I have seen photos of it all my life and was delig...

I have seen photos of it all my life and was delighted to finally visit this great symbol of liberty. I was able to obtain tickets with pedestal access the night before. Buy tickets direct from Statue Cruises because all other sites seem to charge as much as 30% more. You don't need to show up more than 15-30 minutes before your ferry's departure. Be prepared to go through a security checkpoint before boarding. If you have pedestal or crown access you will need to leave backpacks and drinks in a locker at the base of the statue. Take photos of the Statue as you are cruising to it and take photos of Manhattan as you return. There are so many great views. I took the stairs up tot he pedestal instead of the elevator. Even with my bad knees I was easily able to handle it. The pedestal balcony is very slim, so it can get crowded quickly. There is a nice museum to visit that discusses the history and construction of the statue.