Ellis Island, New York City

The Ellis Island Museum is a beautiful place full of history, you have to take a cruise to get to the island and the short trip will allow you to visit the also the Statute of Liberty, and enjoy beautiful views of the Manhattan island. At the museum you will find many historical documents and very nice and touching stories through each exhibition; this was the first “check point” and entrance where many immigrants arrived from Europe and other continents back in the days.

I had a great experience here. The museum is great and interactive. They have audio tour that allow you to go around at your own pace. It's very educational and interesting. The place is well maintained. My friend and I went on the Hard Hat Tour, which gives you the opportunity to explore island #2 (General hospital) and #3 (infectious disease hospital) that's still under restoration and are not open to general public. The tour can have up to 12-20 people in one time slot if I'm not wrong, but I got lucky, and it was only the 4 of us. So, the group felt more intimate, and it was easier to interact with the guide, who is very knowledgeable. The tour was great and gives you more information on the history of Ellis Island's hospitals that are not available on the regular tour. It's also fascinating to be able to see the attention to details that they put into building the hospital and how healthcare has progressed since. It's a bit pricy, but it's worth it because the money goes to help fund the island's restoration projects. The tour might not be for everyone, but if you're a fan of history and exploring 'abandoned' buildings, this is a great experience.