New York

New York State sits in the northeastern United States, bordered by Canada to the north, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut to the east, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and Lake Ontario and Lake Erie to the west. The state capital is Albany. New York State's population stands at 20,002,427 as of July 1, 2025, per the U.S. Census Bureau. New York City alone holds nearly half that total within its five boroughs.

Directions to the Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty sits on Liberty Island and is only reachable by ferry. From Manhattan, drive to Battery Park at the southern tip of the island. From the East Side, take FDR Drive South to Exit 1 for South Ferry/Battery Park. From the West Side, take the West Side Highway south to Battery Park. Nearest parking is State Pearl Garage at 1 Bridge Street, one minute from the ferry boarding point, and Battery Place Parking at 50 Battery Place, a 4-minute walk. Ferry tickets must be booked in advance through Statue City Cruises.

From Statue of Liberty to Destiny USA — New York's Largest Shopping Mall

After the ferry back to Battery Park, the next stop worth planning is Destiny USA in Syracuse, the largest shopping mall in New York State at 2.4 million square feet with over 26 million annual visitors per year. Address: 1 Destiny USA Drive, Syracuse, NY 13204. From Battery Park, take the West Side Highway north, merge onto I-87 North (New York State Thruway), and follow it to I-90 West towards Syracuse. Total drive is 252 miles and runs about 4.5 hours under normal conditions. Once in Syracuse, take I-81 to Exit 23B for Destiny USA Drive. The mall has 5,500 parking spaces on site. Beyond shopping brands like Kate Spade, Oakley, and Anthropologie, the complex includes a 19-screen cinema, an indoor go-kart track, and a full entertainment floor — making it a full-day destination on its own.