"I recommend taking the early ferry from Battery Park to see the Statue of Liberty up close—she’s as big as you imagine—and to spend time on Ellis Island, which I think is the real highlight thanks to its powerful exhibits about the immigrant experience (you can even find my family’s name on the wall). The ferry ticket costs $24 USD, and if the line is too long the free Staten Island ferry is a faster, cheaper alternative for photos of the statue and harbor, though you won’t get as close." - Matthew Kepnes