Heading to NYC for July 4th

I am planning to be in NYC for July 4th, and I need help!!
My original goal was to be able to photography fireworks over the Statue Of Liberty. But I am not sure if that will be possible? Where would I go to do this?
If I cannot do that, I want to get in a spot to at least photograph the fireworks.
I know nothing about NYC, and don't know where to go!!! Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Take the #1 train to battery park and you'll be able to see Lady Liberty from there. Better get there early I'm sure it will be packed.

ItzSimplymike wrote in post #14494287
Take the #1 train to battery park and you'll be able to see Lady Liberty from there. Better get there early I'm sure it will be packed.

Thanks, but will this only get me a view of the Statue of Liberty? It is my understanding that fireworks are set off in the Hudson River, which is Northwest of Battery Park, While Lady Liberty is South of Battery Park. I am guessing at this point that I MIGHT NOT be able to photograph it and the fireworks. So I would rather find a good spot to photograph the fireworks that evening. Are you able to see fireworks from Battery Park?

From Battery Park, you can see the entire harbor, including Liberty & Ellis Islands as well as the entrance to the Hudson River which will be on your right as you face the water. It is one of the most popular vantage points for seeing the fireworks and Lady Liberty together, except for Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ (behind Liberty Island as you look at it from NYC.) From there, you can see Liberty Island, Ellis Island, the harbor and the Manhattan Skyline included.

Like ItzSimplymike says, get there early. Stake out your spot & get comfortable as every place will be packed with folks doing the same thing you are.

Sounds like a fun trip!

dfdpiper wrote in post #14495488
From Battery Park, you can see the entire harbor, including Liberty & Ellis Islands as well as the entrance to the Hudson River which will be on your right as you face the water. It is one of the most popular vantage points for seeing the fireworks and Lady Liberty together, except for Liberty State Park in Jersey City, NJ (behind Liberty Island as you look at it from NYC.) From there, you can see Liberty Island, Ellis Island, the harbor and the Manhattan Skyline included.

Like ItzSimplymike says, get there early. Stake out your spot & get comfortable as every place will be packed with folks doing the same thing you are.

Sounds like a fun trip!

Thanks!!! I will get there on the afternoon of the 2nd, so gonna spend some time at Times Square, then I will have the 3rd for whatever, then the morning of the 4th I plan on getting up and heading to Battery Park, to get on a Ferry to go to Liberty Island. I figure I will do that then just stay at Battery Park until time for fireworks!!

wait a second. you guys aren't lower enough to see Lady Liberty and fireworks in the Hudson.

The July 4th Macy's Fireworks are shot off between 60th and 40th streets on the Hudson river side. Not on the East River any longer.

That means if you're in battery park, the statue of liberty will be behind you and you won't get her in the pictures.

If you want Lady Liberty, you'd need to go South in Jersey City and shoot North along the river. Or better yet, down onto the piers in Bayonne and shoot north. That would giv you the view your looking for.
https://maps.google.co​m …451&spn=0.04335​9,0.097761

That would put the following into perspective I think;
Statue of Liberty
Freedom Tower
Empire State Building
Fireworks
and way in the distance would be the George Washington Bridge.

https://maps.google.co​m ….086646,0.19552​2&t=m&z=13

If you look at the map, you'll see Battery Park is at the very lowest tip of Manhattan where the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel begins.
Ellis Island/Lady Liberty is South West of that spot behind you while the fireworks are shooting off North of you.

DisrupTer911 wrote in post #14505097
wait a second. you guys aren't lower enough to see Lady Liberty and fireworks in the Hudson.

The July 4th Macy's Fireworks are shot off between 60th and 40th streets on the Hudson river side. Not on the East River any longer.

That means if you're in battery park, the statue of liberty will be behind you and you won't get her in the pictures.

If you want Lady Liberty, you'd need to go South in Jersey City and shoot North along the river. Or better yet, down onto the piers in Bayonne and shoot north. That would giv you the view your looking for.
https://maps.google.co​m …451&spn=0.04335​9,0.097761

That would put the following into perspective I think;
Statue of Liberty
Freedom Tower
Empire State Building
Fireworks
and way in the distance would be the George Washington Bridge.

https://maps.google.co​m ….086646,0.19552​2&t=m&z=13

If you look at the map, you'll see Battery Park is at the very lowest tip of Manhattan where the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel begins.
Ellis Island/Lady Liberty is South West of that spot behind you while the fireworks are shooting off North of you.

This is more what I kinda had in mind......will I be allowed onto the piers? I don't know what areas will allow access to view them.

More then likely you'll be able to get down by the park on the one pier in Bayonne, the one with the Anti-Terrorism monument.

Thanks!!!

No problem.

Be forewarmed tho, it gets unbelievely crowded EARLY.
people stake out their spots mid-morning around brunch time and just hang out all day waiting.

There's also no bathroom facilities setup anywhere for this and most of the local stores/restaurants won't allow non-patrons in.

The 7/11 by the spot were were had a line out the door for hours.

Was kinda afraid of that....lol The price you pay for the spot huh? lol

yeah.

Now, that being said, both years that they have been in Hudson, I've gone down to Weehawken, NJ to get pix.

year #1 I managed to get up on a parking garage roof top with a little persuassion.
Year #2 i stayed out on the street back on JFK blvd.

Both years were an absolute nightmare to leave when it was over tho.

lol..now this is getting scary...lol My first time to experience New York....July 2-4 wondering if I made a mistake..lol

nah you'll be good. Plan with plenty of time to get around.

I went to Washington DC for the 4th. What a mistake. Horrible show and nearly 1 million people trying to get out of the national mall onto 4 rail lines. HOURS AND HOURS of waiting for the metro.

The trouble that it takes to get the pictures are not worth it . You need to arrive VERY early as many folks and families make this trip . Many from out of State. So you have your spot marked out , yet as the day turns into night and the time gets closer lots of late comers will try to encroach on your spot and rather aggressively. Some may have had many a drink which does not help matters . As someone mentioned bathrooms are rare if any indeed . Some spots are fenced off by the police (the better spots. If you are in these spots it's ok but if you need to leave for the bathroom or food , you may not get back to your spot family there or not . this is because everyone that wants the good spot all say that they were up front and just left to use the bathroom , so the answer is many times sorry pal. save yourself the headache ......trust someone that knows this event well ...not to mention carrying good equipt around