Tourism agencies offering plenty for drive-to visitors this summer

Northeastern Pennsylvania is a drive-to vacation destination. Most people who have driven here find there's a lot to see and do, travel experts say.

And with some new attractions, tourism industry officials believe 2010 will be better than last year."We have a lot of opportunities to take. We have great places to stay, and fantastic food," said Tracy Barone, executive director of the Lackawanna County Convention and Visitors Bureau, who said the area benefits from being within a two-hour drive of Philadelphia and New York City.

Carl Wilgus, executive director of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, agreed most visitors drive here. "Three out of four people who vacation here are from Pennsylvania, New York or New Jersey," Mr. Wilgus said.

It's difficult to name them all, but here are some things to do in Northeast Pennsylvania. Luzerne County The opening of the River Common in Wilkes-Barre and activities at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs highlight some of the activities in Luzerne County, its tourism experts say. The Luzerne County Convention and Visitors Bureau is touting the completed River Common development as a center for recreation.

"This will be the River Common's inaugural season, so there will be trial and error with parking and staging," said Merle Mackin, the bureau's director. The season will include the 10th annual Wyoming Valley River Fest, which will be held Friday and Saturday, June 18-19.

"There will be canoeing, kayaking, crafters, vendors and educational programs," said Janet Hall, the bureau's sales and marketing director. But the centerpiece of River Fest this year will be to dedicate the River Common, a new, $30 million park that includes a 750-seat amphitheater, a 1-acre landing to host festivals, a fishing pier, walking paths and gardens.

Across the county at Pocono Downs, the state has come up with a new program called Trac Pack. "Trac Pack provides money through the state Department of Agriculture to make horse racing more viable," Ms. Hall said. "The Breeders Cup is coming to Pocono Downs in September. They are trying to make horse racing more attractive to a younger audience."

Two recreational complexes have been taken over by new entities and have been improved. The Forty-Fort Recreational Complex will host a soccer tournament, a softball tournament, a hot-air balloon event and three whitewater challenger events.

And the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins have taken over the Coal Street Park complex and are making it into a first-class facility that will be open to the public. Lackawanna County

The opening of the new Sno Cove Water Park is one of the highlights among new tourist offerings in Lackawanna County.

"It will have a wave pool, water sldies and bumper boats - all the classic water park stuff," Ms. Barone said. "You can take the Zip Rider from the top of the mountain, to the bottom of the mountain. There's also Tundra Tornado, the Cross-Country Canal, the Lazy River. The Baby Moose Watering Hole is for the smaller kids."

Another major recreation area that has something new to offer - $800,000 worth of improvements - is the 252-acre Aylesworth Park, which has swimming and hiking areas.

Also, a number of playgrounds in the county have been made handicapped accesible. Playgrounds at McDade Park, McHale Park in Dunmore and Abington Community Park in South Abington Twp. have received upgrades.

Another attraction in Lackawanna County this summer revolves around the NBC TV series "The Office," which is based on a fictional office in Scranton. "There will be tours of 'The Office' every two weeks this summer," Barone said. "On the Saturday of the Memorial Day weekend, actor Brian Bumgartner, who plays Kevin on 'The Office,' will be here to host the tours."

Other attractions in the county include Steamtown, the Coal Mine Tour, the Trolley, Lackawanna State Park and Merli-Sarnoski Park in Carbondale.

NASCAR races As it has been for the last 40 years, the two biggest events in Northeast Pennsylvania and the Pocono Mountains are the two NASCAR races at the Pocono International Raceway.

"The Pocono 500 opens the summer season June 6," said Carl Wilgus, executive director of the Pocono Mountain Vacation Bureau.

The summer's second race, the Pennsylvania 500 on Aug. 1, also has a new feature. "That Saturday (July 31), they will bring the trucks to Pocono for the first time," Mr. Wilgus said.

Another major event will occur at the new Mount Airy Casino Resort. "Table games are coming to Mount Airy, I believe, on the weekend of the July 4 holiday," Mr. Wilgus said.

There are some new events in Northeast Pennsylvania this year, Mr. Wilgus said. "Lake Wallenpaupack is instituting a Lakefest in early August," Mr. Wilgus said. "Also, the Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival will be held August 6-14. And Jim Thorpe is making September Outdoor Recreation Month. They intend to have outdoor recreational activities available each day of the month."

The Pennsylvania Tourism Agency, experiencing budget cuts like the rest of state government, has had to get creative. So the agency is using social media online to advertise - because it is free.

"We had limited resources to advertise, so we had to use a different approach," said Mickey Rowley, the state's deputy secretary for tourism "We are using social online media.

"We are the first state using a social media called Foursquare, which is like Twitter, except people are asked to tell where they are," Mr. Rowley said. "We try to get people to tell us where they are, and about their experience, if they are on the Route 6 Trail, for instance."