How to Visit the Statue of Liberty with Kids: Tips and Tricks

A trip to the Statue of Liberty should be at the top of the list for any family trip to New York City. It’s an iconic site that your kids will come across again and again, so how cool would it be for them to be able to say that they were actually there? On top of that, a visit to the Statue includes a round-trip ferry ride, and the island itself is a national park, so it features a Junior Ranger program (find out more about it here). 

If you want to get the most out of your experience, however, you’ll need to plan ahead. Here’s what you can expect.

How Do We Get to the Statue?

The Statue of Liberty is situated on Liberty Island, so you’ll need to hop on a boat to get there. The only ferry company that accesses Liberty Island is Statue Cruise Lines. No other ferry docks at the island. There are two departure points – Battery Park in Lower Manhattan, and Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

If you’re visiting NYC, you’ll most likely be departing from Battery Park. Try to snag a spot on the right side of the ferry to see the NYC skyline and Statue on your way over. Both ferries make two stops during their round-trip sailing, Liberty Island and Ellis Island (you can stay on the boat during the Ellis Island stop if you don’t wish to get off). Ferries depart every 20 to 30 minutes; here is the schedule. The ride to each stop is about 15 minutes, and bathrooms are available on board.

Do I Need to Buy Tickets in Advance?

There are three levels to the Statue of Liberty: ground, pedestal, and crown. (Contrary to popular belief, the torch is not accessible to the public.) If your plan is to climb to the pedestal or crown, you’ll need to make reservations in advance, as they frequently sell out. Tickets will definitely sell out during the summer, so book as early as possible.

You can buy tickets to access just the grounds on the day of your visit, but in my opinion, it’s not worth it to take the ferry ride over just to walk around under the statue. You’re better off taking the Staten Island Ferry, which also departs from Battery Park, for free. That ferry brings you to the borough of Staten Island, passing the Statue along the way, then returns to Battery Park.

How Long Will the Visit Take?

Allot at least three hours to visit the Statue of Liberty (longer if you go after 10am, if you plan on visiting Ellis Island, or if you intend to eat lunch there). Go as early as possible in the morning. There are lines everywhere – to go through security, to board the ferry, to rent a locker, to make the climb – and these lines grow exponentially as it gets later in the day.

What Are the Food Options?

There is plenty of food available on this excursion. Hot dog carts abound in Battery Park, the ferries have concession stands that sell snacks on board, and there’s a decent café on the island that offers everything from made-to-order hamburgers and paninis to freshly made sushi. If the weather is nice, you can sit at the tables outside and admire the Manhattan skyline while you eat. You can also bring your own food.

Can I Bring a Backpack?

Yes, you can bring whatever bag you’d like, although they won’t be allowed up to the crown (to the pedestal is fine). All bags, including purses, must be placed in a locker for a nominal fee just before you enter that section of the Statue.

How Should We Dress?

Remember that the Statue of Liberty is an outdoor activity that’s located on the water. If it’s chilly out, it’ll be even more chilly (and windy) on the ferry ride. Layers are a good idea, since you’ll get hot during the climb. If it’s warm out, wear hats and bring water, as there’s no shade at the top level of the ferry or on the grounds of Liberty Island. Water is a good idea in general, as the climb to the top of the Statue can be tiring and everyone should stay hydrated.

Should We Climb Up to the Crown?

First, check to make sure crown tickets still available. They sell out months in advance during the warmer months. If tickets are still available and your kids are able to handle 126 steps by themselves, then yes, I highly recommend climbing up to the crown! It’s a fun and memorable experience because the spiral staircase is long, narrow and tight – a real adventure that you won’t find anywhere else. 

It’s so tight, in fact, that you won’t be able to carry your child safely, so make sure they can make the trip up and down on their own two feet. There are a few landings along the way for taking a break if necessary.

I recommend taking the elevator from the ground to the pedestal, to save some energy before making the climb up to the crown. (There’s no elevator to the crown.) There isn’t much to see in the stairwell from the ground to the pedestal anyway.

Should We Visit Ellis Island?

