Statue of Liberty552

France's gift to America is an inspiring sight in the New York Harbor, and can be an inspiring site to visit as well. Of course, it also requires a LOT of stamina and patience, two things most children don't seem to have a lot of.

Time passes are needed to enter the monument. A limited number of time passes are available at the ferry ticket offices for walk-ins on a first come, first served basis, but it's best to reserve in advance by phoning the ferry company (1.866.782.8834 - US only; 212.269.5755 outside the US) or visiting statuecruises.com

There is an elevator that travels the first three levels of the Pedestal (there are a total of ten), but it's often on the blink and when it isn't, lines are long. The Pedestal proper houses a bit of a museum, highlights of the Statue's history, a small gift shop and some tactile exhibits, which are a nice and thoughtful touch (no pun intended) for the visually impaired. The old torch, which used to be visitable but was replaced by a solid windowless version in 1986, can be seen as an exhibit in the Pedestal.

Crown reservations ($3/ticket) may be made through the Statue Cruises website or by phone at 877.523.9849. Crown tickets may be reserved up to one year in advance, and each customer may reserve a maximum of four tickets. Children must be at least 4-feet tall. Ticket holders are required to show photo ID matching the name printed on the ticket.

Note that it's quite a climb (354 steps) in a non-air-conditioned environment - up to 20 degrees hotter than outside. Only ten people can visit the crown at a time; reserve well in advance.