Albany, N.Y. (AP) - The holiday weekend marks the end of a busy season for the New York state parks system.
State officials say nearly 43.7 million people visited state parks and historic sites this year through the last weekend in August, a 5.6 percent increase from 2011.
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation credits good weather and some special events, such as Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk across Niagara Falls in June.
Going into Labor Day weekend, more than 90 percent of the system's campsites were booked in advance.