Tips on Seeing Lady Liberty Up Close and Personal

Visitors to New York City, who wish to visit the Statue of Liberty will benefit from a bit of advance planning. Following are some suggestions for how to make one's visit to this national landmark memorable and meaningful.

Arrive early to Liberty State Park (NJ) or Battery Park in Lower Manhattan to catch a ferry. AS the day progresses, the line can get quite long. If possible, schedule the visit during the week when the lines are shorter, though expect to wait in line for at least an hour.The ferry ticket only covers the ferry ride and access for to roam the grounds on Liberty and Ellis Island.

Visitors wanting to access the monument should purchase tickets in advance. Also, a limited number of monument passes are available each day at the ferry terminal though those tickets tend to go quickly. Monument access includes entry to the museum to see artifacts like the original torch and passageway to walk up to the pedestal. An elevator is available for those who require assistance.

A very limited number of tickets are available to climb up to the crown for an extra fee. Those tickets should be purchased months in advance.

Dress in layers and wear comfortable walking shoes. It can be windy while walking on the grounds while it can get very hot while walking up the stairs to the pedestal or crown especially during the summer months. Also, be sure to bring sunblock as the sun reflects off the water.

Before entering the statue, be prepared to go through security detectors. Also, no food can be brought into the statue and the only liquid permitted is the bottles with a Statue of Liberty Logo that are purchased on site.

The food is available on Liberty and Ellis Island is the typical concession fare. If possible, bring a picnic lunch. Ellis Island has a more relaxed picnic area; so if possible, grab a bite to eat there.

Lockers are available for a minimal fee, so one can store lunch, drink and other items brought along that aren't needed to bring in order to climb the tower.

Consider this a full day adventure. In order to fully experience both islands, allow for at least 5 hours.

If you arrive after 2pm, you will not be able to see both Ellis and Liberty Island.

Tickets are $12.00 adult, $10.00 senior citizen (age 62 and over) and $5.00 children. Crown tickets cost $3.00 extra. Recorded audio tours cost extra.

A New York City Pass (http://www.citypass.com/new-york) is a good way for tourists to see the Statue of Liberty, along with a number of New York City's other top attractions.

By following these suggestions, one can have a historical and fun filled day sampling the Big Apple.