http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-3256597/Sick-tourist-NYC-trail-Statue-Liberty-speedier-way-jet-ski.html
Sick of the NYC tourist trail? See the Statue of Liberty in a speedier way... by jet-ski
- Instead of taking a boat tour, try a more adventurous viewing experience
- In Jersey City, visitors can rent jet-skis to see Manhattan in a new way
- Guests usually set off early in the morning while the Hudson River is calm
By Jill Reilly for MailOnline
Published: 03:36 EST, 28 November 2015 | Updated: 20:50 EST, 28 November 2015
I have seen the Statue of Liberty on a tourist boat - we were crammed in like cattle and struggling to take photos over each other's heads.
So when my sister visited NYC and wanted to take another tour I was not keen to repeat the experience.
That is when it occurred to me to find out if the jet-skis I had seen shooting up and down the Hudson River would take a detour past Lady Liberty herself.
It turns out this is a trip offered by SeatheCity, a jet-ski company based in New Jersey at Liberty Landing Marina.
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Determined not to be crammed in like cattle on a tourist boat, Jill and her sister visited the Statue of Liberty by jet-ski
We were told we could either take a trip at 8am or 8:30am.
Although neither prospect was particularly appealing on a Sunday morning, the owner Adam Schwartz, explained that 'the water is calmer and we can loiter at the statue longer due to very little boat traffic in the early morning.'
That was good enough to get us out of bed.
We drove to the dock, but it is just a 10-minute ferry ride from lower Manhattan for those without a car.
We were given a safety briefing as we put on our wet-suits - they were optional but as the weather was changing and we were worried about falling in as first time jet-skiers we wanted the extra protection.
My sister and I opted to share a jet-ski as Adam assured as we could change over when we felt like it.
He warned us that customers travelling in a pair were most likely to fall off and this was either because they went too fast and hit a wave or went too slow and lost balance.
We jumped on our jet-skis amid a host of glamorous boats at the harbour and putted out to the open water.
It was there we really took in what we were doing - jet-skiing around the city of New York.
Adam told us to stay behind him in a slightly horizontal line so we would not get caught up in his wake.
The view from the jet-ski as the pair left the harbour in Jersey City, which is across the Hudson River from Manhattan
Jill's sister was struggling slightly with her steering so the guide told her to stop looking at the handle bars and focus on a point - she picked the Freedom Tower and the trick worked
But my sister was struggling slightly so Adam doubled back and told her to stop looking at the handle bars and focus on a point - he told her to look straight ahead at the Freedom Tower.
The trick worked and we were soon hurtling towards the iconic landmark, both hollering in excitement.
We reached speeds of 45mph which ensured we were out of our seats and holding on for dear life every time we hit a wave.
We headed up to Brooklyn Bridge over the East River and then went past my apartment in Manhattan's East Village which was a novel experience.
Adam pointed out an awe-inspiring fact - there are 1.6million people living on the crowded island of Manhattan - and we were the only three there on the water.
We zoomed past Governors Island, Wall Street Heliport, Staten Island Ferry Terminal and Battery Park and looped back to the Statue of Liberty.
Their tour guide pointed out an awe-inspiring fact - they are 1.6million people living on the crowded island of Manhattan - and we were the only three by the Brooklyn Bridge
Adam warned us not to go past the white buoys protecting the space around the island, but this still meant we got very close.
It was a truly 'pinch yourself' moment as we zipped past the slightly green goddess - and I delighted in actually being able to see her from the open water and not straining over a tourist's head.
All too soon the hour was up, and Adam said we needed to move as tour boats started to approach.
We made our way back to the marina and got off slightly sore and cold, but revelling in the experience.
Although it is pricier than cramming on to a boat, I can not recommend the experience enough.
The Statue of Liberty is a lady of elegance - and she should be greeted in style.
See New York City in a totally different way - by jet ski!