PennDOT Welcome Centers Celebrate National Tourism Week

News provided by

Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

May 09, 2011, 10:26 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's 14 Welcome Centers, which are managed by PennDOT, are conducting special programs and promotions to mark National Tourism Week, which runs through May 15.

"Pennsylvania Welcome Centers will be hosting various activities to celebrate National Tourism Week in conjunction with local visitors' bureaus and other tourism-related partners," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E. "The events will spotlight local attractions and demonstrate why tourism is one of Pennsylvania's top industries."

In many cases, Welcome Centers provide the first impression of Pennsylvania to out-of-state visitors. Each Welcome Center is a complete travel resource center for motorists, offering many free tourism services such as lodging and restaurant reservations. In 2010, Pennsylvania Welcome Centers served more than 2.7 million customers.

"Visitors to our welcome centers during this week will see a host of special activities," said PennDOT Tourism Services Manager Tiffany Brown. "From free Lebanon Bologna in Franklin County to free DelGrosso's sauce in Fulton County, welcome center visitors will be able to sample local products or get more information on local tourism hot spots across Pennsylvania."

Pennsylvania's Welcome Centers are open 24 hours a day, and tourism staff are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week, including most holidays.

Pennsylvania's 14 Welcome Centers are at key border locations, including:

I-90 West ,one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/New York border in North East, Erie County;
I-80 East, about one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/Ohio border in West Middlesex, Mercer County;
I-70 East, about five miles from the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border in Claysville, Washington County;
I-79 North, about five miles past the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border in Mount Morris, Greene County;
I-70 West, about one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in Warfordsburg, Fulton County;
I-81 North, about one-half mile past the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in State Line, Franklin County;
I-83 North, about two-and-a-half miles from the Pennsylvania/Maryland border in Shrewsbury, York County;
I-95 North (currently under construction) about one-half mile from the Pennsylvania/Delaware border in Linwood, Delaware County;
I-78 East, about one-half mile from the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border in Easton, Northampton County;
I-81 South in Great Bend Susquehanna County;
I-84 off Exit 11 in Matamoras, Pike County;
Route 15 South, 7 miles past Pennsylvania/New York border in Tioga, Tioga County;
I-80 West off Exit 310 in Delaware Water Gap, Monroe County; and
I-276 West on PA Turnpike milepost 328.4, King of Prussia, Montgomery County.