The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Emma Lazarus, 1883

It’s the idea that made New York and America what it is today, the land of opportunity.

...and she had a starring role in “Ghostbusters II” and “X-Men” and of course “Splash”.

It’s so very difficult to choose a sight in New York City, but this one wins because of the vibe.

The only question is, how to see it?

We took a boat trip to the island itself, which was a bit of a drag because of security, but let you get right up close - definitely worth a go.  It’s hard to find out exactly how much this costs - some guidebooks have it down as free, some online sellers will sell you fast track tickets for $12-13, but we used one of our 3 options on our CityPass so I’m still not sure exactly how much it would cost normally.

This trip also takes you via Ellis Island, which I must admit wasn’t high on my list, but I was fascinated to discover the place’s history, even though at times it felt uncomfortable visiting somewhere where people were interned and examined, but it’s all part of the rich history of New York.

You can also see the Statue from Battery Park (free).

Or from a helicopter (in the region of $200 depending on taxes - although you can get a substantial discount using the CityPass).

Or from the Staten Island Ferry - once again free - without the security hassle!  (I recommend you do this anyway it’s fab!)

Or from the Shark speedboat tour ($23 and only runs 5 months of the year - summertime!)  Also gives you an incredible view of the Brooklyn Bridge!

Or the Circle Line cruise ($27, runs 9 months of the year).  (I haven’t done this one.)

Or from a host of other boat cruises - including sailboats - whatever takes your fancy!

Although there are so many sights in New York I would recommend a boat trip to really enjoy the skyline from afar, as well as going up either the Empire State Building or the Rockefeller Centre, visiting Central Park and, if you are interested in something a little obscure, visiting Grant’s Tomb on the Upper West Side for a little bit of American history.