We did not make the stop at Ellis Island on the ferry ride back to Battery Park. The climb up the Statue can be exhausting, and the kids were in no mood to visit a museum afterwards. Mine are also too young to appreciate the historical significance of Ellis Island.

If you have a personal interest in the history of Ellis Island or if you have older children who’ve learned about U.S. immigration, then I’m sure it would make for a very informative and interesting visit. Otherwise, I would skip it.

What Else Is Near Battery Park?

Right in the park is the SeaGlass Carousel, an amazing experience that your kids are sure to remember. The carousel features 30 sea creatures made of fiberglass and steel that glow, rotate, and bob up and down in a seemingly random pattern. “Aquatic” music composed specifically for the ride blare from stereo speakers in each fish, and lights within the domed building add to the illusion that you are swimming through a bioluminescent underwater world.

A short walk from Battery Park is the Brooklyn Bridge, which you can walk or bike across into the borough of Brooklyn. Blazing Saddles on South Street rents bikes for all ages, including trailers and tagalongs.

A few blocks from Battery Park is the West Thames Playground, a really well-designed playground that has something for all ages. It’s located between Albany Street and West Thames Street and features everything from a sand box to a water play area to several inventive climbing structures.

For lunch, you could grab a hot dog at one of the numerous carts that line Battery park – after all, it’s the quintessential New York experience! But if you want to sit down for a nicer meal, take a 15-minute walk to Brookfield Place, an upscale mall that features an amazing food court with a panoramic view of the Manhattan skyline. It’s an awesome yet casual dining experience, and everyone in your family will find something they want to eat. Some of the food stalls include Umami Burger, Fuku, Mighty Quinn’s, and Blue Ribbon. Definitely save room for the cupcakes from Sprinkles.

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Zion National Park: Best Hikes and Activities for Kids

Zion National Park in Utah is like the Disney World of U.S. National Parks. There's a shuttle bus that takes you through the park (cars aren't allowed to drive around during the high season), and at each of the nine stops, there are a bunch of fun and interesting hikes, several of them perfect for kids. We combined a three-day visit to Zion with a day in nearby Bryce Canyon National Park and a day in Page, Arizona, in late August, and it was a wonderful mix of adventure, beautiful scenery and, of course, plenty of time at the hotel pool.

Where to Stay

Unlike at Yellowstone, it's not terribly important to stay within the park to enjoy it, and we found the Desert Pearl Inn in Springdale to be perfect, just three minutes from the park entrance and within walking distance to dozens of restaurants and adventure outfitters. The rooms are spacious, clean and comfortable, with kitchenettes and small tables for dining. We had a room looking out onto the large pool, with a majestic view of Zion's towering red peaks. There's nothing more awesome than sitting in the hot tub and looking at that view.

Plus, on the premises there's a laundry room and an excellent restaurant called Moki. You never have to leave the hotel — except to go hiking at Zion, of course!

What to Do

Our first activity in the park was to take a one-hour horseback ride with Canyon Trail Rides (Bus Stop 5: Zion Lodge). The path we took followed the Virgin River — the horses actually had to cross the river, which was thrilling! — to the Court of the Patriarchs, a set of three towering sandstone peaks. Kids have to be 7 years old to ride, and the horses were very well behaved. If you're visiting in the summer, I recommend booking one of the earlier rides that start at or before 11am, to avoid the afternoon heat.

Right across from the Zion Lodge is the Emerald Pools, a kid-friendly hike that can be adjusted for age and hiking ability. There are three levels of pools: lower, middle and upper. Our original plan was to hike all of them by doing a loop from The Grotto (Bus Stop 6), along Kayenta Trail to all three pools (map here), but weather-related closures relegated our hike to just the Lower Pool. As it turns out, that's about all we could manage in the mid-afternoon heat — a one-mile out-and-back. The entire trail to the Lower Pool is paved, making it easy to navigate with small children, and the payoff at the end is a wet path that leads behind a small waterfall. Getting sprinkled on by the falling water is a real relief in the heat.

The Narrows is a classic Zion hike (along with the decidedly less kid-friendly Angel's Landing), and we all had a blast with it. The entire hike takes place in the Virgin River, so proper footwear is definitely required (trek shoes or water shoes with a hard toe). My friends who came with us got their kids neoprene socks to go with their trek shoes. A walking stick is also an excellent idea for keeping your balance on the slippery rocks and against the stronger currents.

