Hi
Wondering if I caould see both in a day. I wondered when the best time to go to the ESB was. Someone told me early evening 4-5 o clock was not so crowded, is this true? Should we plan on getting a really early start. Also does anyone of the website address to get tickets early. By the way before posting this question I did a search and checked threads and did not see anything. Thanks for your help. We like to cram in as much as we can the first few days because when it hits the weekend I have a feeling everything will be packed. Thanks again

The SOL takes very little time - since you can;t climb to the top - haven;t been able to for years. It really makes sense to do the Ellis Island Museum at the same time since it's one ferry that cricles to both. Even so - you would have plenty of time for a nice late lunch, some shopping and to see the ESB as well.

We did this trip a year ago and bought our ticket on-line at:http://www.cityguidemagazine.com/new...tebuilding.htm
We also tried to cram as much in as possible. That day we got up early and took the subway over to Brooklyn to walk the Bridge back. From there we went to SOL & Ellis. It was such a gorgeous day (late Mar) that we spent way too much time enjoying the views & cut our Museum time short..but in the end that was ok too. Headed back for dinner in Chinatown and then off for a late night trip up the ESB. Super clear night to view, and about a 45min wait even with the pre-bought tickets. That just kept us from standing in line to Buy the tickets! Great day! OH how we LOVE that city!

What I've said several times before applies even more so today. The best way to see the Statue of Liberty is to ride the Staten Island Ferry, NOT to take the boat ride to Liberty Island itself. If you do the latter, you'll get to see the Statue from closer in, and from within the pedestal, but that's it. It's simply not worth the time, trouble, security checks, and cost compared to viewing her from the harbor aboard the Ferry. The latter is free, runs at all hours every half hour, involves pretty much no security check, and gives the essence of what Lady Liberty meant to arriving immigrants -- you see her from a ship as you go through the harbor, allowing you to imagine what those who saw that same sight thought as they arrived in the harbor.

You can thus see the Statue of Liberty at dawn, and have the rest of the day to see a LOT of Lower Manhattan, and finish with a night-time excursion to the Empire State Building. Watch the weather for the latter; nothing is worse than going up the ESB and seeing nothing but fog.

You can easily do both. You don't mention if you plan on doing Ellis Island. That is where you will spend the most time. Paul is right about the Staten Island Ferry if you just want to SEE the Statue of Liberty. We did the Staten Island Ferry and the next day took the Ferry to Statue/Ellis Island. We didn't get off at Statue but did get off at Ellis Island. We got a rather late start on a Friday a.m. - left our Times Square hotel at 9:00 on Statue of Liberty Express Bus. We bought tickets from the Circle Line rep that was standing at the bus stop then crossed the street to Starbucks for coffee and danish to go. Ate while waiting in line (they won't let you take your cup of coffee on board for some reason). We arrived at Ellis Island about 11:00 a.m. and back at Battery Park a little after 1:00. We didn't spend enough time at Ellis Island to do it justice -most of the time is spent boarding and waiting in line for the ferry, both coming and going.

We did ESB on a clear Saturday a.m. Wait was around an hour with pre-purchased tickets and walking the last six flights of stairs. You can purchase tickets on the ESB website and print them off on your printer.

Thanks so much for the many answers to my question. We are thinking of going tto Ellis Island and look at the SOL, then lunch and check out lower Manhattan then to ESB. I am assuming it is just as pretty at night. Thanks again!