Posted: 3/24/2023 | March twenty fourth, 2023

I really like New York City. I’ve spent a lot time visiting and dwelling right here. To me, it’s the beating coronary heart of the world. There isn’t any language spoken or meals eaten which you can’t discover right here. And there’s a never-ending stream of things to see and do. You possibly can by no means be bored on this metropolis.

At any time when I need a deeper dive into a spot, I take a strolling tour.

And on the subject of strolling excursions, NYC has all of it.

Free excursions, historical past excursions, pub crawls, meals excursions, ghost excursions — there are a ton of walking tours around town.

My favourite firm — in NYC and overseas — is Walks. They started in Italy in 2009 however rapidly expanded to different nations and cities in Europe. Then they made the leap over the Atlantic, providing guided excursions in New York Metropolis, Niagara Falls, New Orleans, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, DC.

Whereas their excursions aren’t free, they’re tremendous insightful and steadiness having enjoyable with studying.

In New York, they run a handful of choices, together with a tour to Ellis Island to see the Statue of Liberty.

As somebody who studied historical past in faculty (enjoyable reality: household got here to America through Ellis Island) this tour was particularly attention-grabbing to me.

And, after taking it, right here’s my evaluate:

 

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour Evaluation

“Welcome to the actual door to America,” our information stated when he opened up the entrance door to the huge Registry Room. Right here, as much as 6,000 immigrants per day obtained their first style of their new life in America.

Between 1892, when the 27-acre island first opened in New York Harbor, and 1954, when it closed, the Registry Room obtained over 12,000,000 immigrants, who rapidly turned new Individuals.

The tour group met at 8:15am on the southern tip of Manhattan. There have been 14 of us plus our information, Nicola, an Italian-born former legal lawyer who stated he had been preventing the mafia in his native Florence earlier than he properly selected a profession change. He quickly shepherded us towards the ferry for our half-day stroll round Liberty Island, house to the enduring Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

As we walked there, Nicola regaled us with tales in regards to the founding of New York Metropolis, how it ping-ponged between the Dutch and the British, and the way 35 % of Manhattan right this moment is on landfill.

After we obtained to the ferry in decrease Manhattan, there was an enormous line to board the boat. However Nicola led us across the military of vacationers, a lot to their annoyance, and we obtained proper to the entrance of the road. I don’t know if Nicola was simply being a seasoned and daring information or if it has one thing to do with the truth that Walks and the boat firm Hornblower are each owned by Metropolis Experiences — maybe giving Walks the additional privilege of skipping the strains.

Regardless of the case, having to not wait with the lots to board the boat was price the price of the tour.

As soon as on the ferry, Nicola directed us to sit down in a really particular spot, which we had been capable of get because of the truth that we had been the primary individuals on the boat. This gave us an superior view of the NYC skyline.

After about 20 minutes, you get off the ferry on Liberty Island and stroll the entrance of the Statue of Liberty the place, when the climate is good, you get to be taught in regards to the historical past of the enduring statue and the way it got here to be positioned right here.

After we had been on Liberty Island and Ellis Island, Nicola was a wealth of data. He talked about this was his 1,144th tour of the islands. He dropped some wonderful info that I’d by no means heard earlier than, together with these three gems:

• The statue, which was formally erected in 1886, was initially being thought of for Battery Park on the southern tip of Manhattan. However then somebody with a way of imaginative and prescient for the long run realized that Manhattan’s rising skyline would at some point fully dwarf the statue and eclipse its majestic presence. After contemplating putting it in Central Park, they finally selected the island that will later be named Liberty, partly as a result of you’ll be able to see it from numerous factors round New York Harbor.
• When the statue arrived from France in 1885, there was one vital facet that they had not thought of: a pedestal. After scrambling to search out funding and a designer — they went with the identical architect who designed the Metropolitan Museum of Artwork — the pedestal was prepared a yr later and, quickly sufficient, Woman Liberty was standing tall.
• On Ellis Island, they not solely needed to register the 6,000 or so new immigrants per day but in addition display screen them for ailments. There have been solely two docs on employees at one time on the island, so you’ll be able to think about how lengthy it took.

After that, you get about 40 or so minutes by yourself to wander the island, try the Statue of Liberty Museum, have a espresso or chunk to eat on the island’s cafeteria, and browse within the reward store.

General, this tour to be the right primer in regards to the island, immigration throughout this time, and the Statue.
 

Ought to You Take a Guided Tour of Ellis Island & the Statue of Liberty?

Even if you happen to’ve been to NYC and despatched the statue from afar, some of the spectacular sights within the metropolis is seeing the statue shut up. You get a special angle and perspective on the statue and the one placing factor you’ll discover whereas on Liberty Island is that the statue is just not standing tall; she’s truly strolling, “Marching towards the long run,” as our information stated.

Now, you are able to do a self-guided, DIY tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island by yourself for the value of admission ($31.50 USD). And that’s fantastic if you happen to simply wish to stroll round by yourself, have a look at issues, and never precisely know the importance of them.

However, if you wish to stroll away with a deeper information of Liberty and Ellis Islands, this Walks tour is invaluable. Its value begins at $69 USD, however may be very a lot definitely worth the value.

Whereas it’s wonderful to see the statue up shut, the actual spotlight of the tour was our information. There was simply a lot nuance and context his experience added, which made all of the distinction by way of worth.

I’ve lengthy been an enormous advocate of guided strolling excursions. And I’ve additionally lengthy been a fan of Walks and have taken lots of their excursions in Europe and past. The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island tour didn’t disappoint.

It additionally reaffirmed for me how significantly better of a journey expertise one has when opting to fork out a bit more cash for a guided tour. You be taught extra. You stroll away extra appreciative of the place. You set cash within the pocket of an area tour information. And also you may simply meet some pleasant vacationers alongside the best way.
 

Suggestions for Your Ellis Island & Statue of Liberty Tour

Listed below are a number of fast suggestions to make sure you take advantage of your go to to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty:

• Put on snug footwear. You’re going to be in your toes for at the very least 4 hours. Be certain your sneakers are snug and appropriate for strolling round.
• Test the climate. If it’s going to be chilly, deliver a jacket and scarf. If it’s going to be sizzling and sunny, deliver a hat and water. Wet? Don’t neglect an umbrella!
• Keep away from the weekends. All the things is busier on the weekend, so attempt to go to mid-week if you happen to can.
• Ask questions. Your information is a wealth of data. Profit from it by asking any and all questions you might have. There are not any unhealthy questions on these excursions!

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New York City has an infinite abundance of points of interest and issues to do. It’s additionally a dear metropolis. However you possible gained’t remorse spending just a little extra for a guided tour. You’ll go house with a number of extra attention-grabbing tales and info to inform and have a way more insightful, memorable expertise.

Book a Walks Tour of NYC Here!