NYC Vacation Packages - Two Thumbs Up!
 

We traveled to Italy in May (trip report is in the Europe forum). On the way home, we had most of one day to spend in New York. Mr. Pickle really wanted to visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, but the earliest ferry tickets we could get wouldn't allow us to see both sites and get to LGA in time for our 6 p.m. flight.

While I was looking at Manhattan walking tours as a plan B, I noticed New York City Vacation Packages offered a Statue of Liberty Express Tour that left at 8:30 a.m. from near Radio City Music Hall. http://www.nyctrip.com/Pages/Index.aspx?PageID=1563

Since our sleep schedule was already messed up, it was pretty easy to get up and head north from our hotel. We'd left ourselves plenty of time to get to the meeting place, which I think was at 57th St. and 7th Avenue - I don't remember its name, but it is two or three blocks north and west of Radio City, a cafe with tea and a mediocre iced Americano. Still, caffeine is caffeine and I wasn't going to be picky. :-)

Tony, our guide, arrived early, introduced himself, and grabbed some breakfast while he waited to see if anyone had made last-minute reservations. No one else showed up, so it was just two women from Glasgow, Mr. Pickle, and me.

We got on the subway and headed south, exiting at Rector Street. Tony had a lot of interesting information to share about that area as we walked - we stopped at the former U. S. Customs Building, saw a ton of people taking their pictures with the Wall Street bull, and he shared some of New York's early history as well.

After a brief stop to see the displays at Castle Clinton, we went through security and onto the boat for Liberty Island. Once we got there, we spent a little more time with Tony and went into the museum with him. He got us started there before he left, and we had as much time as we wanted to explore on our own.

We both really enjoyed the museum - it's a good amount of information without feeling overwhelming. Our tour tickets included pedestal access, which was pretty great. We walked all around, enjoying the views and the sense of history you feel at the feet of Lady Liberty.

After a quick stop for lunch in the Ellis Island cafe (pretty decent food, reasonably priced), we explored as many of the second-floor displays as we had time for. Many of the exhibits had been taken down due to damage from Hurricane Sandy, and will be in storage while new mechanical and electrical systems are installed. As a result, it was pretty warm and humid in most of the rooms, but the interesting information made up for the bit of discomfort we felt. I'd like to spend more time there when the displays are all restored, since I'm pretty sure my grandparents would have gone through Ellis Island when they arrived in America.

Normally, we wouldn't have booked a guided tour, but I'm glad we did this one so that we could make the most of our limited time in New York.

Lee Ann

Glad you used your short stay economically.

Great tip. Thanks.

Both my Basque grandparents came thru Ellis Island. I found their names on the ship manifests online.

Michelle if I may, where did your grandparents eventually settle?

MichelleY, I was looking at the Liberty Ellis Island Foundation's website earlier today, and found one who I think might be my grandpa, but I didn't have time to look more. It listed his hometown as Viscaya in Spain, which is (I think) in the Basque region. I think my dad may have a copy of a ship's manifest somewhere in his bedroom, too - will have to check that.

Lee Ann

Central California. They met and married in Fresno.

Viscaya/Vizcaya/Biscaya is a Basque province. My family is from, and still are, in Pamplona, Navarra. Sometimes you have to play with the spellings of the names.

Thanks. My FIL is from Galicia. I am always curious were Spaniards settled.