Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
The Statue of Liberty changes as the ferry leaves Manhattan: first part of the skyline, then a figure with its own scale, standing between the harbour and the histories carried through it. Ellis Island nearby adds millions of individual arrivals to the symbol. Allow most of a day and visit both islands if you can. The grounds and museum provide a complete experience without climbing, while pedestal or crown access adds a physical viewpoint for those who actively want it rather than serving as the measure of the visit. Use the National Park Service's authorised ferry information and book timed access in advance. Crown tickets are limited; the climb includes 162 narrow stairs from pedestal to crown, no elevator and a 42-inch minimum height for children. Expect airport-style security, check prohibited items and confirm current wheelchair, companion and audio-access arrangements. Count this complete after landing on Liberty Island and engaging with its story; visiting Ellis Island makes the history fuller, but climbing the crown is optional. Add it if you want a familiar image to become a real place, complicated by the journeys and arguments it has come to represent.