How to visit Ellis Island

1. Best to buy online to reserve both islands. 
2. Use statue cruises only. 
3. Statue Cruises only embarks at Castle Clinton. 
4. All other statue boats go near Lady Liberty but they don't disembark
5. When you buy your ticket from TopView, that goes near the island but not on it.
6. When you buy from statue cruises, you are getting both islands
7. If you wait until you go to Castle Clinton that day, you might not get the island you want.

On June 14 in the morning I bought a ticket online. My receipt arrived but not my ticket, so when I went to Castle Clinton, they told me to go to the will-call line to exchange my order number for actual tickets. They said it must have been a glitch.

First it goes to liberty. I didn't disembark. Twenty minute wait, then almost fifteen minutes to Ellis island. Then another twenty minute wait. Then back to nyc. It's possible to stay on the boat the whole time.

You can either get tickets that start at Castle Clinton, or Liberty State Park. For us it's easier to leave from Castle Clinton

2019 trip to visit Maddie in philly

1. Brought Dwight with us.
2. Did Friday to Saturday instead of Saturday to Sunday
3. Stayed at The Study, same as we did in 2018. It's central and near train station.
4. Came in from Trenton at the suburban station because that was just an eleven minute walk to where we meet up
5. We meet up at Logan Circle by the fountain
6. I got sandwiches delivered by Jimmy John's Thursday night. I carried then in a plastic container and we are out lunch at Logan while waiting for Maddie. 
7. Left the house at 9:40. 
8. Took Grove Street PATH, to Newark Penn, NJ Transit to Newark Penn, SEPTA commuter rail to Suburban Station (rather than 30th street station.) Suburban is east of the Schukyll River. Walked to Logan square. Arrived at Logan Square at 1 pm. 
9. Had a tour booked with Free Tours by Food for 2:30. 
10. There happened to be a library tour at 2 pm so we went to 20 minutes of that first. 
11. The tour started at the steps of the library on Vine Street at 2:30.
12. The Philly tour was a tour of Logan square area of all unusual facts mostly he was talking, not much walking.
13. Tour guide was Joseph Spurlock. Maddie had seen him in an improv.
14. Tour ended a around 4:15.
15. Then we walked West to the river and North then east to Maddie's car.
16. We drove to the study to check in and bathroom stop.
17. Then we had a 6 pm reservation at the co-op which is in our hotel. Perfect food choices for Maddie.
18. Linda got s Septa bus card and registered it. See LastPass. Also set up auto replenish. It works for trolleys and subways and buses but not yet for regional rai
19. Maddie took us to the Melrose Diner in South Philly, so Dwight could see a little bit of South Philly.
20. Mike already has one and it has autoreplenish.
21. For 2019, we booked The Study at University City. I used Expedia, and got a discount because we had Expedia rewards. I did add $4 each for travel protection and got two double beds. This hotel is a trolley ride from Madeline.
22. Total was $188.51
23. Madeline had her car this year, so she gave us a lift. 
24. Maybe for 2020, Dwight needs a SEPTA card because we can't share.

History Notes

Notes about visits in 2018:

1. The Study at University Center

Notes about visits in 2017:

1. Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel We liked the hotel (Sweet Adelines and chess years ago). Do again! 
2. We went to Porchfest in her neighborhood (music on porches) 
3. We visited Rosie the cat 
4. Dinner at Red Owl Tavern (Chestnut and 5th). Madeline loved it -- good seafood (expensive but who cares)
5. Walked from hotel back to 30th street for Septa commuter rail but there coudl be a stop closer to the hotel (possibly suburban station at 15th and Market)