There�s no time like the summer-time in New York, and this year, the Empire State has a variety of new destinations and attractions ready to thrill, amaze, challenge and enlighten.

�With the bright lights of New York City, the power of Niagara Falls, and the beauty of points in-between, New York State is home to many great tourism destinations � including many new sites ready to be discovered,� said Charles A. Gargano, Chairman of Empire State Development (ESD). �Guided tours, gaming, historic tall-ships and even castles are open for visitors.�

Enjoy The Ride�.

With so much to see and do in New York State, why not kick back, let someone else do the driving and enjoy the ride? The Albany Aqua Duck, a state-of-the-art amphibious vehicle, offers a view of the historic streets and sites of Albany before splashing down in the Hudson River for a shoreline cruise of Albany�s fabulous skyline (518/462-DUCK, www.albanyaquaducks.com).

If you�re visiting the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, be sure to stop nearby at Oneonta and ride the Oneonta Trolley through the city�s historic downtown and parks (607/432-7100).

Now jetting across Lake Ontario, welcoming visitors to Rochester and the surrounding Finger Lakes wine region is the much anticipated �fast ferry,� known as the Spirit of Ontario. Docking at the Port of Rochester, just a short drive from downtown, the ferry provides travelers with a stress-free and reliable trip across the lake with on-board eating and drinking establishments, two movie theatres, a video game arcade, satellite television, and wireless internet connections and phone services in the business lounge. The ferry is designed to make traveling from Canada fun, functional and relaxing (585/663-0790, www.thebreeze.com).

Shoreline Cruises in Lake George has a new boat: the impressive Adirondac, offering a scenic view of one of America�s most lovely lakes (518/668-4644).

Feel like stretching your legs? Then we invite you to Bike the Big Apple and see the sights the average tourist seldom sees! Follow your guide as you ride over New York City�s great bridges and through quiet streets, exploring ethnic neighborhoods. This leisurely paced tour is open to riders of all skill levels and bikes and helmets are provided (201/837-1133, www.bikethebigapple.com).

From Swamp to Castle: Outdoor Adventures Abound!

Get some fresh air this summer and experience the wildlife of New York State. Huckleberry Swamp, located outside of the village of North Rose, (between Syracuse and Rochester in Rochester) is 79 acres of diverse, high quality wetlands for bird and wildlife habitat conservation. Take a walk on its unique wildlife observation deck and boardwalk that meanders through the magnificent wetlands (585/338-1820 www.ofofinc.org/huckleberry_swamp.htm).

The Deer River Ranch in Copenhagen also offers a fantastic opportunity to get right up close to nature as visitors are welcome to experience their majestic herd of 1,000 Red Deer on a guided tour and are also invited to visit the farm market, full of all kinds of venison products (315/376-2272, http://www.deerriverranch.com).

Outdoor enthusiasts and art lovers alike are sure to enjoy the Fields Sculpture Park in Ghent, which encompasses approximately 300 acres of farmland - 90 of which are dotted with internationally recognized contemporary sculpture. Visitors can view the sculptures as they walk along a path that follows the edge of a natural pond, surrounded by trees to provide a shaded backdrop to view the pieces (518/392-7656, www.artomi.org/ao/thefields.htm). The newly renovated Stone Barns Center for Food & Agriculture is located at Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estates in the Hudson Valley. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. built the Stone Barns in the early 1930's to house the estate's farm operations. Today, these buildings have undergone a $30 million renovation and recently opened as an educational center promoting sustainable, community-based agriculture (914/631-9491).

New York City, known as the �Capitol of the World� for its cultural, historical and business centers, now has one more gem to add to its resume: Governors Island, now open for public visitation. Visitors to the island can take part in the free weekday National Park Service�s Ranger-led tours to learn its extensive military history from its time as a Revolutionary War fort to its last days as a U.S. Coast Guard base in 1997. For those looking for a great weekend getaway, the Governors Island Saturday Esplanade day passes offer the perfect chance to take a mid-afternoon walk, a brisk jog or to catch a breathtaking view of New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Return to an age when majestic tall ships manned by hardy souls explored the world�s oceans when you climb aboard the H.M.S. Bounty, one of the last full-rigged tall ships still sailing. Docking in Oakdale, the Bounty's adventurous voyages are open to the public and take the ship to ports of call from Canada to the Caribbean (631/588-7900, www.tallshipbounty.org).

Bannerman Island in the Hudson River will open to the public for guided tours for the first time ever, according to an announcement by the Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc., a "Friends" organization for the New York state Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation. In the Finger Lakes, Esperanza Mansion, which dates back to 1838, has been renovated to its 19th century splendor and offers restaurant and inn (315/536-4400).

Also sure to inspire you is Singer Castle, a 28-room Scottish inspired castle on Dark Island in Alexandria Bay that was built between 1900 and 1905. Once occupied by Frederic Bourne, the 5th CEO of the Singer Sewing Machine company, the castle is now open for guided tours of all four floors, including viewing of many of the secret passageways and hidden surprises that offer a glimpse of life in the early 1900's (315/324-3275, www.singercastle.com).

Let the Games Begin!

Escape the daily grind and try your luck at Las Vegas-Style gaming, slot machines and high-stakes Keno at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Salamanca (1/877-553-9500, senecaalleganycasino.com) or play any of your favorite games at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls before you see a world-class concert in their showroom (1/877-8-SENECA, www.senecaniagaracasino.com).

For fast-paced action, look no further than the Monticello Raceway in Monticello (845/794-4100, www.monticelloraceway.com) and the Saratoga Gaming and Raceway in Saratoga Springs (www.saratogaraceway.com). Both offer great harness racing as well as electronic gaming year-round.

For more information on travel in New York State, visit the I LOVE NEW YORK Web site at www.iloveny.com, or call 1-(800) CALL-NYS.