Lady Liberty, Ellis Island, World Trade Center honor best of New York

 

Highlights of New York include a visit to Tower One, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island
and the Statue of Liberty, holding her torch high in this montage for the Fourth of July.

SALUTING JULY 4  WITH A PHOTO ESSAY ON LADY LIBERTY, TOWER ONE AND ELLIS ISLAND IMMIGRATION MUSEUM

Tower One in the World Trade Center viewed from the water near sunset,
  shows the single tower standing where the Twin Towers once stood.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

Bruce Keller and Christene "Cookie" 
Meyers beneath Lady Liberty on a recent trip.

NO MONUMENT in the country better represents American independence than the Statue of Liberty.

Did you know that the tablet she holds in her left hand is symbolic? On it, in Roman numerals, is inscribed: July 4, 1776.

The statue -- a gift from the French people -- commemorates the alliance of France and the United States during the American Revolution.

IN A VERY different way, the World Trade Center Memorial  represents unity, too.  Its striking architecture speaks to our desire for world peace and understanding.

Its tranquil and stirring architectural theme make one ponder, remember and give thanks for all that is good about America.

A TRIP TO New York is not complete without a visit to these places that symbolize life, talent, loss, endurance and values of the United States.

Our visits often include a return to the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Museum and One World Trade Center. Each one symbolizes America's resilience and endurance, its strength, universality and global reach.
In trips since 9-11, we never fail to be moved by the beauty of One World Trade Center. Built in the grounds of the Twin Towers' destruction on that dark day 23 years ago, water creates a soothing ambience for visitors. Architect Michael Arad, describes his unique pools as

The National Immigration Museum offers an insightful look at
 the challenges and protocol of our ancestors' entry into the U.S. 

representing “absence made visible.” Although water flows into the voids, they can never be filled, he says. The sound of cascading water makes the pools a place of tranquility and contemplation away from the noise of a bustling city. We  linger with others to pay our respects to the victims.

THE WORLD Trade Center complex includes the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is both

The approach to the Statue of Liberty at dawn is a moving experience.

 memorial and museum -- part of the World Trade Center complex -- created to remember the Sept. 11 attacks of 2001, which killed 2,977 people,

YOU MIGHT find it too emotional to visit World Trade Center, Lady Liberty and the immigration museum on the same day. We broke it up, spending one day at the Trade Center and museum then buying a roundtrip ticket on the historic ferry to visit both Ellis Island and the Liberty Island, home of the Statue of Liberty.

To get to either of the islands you need to purchase a ferry ticket.

It will include stops at both Liberty Island for Lady Liberty, and Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.

THE MUSEUM is in the former immigration complex's Main Building. It is part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument, under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. A piece of history itself, both memorial and museum.

Visitors approach Ellis Island on Circle Line, with a
CityPASS ticket that stops at the Statue of Liberty, too.

Ferry stops between the two islands are staggered to give passengers time to take photos and visit both, returning at nicely spaced intervals for both brief and leisurely stays.

SAILING TIME to each island is about 15 minutes. If you take the ride only without visiting either monument, you'll be gone one hour and fifteen minutes. If you visit both islands, time depends on the length of each visit.

Since we are all immigrants, we found Ellis Island an insightful look at the American dream. From the massive entrance hall, to the medical stations, video and digital exhibits, the experience is both interesting and emotional.

 WE RECOMMEND CityPASS for your visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll have a

The 9/11 Memorial is a moving place to visit, where family
and friends of those lost place flowers on etched names. 

bird's eye view of both Lady Liberty and the immigration museum
from a Circle Line tour, part of  CityPASS and its New York ticket book. A Circle Line ride is a fun money saving way to see highlights of one of the world's great cities, including Rockefeller Center and the Empire State Building, plus other world class museums and attractions.

You can visit One World Trade Center and the 9/11 museum on your own, or book a guided tour.

And don't forget the July 4 celebration on Washington, D.C., mall, broadcast live on PBS. 
  

MORE INFORMATION:
We recommend visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with CityPASS, which offers a Circle Line tour stopping at both historic places.www.citypass.com

Or go to: www.statueoflibertytickets.com  

For tours of the 9/11 Memorial and tickets for the 9/11 Museum and One World Observatory.   www.911groundzero.com

Casapueblo intrigues, looking like a Moorish village, but
it's in South America, and awaits your visitation.

UP NEXT: Come with us to explore lesser known yet equally fascinating villages near Montevideo.  Although the country's capital is the largest and most visited city, it takes just two hours to drive the interesting road to artful Casapueblo in Punta Ballena, and sunny Punta del Este, worlds away from the busy city.  Casapueblo's museum, art colony and luxury hotel make fascinating touring. Nearby, an intriguing beach town awaits --  internationally famed for its shopping, glamorous nightlife, and dining for every budget.  There's plenty to do in Punta del Este while the sun shines and more when the sun sets. During the day, we found people dozing on the beach, browsing high-end shopping streets, visiting museums, and enjoying some of South America's finest restaurants. Meanwhile, explore, learn and live and catch us weekly for a fresh slant on travel, nature, the arts, family and more: www.whereiscookie.com