Day 1: Liberty and Ellis Island

Day 1: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Our first night is not going well. Due to jet lag, I wake up frequently and can't really fall back asleep after 8 hours. Additionally, the heating is very loud; it constantly heats up and blows out warm air.
We wake up early and after breakfast head to the Hudson River and from there to Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan. Here we receive our wristbands for the booked tour to Liberty Island. First, we have to wait and go through security before we can board the ferry. The crossing takes 25 minutes. The view of the skyline enchants us. The sun is shining, but with minus 8 degrees, it is very cold. I am wearing 3 pairs of pants, making it bearable.
On Liberty Island, we first visit the museum and the kids earn a Junior Park Ranger badge. The area belongs to the National Park Service. After the crowd has visited the Statue of Liberty, we take our opportunity to climb the pedestal. Special tickets are required for this. First, we climb up 176 steps to the top platform of the pedestal. From here, there are another 162 steps, but in the form of a narrow spiral staircase, fortunately without any oncoming traffic. Upon reaching the top, we stand in the crown of the Statue of Liberty. Here, a maximum of 10 people can fit with us. It's exciting and a wonderful experience. It is highly recommended to reserve these tickets in advance.  After a short time, we go back down and walk around the pedestal. The Statue of Liberty was inaugurated on October 28, 1886, and is a gift from France to the United States. With a total height of 92.99 meters, it is one of the largest statues in the world.
After a small lunch snack, we board the ferry again and head over to Ellis Island.


On Ellis Island, from 1892 to 1954, almost 12 million immigrants who arrived at the port of New York and New Jersey were examined. This journey of the immigrants is well depicted in a museum. Only the passengers of the 3rd class had to enter through Ellis Island. They were checked for diseases. 2 out of 100 people were deported back to their home country. There was also a hospital on the island for treatment. Tours are also offered, but unfortunately, our kids do not meet the minimum age.
With the audio guide, we explore the museum and also earn a Junior Park Ranger badge here. 
One question is: You have 3 items you can take with you on your entry; what do you take? Answer options: Photo album, sewing machine, fashion clothing, teddy bear, cooking pots, and winter coat. Little David insisted on the teddy bear. He doesn't need a photo album; he has a phone after all.
At around 2:30 PM, we leave the island and stroll back to our accommodation. We are exhausted and decide to wind down the day. After a coffee from Starbucks, we quickly run to the supermarket and then cook our dinner.