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We Braved the Crowds to Go to Ellis Island

5/8/2014

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Ellis Island Immigration Center building on Ellis Island in New York

By John Roberts

I'll admit it.

Until I boarded the ferry Saturday morning, I had long been under the notion that the Statue of Liberty sat on Ellis Island.

False.

Lady Liberty's home is on the appropriately named Liberty Island, a small patch of land sitting in the Hudson River a stone's throw from Ellis Island, home to the famed former immigration processing center.

I finally made it to see both. The trip to the islands is made by ferry boat departing from either Liberty State Park in New Jersey or Battery Park in New York. We got on the Miss Liberty ferry at Battery Park after a Subway ride from Penn Station to the South Ferry station.

Tickets cost $18 per person, and you will go through "airport type" security (though shoes can stay on) before boarding the ferry. Make sure you have ID with you.

The ticket office opens around 8:15 a.m. and boarding begins around 9 a.m. for the first ferry over. The lines get very long, so if you want to be able to grab a seat for the ride over up top with the best views, you'll want to get in the queue a little after 8 a.m.

The top deck of the ferry allows a lot of standing passengers, too, so you might have your views obscured by people all hoisting their smartphones and cameras for shots of the NYC skyline and the Statue of Liberty. It seems like everyone was able to get plenty of pictures, though, while the boat made its way out. Boats come frequently to bring you back to Battery Park, and you’ll find them less crowded as people depart the islands at their own pace after stopping off to see the statue or the Immigration Museum on Ellis Island.

Ferries make stops at Liberty Island (originally Bedloe's Island; it was renamed in 1956) and Ellis Island. The Statue of Liberty, which was completed and dedicated on the island in 1886, has an observation level at the top of its pedestal. Here, you can tour the museum and see the original torch on display. You also can pay an additional charge ($3) to walk the 354 steps up to gain access to the inside of her crown. Access is limited and by reservation (www.statuecruises.com).

The Miss Liberty ferry vessel to Ellis Island in New York
Onboard the Miss Liberty ferry boat on the way to Ellis Island in New York
The top deck gets crowded.
Arriving at Liberty Island to visit the Statue of Liberty in New York
The ferry stops to let off visitors at Liberty Island.
The Statue of Liberty in New York
A ferry vessel in the Hudson River that takes passengers to Ellis Island in New York
Our ferry departed from Battery Park.
Statue of Liberty in the Hudson River on Liberty Island in New York.
Our wonderful view of Lady Liberty as we cruise past on our way to Ellis Island.
At Ellis Island, we toured the Immigration Museum. Audio tours are available in multiple languages. 

The immigration station opened in 1892. The main brick, granite and limestone building on the island that is home to the museum has stood since 1900. Until the immigration station closed in 1954, more than 12 million people were processed on the island for entrance into the United States. 

In the museum, you can visit a reference center and check online for ancestors who came to America through Ellis Island. 

Make sure you go watch the short film and hear the ranger talk in the museum's theater before you tour the facility. This will give you a good background of the history of exactly what went on here and the often harsh conditions the immigrants went through to get to the United States. Often, the journey, while difficult, was much better than the life they were due to face had they remained in their homelands.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out the video below for more highlights of our visit.

JR
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How to Enjoy Your Game Day at Yankee Stadium

4/30/2014

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By John Roberts

The original legendary Yankee Stadium ballpark was closed down after the 2008 Major League Baseball season. Like many classics, it was forced to give way to something shiny and new. New Yankee Stadium hosted its first season in 2009. I got over to the Bronx ballpark to check out a game between New York and the Los Angeles Angels this past weekend.

I had been to the original Yankee Stadium, known as the House that Ruth Built, several times, including for a series in that final season of its existence before the wrecking ball came. The old site is a park and ball fields for the community, which is a good use. They were busy on the Saturday morning we arrived to spend a day at the new stadium.

I've compiled some tips for how you might best navigate your game day at Yankee Stadium.

Ride the Subway
We took a train from our home in New Jersey to Penn Station and then caught the Subway up to the Bronx the B/D trains go there, and the stop is 161st street. You'll pay about $2.75 for a ride and get to mingle with the regulars all decked in their Yankees caps and jerseys. We got our day started kind of early, so the cars had ample space, but I have traveled to and from games when it is crowded with fans all fired up for their beloved team.

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The Subway was relatively empty on our ride up to the Bronx on Saturday morning,
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The Subway stop emerges right here, at the doorstep of the new Yankee Stadium.
Get to the Park Early
If you aren't a regular and are knocking this ballpark off your list, get to the stadium a couple hours early. (We are trying to get to a game at every park.) You can tour the grounds outside, which have plenty of vendors selling souvenirs and displays showing off Yankees history. You also can also visit "Monument Garden" before the game. Be warned: Lines get long for this, and the attraction opens when the main gates for the stadium open and closes 45 minutes before game time. Only a few fans at a time are let in to go through Monument Park. We also like to head to one of the bars in the adjoining neighborhood for a meal and a few beers before the game to get us in the spirit.

Check out Yankee Tavern, Billy's or the Dugout. These places also fill up as game time draws nearer, so it's good to arrive a little early to stake out your space.
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Arrive early to take a walk around the perimeter of the stadium to see all the displays and shop for souvenirs.
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Enjoy the Action, Tour the Stadium
The Yankees are the most successful and iconic team in MLB history, probably equally the most hated and most loved. Baseball fan or not, you should take the time to drink in the atmosphere as you sit in your seats and watch the action. Consider the team's championship banners and retired numbers that hang from the walls (Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson are honored among dozens of stars). You also can tour the on-site Yankees Museum and the Great Hall (a spacious concourse featuring large banners of former players).

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Angels star Mike Trout completes his home run trot, but the Yankees rallied to win 4-3.
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The Great Hall is located in the main concourse.
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Monument Park was moved from the original Yankee Stadium and sits beyond centerfield in the new park.
Don't Rush Home
The masses emerge after the final out, and the roads and Subway get crammed. So, it's good time to mill around the neighborhood and check out one of the bars you missed pregame. You'll also find plenty of souvenir vendors lining the streets directly adjacent to the park if you want a memento from your game day.

Note: Ticket prices for the game are pretty darn expensive. You can find tickets for $30 that will get you the cheapest seats. I'd do this to just get in the building and wander the concourses for sightseeing while keeping an eye on the action, too. You can see the field as you walk around the stadium, which is nice. We got seats for our game down the right-field line for $70 apiece.

Have a great day at the stadium.

JR

Check out a video of our day at the game ...

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