The Narrows bottom-up hike begins at the last shuttle stop (No. 9), then requires a one-mile walk down a paved path to the river. Once you're in the river, that's when the real fun begins. You start off wading through shallow waters, then the river starts to get deeper in parts, and the walls of the canyon start to close in. Still, there are many sections where you can take a break along a sandy shore, and the water never rose above my knees (or my kids' waists), so it's manageable for elementary-aged children. My 7-year-old son was able to do the hike just fine.

The Narrows goes on and on, becoming deeper and more treacherous, so at one point you'll have to turn back if you're bringing along kids. We hiked for about an hour in, then another hour out, with a snack break in between. Here are more of my tips and tricks for hiking the Narrows with kids.

A short hike that kids can easily do on a hot afternoon is Weeping Rock Trail (Bus Stop 7). The entire out-and-back hike is about half a mile, but it's a steep climb up a paved path. The payoff is worth it, though, a stone patio that looks out from under a "weeping" rock — a curved alcove with water permanently dripping off the top. In addition to cooling off there, you get a stunning view of the peaks from the patio; that's where I took the photo at the top of this post.

The last hike we did in Zion was slightly more death-defying, but if you've got kids who can follow directions and are willing to hold your hand, it's perfectly safe. The Canyon Overlook Trail is found off the glorious Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, which snakes from one side of the park to the other (and is worth the drive for the astounding panoramas). The out-and-back trail is only one mile long, but what a mile it is! As you go up, up, up toward the scenic overlook, your journey takes you onto the slickrock and across several hair-raising paths, where you're separated from a plunge into the slot canyon below by just a railing. It's sort of like Angel's Landing Lite, and perfect for adventurous little hikers.

Then there's the view at the top of the trail, which is so beautiful it feels unreal. There are also several small peaks for rock scrambling at the top. We spent an hour at the Canyon Overlook viewing area alone, taking pictures from every angle. We weren't there at sunset, but were told that it's spectacular there.

The last thing we did before leaving the Zion area was go on a half-day family canyoneering excursion with Zion Adventure Company. This activity is meant for families with kids ages 4 to 12 and is the perfect introduction to rappelling, rock climbing, and rock scrambling. I've done all these things before (without the kids), and even I learned a lot about the mechanics of canyoneering. Usually on these sorts of tours, the guides will hook you up on their ropes system and send you off, but with this company, the guides have you attach yourself to the rope system (always making sure you're getting it right) so that you really learn how to do everything. Even the kids were able to follow our guides' precise and kid-friendly instructions.

And boy, were those guides patient. We had two, Ross and Benton. My son was so scared during the first rappel that he started to cry. But Ross patiently talked him through everything, and by the end of the excursion, he was happily climbing up a steep rock wall called Copperhead. We also got to scramble through the most narrow slot I've ever seen, only wide enough to fit one person walking sideways at a time. It was an amazing four hours, and I can't recommend this excursion highly enough!

Where to Eat

We sampled many of the restaurants around Springdale, the town right outside of Zion, for lunch and dinner, and many were very tasty. Some of our favorites included MeMe's Cafe, Oscar's Cafe, and the above mentioned Moki. We also loved the creamy and flavorful ice cream at the Bumbleberry Gift Shop and Springdale Candy Company.

Inside the park, we had lunch at the Red Rock Grill by Zion Lodge. The food wasn't as good as at the restaurants outside the park, but it's an easy place to grab a bite if you're between activities within the park and don't want to give up a parking spot at the visitor center.

What's Nearby

If you're flying into the area, the Las Vegas airport is the closest one to Zion and you may end up spending a night or two there. While Vegas is decidedly adult-oriented, there are some activities that kids can enjoy as well. Here are my recommendations on what to do, see, and eat in Vegas when you have children in tow.

And as I mentioned, Zion is a great home base for a day trip (or longer visit) to nearby Bryce Canyon. The town of Page in Arizona is also close by, and I highly recommend making the trip out there to experience the otherworldly Antelope Canyon.

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