NEW YORK, April 23, 2009 - Bon Voyage!  Gute Reise!  Buon Viaggio!  While a European vacation may be out of the question for many travelers due to tightening purse-strings, numerous destinations across New York State (www.iloveny.com) mirror the romantic, exotic, artistic and epicurean aspects of Europe, making the idea of a European-feeling getaway more of a reality. While travelers may only be a short distance from home, the state's Venetian glass, Austrian- or German-style Rieslings, Opera and more will whisk travelers away to a continent of romance, history and heritage without breaking the bank, or their travel plans. Bethpage Golf Course - Farmingdale Scotland has St. Andrew's.  New York has Bethpage State Park.  Bethpage is the United States' public golf Mecca featuring five 18-hole regulation golf courses including the world-renowned Black Course which will host the 2009 United States Open.  In addition to golf, visitors to the park may use the tennis courts, hiking trails, bridle path, and picnic area for other recreational activities. Approximately 300,000 rounds are played annually on the five courses at Bethpage, all of which start from the Clubhouse area.  For more information visit http://nysparks.state.ny.us/golf. Corning Museum of Glass - Corning Beautiful Venetian glass can be found in New York State at The Corning Museum of Glass which houses incredible glasses from all over Europe. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region of New York State, The Corning Museum of Glass is the world's largest glass museum, featuring 35 centuries of glass artistry, live glassblowing demonstrations, Make-Your-Own-Glass experiences for all ages and an international GlassMarket. It is also home to the Rakow Research Library, which is the library of record on glass and glassmaking, and The Studio, a highly respected glassmaking school.  For more information visit http://www.cmog.org/. European Mineral Baths at the Gideon Putnam Resort - Saratoga Springs When European settlers populated New York, they created the mineral baths familiar in spas today. The mineral baths at the Roosevelt Baths & Spa at Gideon Putnam Resort consist of individual tubs with a dressing area attached. Guests are submerged in deep soothing tubs of naturally carbonated mineral water heated to body temperature. The effervescent water creates a feeling of warmth and relaxation which continues after the bath. Guests are then wrapped in warm sheets and left to rest.  For more information visit www.gideonputnam.com/treatments-1162.html. Finger Lakes Wine Country - Finger Lakes Region Due to the similarities in climates, the Rieslings of the Finger Lakes mirror those of their world-famous European cousins in Austria and Germany. Visitors to Finger Lakes Wine Country can learn about wine making by touring family-owned wineries and taking in the views of Keuka, Seneca and Cayuga Lakes while sipping on the "juice."  For more information visit www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com. Geneva on the Lake - Geneva This historic landmark and Four Diamond Resort is visited for its European elegance right in the midst of Finger Lakes Wine Country. The terrace, formal gardens, classical sculptures and 70-foot pool and boathouse have earned the property a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information visit http://www.genevaonthelake.com/. Glimmerglass Opera House - Cooperstown Italy, Germany and France are all known for their own versions of Opera and the Glimmerglass Opera House in Cooperstown offers each iteration of this celebrated art form as well. Opened in 1987 on the Shore of Otsego Lake, the "Glimmerglass" of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales, the Alice Busch Opera Theater is highly acclaimed for its acoustics and unique sliding walls and is the home to world-renowned Opera performances every season.  For more information visit www.glimmerglass.org. High Peaks of the Adirondacks - Lake Placid The European Alps, having seen their share of Olympic revelry, are exalted throughout the world for their winter sports, hiking, swimming and sheer beauty.  Sharing those mountainous qualities is New York State's Lake Placid, a two-time host of the Winter Olympics and an affordable vacation destination for outdoor enthusiasts.  Downtown Lake Placid also has all the charm of an Alpine village for Après Ski.  For more information visit www.lakeplacid.com. Kykuit, The Rockefeller Estate - Sleepy Hollow While architecture, remarkable gardens, art, history and spectacular scenery are all highlights of a European vacation, a trip to Kykuit, the Rockefeller Estate, encompasses all these aspects in a closer proximity. The estate was home to four generations of the Rockefeller family beginning with the philanthropist John D. Rockefeller.  Now a historic site of the National Trust, this extraordinary landmark has been continuously and meticulously maintained for almost 100 years.  Additionally, the windows of Union Church on the grounds of the estate are works of art by Chagall and Matisse themselves.  For more information visit www.hudsonvalley.org/content/view/12/42. Mirbeau Inn and Spa - Skaneateles Located in New York's Finger Lakes Wine Country, Mirbeau offers a French Countryside experience with its old world architecture and sumptuous Monet inspired gardens. The resort is set on 12 acres of forested parkland in the midst of a dense stand of 100-foot high spruce trees near Skaneateles Lake, making it a more affordable and easily accessible getaway for those looking for a French Countryside experience.  For more information visit http://www.mirbeau.com/. Old Chatham Sheepherding Company's Artisanal Cheese - Old Chatham Italy is hailed for its Mozzarella, Provolone and Asiago; Norway's Jarlsberg is a regular on top-notch cheese-plates; Switzerland's Gruyere is used around the world and French Roquefort is the best of the Blue.  Yet New York State has its own highly regarded artisanal cheeses available in Old Chatham, NY.  Since 1994 Old Chatham Sheepherding Co. has made cheeses from the milk of purebred and crossbred East Friesian Ewes.  Visitors can watch cheese being made in a glassed-in dairy, purchase cheese on an honor system and pet baby lambs in a converted greenhouse that acts as the "nursery."  The company is now recognized as the producer of some of America's very best handcrafted sheep's milk cheeses and yogurts including owner Nancy Clark's Hudson Valley Camembert.  For more information visit http://www.blacksheepcheese.com/. About New York State New York State features 11 beautiful vacation regions. New York's attractions span from landmarks such as Niagara Falls, to the wine trails of Hudson Valley and treasures like the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. Whether it's wide-ranging outdoor activities for the whole family like fishing, hiking and boating, culinary wonders and farm-to-table fresh foods, or the rich history and culture of one of the 13 original colonies, New York State offers diverse activities for all travelers. For more information, visit www.iloveny.com. Media can find press releases and more at http://www.thebeat.iloveny.com/. Media can also visit www.louhammond.com for latest press releases and images. Follow on Twitter at LouHammondPR.

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Dara Yaffe/Terence Gallagher Lou Hammond & Associates Tel: (212) 308-8880; Fax: (212) 891-0200 E-mail: daray@lhammond.com / terryg@lhammond.com Lisa Willner  Empire State Development Corporation Tel: (212) 803-3740 E-mail: lwillner@empire.state.ny.us