How to Visit Ground Zero

Ground Zero is the area in New York City where the World Trade Center towers once stood. To pay tribute and memorialize the men and women that lost their lives on September 11, 2001, visitors are allowed to stop at the site. If you are vacationing in the city, here's how you can visit Ground Zero.

Instructions

1. Sign up with a touring company. The easiest way to visit Ground Zero is sign up to see the site with a New York sightseeing guide. The NYCVP has a comprehensive three-hour Ground Zero tour that includes related attractions as well as the opportunity to stand where the towers once stood.

2. Reflect on the sacrifice made by those who lost their lives that day. Allow a moment of quiet reflection or prayer while you visit the site.

3. Watch the rebuilding efforts. A museum and memorial are being built at the site of Ground Zero and estimates state that construction will be complete in 2009.

4. Take time to visit the other surrounding memorials. New York City's fire station nicknamed "10 House" has a bronze September 11 memorial wall, and there is a NYC police memorial at the World Financial Building.

5. Donate to the rebuilding of Ground Zero. The World Trade Center Memorial Foundation is giving patrons the chance to make a monetary donation towards construction of the memorial and museum. For a large donation, a cobblestone in your name will be placed at the site.

Tips & Warnings

• You can bring children on the tour, but you may decide against bringing youngsters. They may not understand the significance of the Ground Zero site.

• Most of the tour guides are knowledgeable and can offer you a lot of information about the Ground Zero site and rebuilding efforts.