seniors, $12 for ages 4-12); or access to the pedestal of the monument or the grounds of Liberty Island, $17 ($14 for seniors, $9 ages 4-12).
OTHER CRUISES
Many vessels offer sightseeing cruises of New York Harbor and Manhattan that sail right past the Statue of Liberty. They include the Circle Line, Manhattan by Sail's schooners, Hornblower Cruises, Spirit Cruises, New York Water Taxi and Bateaux New York. Some offer live music or fancy lunch or dinner cruises that can top $100.
BATTERY AND LOWER MANHATTAN
To see the Statue of Liberty without getting on a boat, just head to the southern tip of Lower Manhattan (subway to South Ferry or Bowling Green).
While you're there, consider keeping the patriotic theme with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial or visiting one of the pubs that's been around since the country's early days, like Fraunces Tavern at 54 Pearl Street, which has been open since 1719.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the classic New York experiences. In addition to giving you a close look at the bridge's Gothic arches and delicate filigree of cables, it offers a magical view of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. To get the full impact of the skyscraper canyon coming into view, take the subway to the Brooklyn side (A or C to High Street) and walk back across the bridge.
GOVERNORS ISLAND
Governors Island, a former Coast Guard facility now used for public recreation, offers inviting lawns, old forts, concerts, art exhibits and food vendors, along with great views of Lower Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Get there by ferry, weekends through Sept. 29 from Manhattan or Brooklyn, then walk or bike around the island, www.govisland.com/html/visit/directions.shtml .
MUSEUM OF JEWISH HERITAGE
The Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust at 36 Battery Place has tall picture windows that look directly out onto the Statue of Liberty. While you look, you can listen to the museum's "Voices of Liberty" sound installation, in which Holocaust survivors, refugees and others discuss why they chose to make the U.S. their home, www.mjhnyc.org.
RITZ-CARLTON, BATTERY PARK
The majority of guest rooms at the Ritz-Carlton's Battery Park hotel offer views of the Statue of Liberty, and they even come equipped with telescopes for an up-close look. For July Fourth weekend, prices for a room with a king or two double beds start at $420, going up to $7,500 for a 2,100-square-foot (195-square-meter) suite; www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/NewYorkBatteryPark/Default.htm.