It can easily be done in a day, but you'll freeze, especially that walk across the bridge.
Take the subway down to Battery Park to catch the boat to Ellis Island. That should be your first stop, as it's indoors. Save the Seaport and the bridge until later in the day when it's warmer.

Where is your hotel on 52nd Street? Important info to know to plan public transportation.

You should probably visit Ellis Island first (earliest tour if possible), then WTC site, which will take 30 seconds 'cause there's only a construction site to see now and the viewing platform no longer exists, then the Seaport, then B. Bridge.

thanks for the quick responses! ted , we are at the novotel 226 w 52nd. we will plan on being on the first boat to ellis island, also i read on this page that the statue is open again but many people dis the idea because of the line, comments? thanks again, becky

Becky,

You can take the #1 train to the Staten Island Ferry and walk over to the ferry for Ellis Island, since you only have the day, I would not recommend trying to wait in line for the Statue of Liberty, since it will take quite a while to wait to get to the top. Actually, I would take the Staten Island Ferry, you get a good view of the statue and a great view of the skyline. (Still doesn't look right to me after 9/11).

Do Ellis Island and then walk Water St 3 blocks over and walk up to Wall St, you will walk by Frances Tavern one of the oldest restaurants in the city, with a museum on the top floor. Have lunch?. From there, walk up to Wall St and see the NY Stock Exchange and Federal Building (where Washington took the oath of office). BTW, Wall St was named for a Wall that stood there from river to river, to keep the settlers separated from the Indians still living on Manhattan, in the very early period of NYC. From there walk east (or turn right) and walk to Water St again, walk to Fulton St and take the NYCER "test", what are the numbers for on the side of the white building at the corner of Fulton St? Right across the street from there is the South St. Seaport, Have lunch? and walk around the area, lots of interesting history there.

From there you can walk to Chinatown and Little Italy and then hop a cab or take the subway back uptown.

I forgot the WTC so here's another idea, when you take the train downtown get off the subway a bit earlier (Chambers St, but not sure if this stop is open) and walk to see the WTC and then walk down to the Ferry. At the WTC, there is a covered walkway and you can get a good view of the site from there, drove under it last night and noticed alot of people paying respects.

Hope you have a great time, the city is really pretty this year for the holidays. Enjoy.

Another possibility is, after getting off the Ellis Island ferry, to walk through Hudson River Park in Battery Park City. It's a great park that goes right along the river with great views of the Satue of Liberty. In the Park are the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the Memorial to the Irish Hunger, and the memorial to fallen NYC police officers. From the Park you can enter the rebuilt and recently reopened Winter Garden, from which you can view the WTC site if you wish. For some reason this seems a less mawkish way to pay your respects to me than simply going up to the fence and staring.

Just a though on Ellis Island for planning purposes. The museum is absolutely wonderful - plan on spending at least 4 hours (obviously you can spend a lot more time there, but this would let you see quite a bit. There is a nice cafeteria there if you want to get a coffee, lunch or snack before heading back Battery Park. Have a great time!

Just got back yesterday. We were so glad we went into the church by the WTC site, they have set up some nice displays and it was nice to get away from the street vendors and think in a peaceful setting. We had planned to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge but it was far too cold. We had reservations for Sun Brunch at the River Cafe in Brooklyn, the view and meal were incredible. We took a cab there from the WTC site and took a subway back to the theater district-worked great. We didn't miss the walk since we saw the view all through our meal.

Tell me more about Sunday brunch...how much did it cost, what did they offer? I live near River Cafe and have yet to have a meal there!

Thanks!

Regarding brunch at the River Cafe in Brooklyn: Brunch is faboulous at The River Cafe! It is $35 per person plus tax and tip. It is located right under the Brooklyn Bridge and the view is wonderful. Service is excellent and the food is perfect. It is a lovely atmosphere. But way too cold to walk across the bridge!