Virtual Tours of New York State Parks Now Available

ALBANY, NY (10/15/2010)(readMedia)-- The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has partnered with Fisheye Virtual Tours to provide 360-degree views of scenic vistas, popular attractions, gathering spots and select interiors of nearly 50 parks and historic sites on its website, www.nysparks.com.

"Virtual tours are an innovative and user-friendly tool for both tourists and frequent park visitors to plan their next adventure," said State Parks Acting Commissioner Andy Beers. "By showcasing New York's incredible natural and cultural treasures, the virtual tours will help draw new visitors to popular, favorite spots and provide regular visitors with glimpses of features of the park system they've never visited before."

The virtual tours include images of assorted campgrounds, trails, play areas, golf courses, boat launches, beaches and pools in the parks, as well as landscapes, architectural elements and collections in many of the state historic sites. Tours also feature interior and exterior images of the diverse types of lodging available at State Parks – from the many amenities of the Ironworkers Cabins at Taconic State Park's Copake Falls to the rustic camping areas of Allegany State Park. Additional tours will be added in the coming weeks.

"We are very excited to be working with the state of New York on the first phase of our 'Explore America's Parks' project. This partnership truly shows New York's commitment to bringing exciting new features to their website and to show their global audience the stunning beauty of their parks and historic sites," said Fisheye Virtual Tours president Michael Brennan.

The successful pilot program between Parks and Fisheye Virtual Tours began in 2009 and has expanded to include the unique photography of all 11 state park regions. The initiative is supported through sponsorships developed and administered by Fisheye Virtual Tours.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees 178 state parks and 35 historic sites. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.nysparks.com. For information about Fisheye Virtual Tours, sponsorship and the Explore America's Parks program, visit www.exploreamericasparks.org.