Community Magazine October 2009

Experience what our grandparents did when they arrived at these shores a century ago. Over 12 million immigrants disembarked at Ellis Island before being ferried inland to start a new life in America. Start your day in Battery Park, NY or Liberty State Park, NJ and take the ferry to the island that is home to the famous Statue of Liberty . With advanced reservations, you may even be able to enter Lady Liberty’s crown. Then, take the ferry to Ellis Island where you’ll enjoy a museum exhibit showing how the immigrants arrived and the procedures that followed. Back at your point of departure you’ll find that Liberty State Park has many other activities and attractions, as well. Its beautiful grounds overlook the NY harbor, and it’s a great place for a picnic or barbeque. Another of the park’s features is the partially restored Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal (CRNJT), which transported many of the immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island to destinations all over the country. The Liberty Walk promenade graces the eastern edge of Liberty State Park. It is a 1.3-mile stroll from the park office and Statue of Liberty overlook to the CRRNJ Terminal. Also nearby is the Liberty Science Center , a family science museum. The museum has three floors of interactive exhibits that focus on invention, health and the environment. Located in the Liberty Science Center is the Kodak Omni Theater, with the largest IMAX dome screen in the world. Educational features on IMAX include Wild Ocean, Forces of Nature and The Alps. Statue Cruises Ferry Hours: 8:00-3pm • Cost: adults $12, seniors (62 and older) $10, children • (4-12) $5 Location: 20 State St, Battery Park, NY (ticket booth at • Castle Clinton National Monument) or 1 Audrey Zapp Drive, Liberty State Park, NJ (NJ Turnpike exit 14B) Contact: 877-523-9849 or visit statuecruises.com • Statue of Liberty Hours: 9:30-5pm • Cost: Free. A visit to the crown • entails an additional fee of $3. Location: Liberty Islands • Contact: 212-363-3200, for • tickets to the crown call 877- 523-9849 Ellis Island: Hours: 9:30-5pm • Cost: Free • Location: Liberty Islands • Contact: 212-363-3200 • Liberty Science Center Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9-4pm/ • Sunday 9-5pm Cost: Exhibit/IMAX Adult • $15.75/$9, children (2-12), seniors $11.50/$7 Location: 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Liberty State Park, • Jersey City, NJ (or for a GPS friendly address enter: 251 Phillip Street) Contact: 201-200-1000 or visit www.lsc.org • Revival of the Titanic Relive Titanic’s fateful 1912 maiden voyage and take on the iden- tity of a Titanic passenger as you explore magnificent reconstruc- tions of the ship’s interior. Discover how the “unsinkable” ship met its fate and connect with the passengers and crew, as you view haunting personal artifacts recovered from the wreck. All this is displayed, for a limited time only, at Discovery TSX. Hours: 10am-10pm • Cost: adults $24.50, seniors $22.50, children (4-12) • $17.50 (Mention the promotion code METRO and you’ll save $4 on adult admission and $2 on children.) Location: Discovery TSX at 226 West 44th Street • between 7th and 8th Avenues (former NY Times Building and directly across from Shubert Alley) Contact: 866-987-9692 or 646-619-8619 • or visit www.discoverytsx.com/nyc/ F a m i l y E x c u r s i o n s S e v e n F u n No sessions at school doesn’t have to mean a lazy day at home. For those parents who have the time, patience, and just a few extra dollars, vacation days from school can turn out to be a fun, educational and exciting family experience. The outings listed here were selected for their kid friendly fun factor. Just be sure to call ahead to verify hours, costs and other details before visiting. Living the Liberty Experience 74 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE