Lady Liberty & Ellis

Due to our breakfast experience yesterday, my web-savvy hubby discovered one of Broadway’s hidden gems, Ellen’s Stardust Diner. Located right next to the Mama Mia Theater, this retro 50’s style restaurant is the ideal place to stop for some reasonable priced good food and fabulous entertainment. All of the wait staff is working to make it on Broadway. Not only do they serve, but sing as well. We highly recommend it! Mason got pancakes. Morgan got Fruit Loops. We were already to a great start! I don’t know how our little princess does it, but she has a way of attracting attention to herself. I can’t believe we didn’t capture it on our video camera (probably because we were starving), but several times the waiters were singing directly to our heart breaker. Boy did she love it! I did actually get one song while we were there. I think the song is very appropriate for our stay in the Big Apple.

Today we were scheduled to meet Lady Liberty. I bought online tickets in January to guarantee us a spot inside the statue. Before we left the hotel, I double checked to see if I had made an appointment time. There was not a time to be seen, so no hurry. After arriving at the ferry, my eye caught a glance of the e-ticket. There in small print – 10:00 AM. It was noon. To make it worse, we were supposed to be at the security check point by the statue at that appointed time. My stomach turned into one big giant knot! Scott played it cool, had us on the boat (after going through security – wait time 5 minutes) with no questions asked. Still nervous about denied entry, relaxing was not an option. Thankfully my stress was relieved after an employee checked our tickets and allowed us through… to another security line which took 45 minutes just to get to the door. After another 15, we were walking inside one of our nation’s most recognizable symbols of freedom. The museum is located on the second floor in the pedestal of the Statue. On the ground level our eyes captured an incredible sight – the original 1886 torch and flame. Out of all the objects and photographs documenting Ms. Liberty, the full scale replicas of her face and foot were our favorite - the face more so for the kids. The photo says it all!


An elevator brought us up to the 10th story pedestal observatory. Lady Liberty’s crown and torch are still inaccessible due to the terrorist attacks of 9/11, but maybe reopened this summer. Below is a shot of one in a series of narrow, spiraling staircase which leads to her accessories. With no elevator access, visitors prior to 2001 would carefully walk 354 steps – steps of which would only provide the space of half an adult foot. Once in the crown, 25 windows the size of an adult hand were available for your viewing pleasure.

We took a stroll around the 11-point star-shaped Fort Wood for our final photo ops with Ms. Liberty. It was time to purchase souvenirs and then hop on the next ferry to Ellis Island.

Statue of Liberty

Since we arrived late in the day, our time there was limited. We managed to see the Registration Hall where on April 17, 1907 the all-time daily high of 11,747 immigrants were processed in a single day. Scott had us re-enact what it would be like to walk up the steps leading to this great hall. If only these walls could talk. But for the moment, our stomachs dominated the subject. We were off to eat at the only available concessions on the island. Due to the late start, we had missed the lunch rush. We were able enjoy a quiet and relaxing meal minus Morgan’s patriotic singing. See clip below.

Our last item of business was to search for any ancestors who may have walked these very halls. We think we might have found some.

Ellis Island

With another ferry ride back to the main land, we explored more of the city specifically downtown starting with Battery Park,the Bull, Wall Street and Ground Zero. After a full day of sightseeing, we were exhausted. Using a quick motion of the hand, our yellow chariot arrived to carry us back to our hotel.

Battery Park

Around Downtown