I’ve been to New York three times in my life. All three times I’ve included a Statue of Liberty visit.
For people who grew up around it, it may be a no-big-deal tourist site. But as someone who grew up in the landlocked center of the country, it was something I only knew by way of history books, photographs, and movies. Standing large and majestically, it was the stuff of storybooks.
Hopping on a ferry and riding across the water from Battery Park as the statue comes closer into view fills me with a kind of awe. Imagining all of the people who have found their way to it – from all around the globe – and the feelings they were experiencing makes it a must-see celebrity of the trip.
As the Statue grows ever larger in sight, people crowd around the edges of the boat, speaking myriad languages, and taking photographs with the statue hovering behind them. With excited smiles, they beam, capturing the moment.
After making one’s way off the boat, there are picnic tables, a gift shop, and bathrooms, and a huge lawn with a magnificent view of the New York City skyline.
On my first Statue of Liberty visit when I was in high school, I made the long trek up the inner spiral staircase to the crown. I remember peeking through the tiny windows as more tourists waited behind me, quickly taking a photo as we passed.
The second time I visited, it was just a few months after 9/11, and the crown was closed to visitors. This time the trip came up with fairly short notice, and the crown tickets had already been snatched up. (You have to buy them about three months in advance.)
By the time I was ordering, there was just one ticket left to get to the statue’s pedestal. So I purchased one pedestal ticket and then just a general boat ticket to get to Liberty Island.
David and I were joined on our Statue of Liberty visit by our friend, Katrina.
Katrina also was only able to get a boat ticket. However, when we got to the Will Call ticket booth, since one member of our party had a ticket for pedestal access, they freely gave additional pedestal tickets to the rest of the group. It was a really lovely surprise.
We were going to be getting there around lunchtime. I’d read online that the food options on Liberty Island were of the fast food variety and pretty uninspiring.
So the night before, we all went to Whole Foods and picked up some picnic-worthy lunch items: a couple packs of baked tofu (that I opened with scissors before leaving since you have to go through an airport-style metal detector), roasted red pepper hummus, grapes, raspberries, crackers, and non-dairy cheese from Kite Hill.
(Need more ideas? Check out these vegan picnic recipes.)
After filling our bellies, we made our way to the pedestal entrance. Bags have to be checked and put into lockers. No food is allowed inside of the Statue.
We locked up our bag and headed up the 215 steps to the pedestal. (There’s also an elevator option available, but we decided to skip the line.)
While the view is better from the bottom of the statue where you can take it all in, there’s something so bucket list-worthy about seeing it from the inside. It brings it all home that you’re really there.
The area around the pedestal is a tight squeeze. So I can see why they have to limit the amount of people who are allowed at one time.
One high school girl was having a rough time of it because of the height and was sitting on the floor with her back up against the concrete looking positively ghostly.
We headed back down to the base to walk around the museum inside. They have drawings and pictures of the statue being made, a life-sized replica of her face, and an area that features the responses of early visitors to the statue.
Finally, we walked around to the front of the Statue for more photos, waved goodbye, and took the ferry back to where our trip began.
For more vegan travels of NYC, check out my New York travel page.
ameyfm
how fun. I’ve never been to the Statue of Liberty, but I would really like it. I’d also really like to go to Ellis Island – the immigration museum part. Both Musty and I had family members who arrived in the U.S. through Ellis Island.
Cadry
Wow, it would add a lot for your personal history to see Ellis Island since both you and Musty had family members who arrived to the U.S. through there. I visited Ellis Island in high school, but I haven’t been back since then.
Jenna
I live very close to NYC and the Statue of Liberty and you are right we kind of treat it as a no big deal thing. I’m not even sure if I’ve ever been to it! Maybe once when I was little. I love seeing and reading about it from an outsiders perspective! I think I’ll try to plan a trip next spring/summer with my family now. We will be driving past it on our way to Rockaway, Queens this weekend and I alway’s look forward to seeing it while going over the bridge. 🙂
Cadry
Oh, I hope you’re able to make it happen next spring or summer. I can totally see how when you grow up or live and work around something, it doesn’t have quite the same majestic appeal, but there are some sites that really are special. When I lived in L.A., no matter how many times I saw the Hollywood sign, it always gave me a little thrill.
Becky
What a fun afternoon, and a perfect snack. I haven’t seen that cheese at our Whole Foods, but I need to look more closely. I love that good vegan cheese has become so widely available!
Cadry
I was just looking at the map of availability for Kite Hill yesterday, and I don’t think they have it in Atlanta yet. It looked like it was pretty much the edges of the United States that had it. I’d still prefer Treeline or Punk Rawk to Kite Hill, but since I can’t get any nut-based vegan cheeses at all where I live (outside of making it myself, of course), I’ll take it!
Jojo
How have I been to NYC three times and never done this? Next time! Your picnic looks fantastic, I often grab stuff from Whole Foods for picnics whilst I’m travelling in the US and they almost always involve bread and some sort of exciting new cheese product!!
Cadry
Oh, yes! It’s definitely worth doing. I’ve known New Yorkers who find it cheesy and touristy, but I don’t experience it that way. And well, I don’t mind cheesy even if it was! 🙂