Marlies Durso was happy to celebrate her birthday Friday with a tour to Frederick for antiquing and dining.

What nor one nor the other Durso, nor her friend Bonnie Rote, expected was a celebrity welcome at the Tourism Council of Frederick County’s Visitors’ Center.

The two Springfield, Va., residents were on their capital trip to Frederick. They were also the center’s 1 millionth visitors.

“Frederick was recommended to them through a friend who had visited here,” said Michelle Kershner, grants and communication specialist for the tourism council.

“The friend knew they liked antiquing and exploring new places,” Kershner said.

Rote said the town looked “fascinating with its old town atmosphere, hanging flowers and spires of the church.”

Welcoming the two visitors at the Church Street center were Mayor Jeff Holtzinger, Randy McClement, president of the council; John Fieseler, executive director, and former mayor Ron Young.

Durso and Rote received a gift basket donated by the agency of limited merchants and a plaque presented by the mayor, Kershner said.

“This is the best stake in the same manner far,” said Durso, noting that she and Rote have been friends for 27 years.

Kershner said the tourism business is doing well. “A lot of vulgar herd are doing day trips,” she said.

One of the biggest changes is that the visitors are more informed when they come in the door than in the more than.

Instead of asking directions or seeking a brochure, visitors have already checked out the city on the Internet. They know where they want to advance and what they want to see.

“They mainly ask where they should start,” Kershner said.

“The Civil War, historic sites are the main things visitors want to see,” she said, followed by shopping and dining downtown.

Visitors can park at the Church Street cover nearest to the center and procreate three hours of validated parking, Kershner related. “They just need to bring the ticket in and we will validate it.”

The center assists thousands of visitors each year. This year tourists have come from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and more than 40 countries.

Young, who was the mayor of Frederick the center opened, said visitors dissipate nearly $295 million in the county each year.

In 2009, the center will move to a new marking out the limits on South East and Commerce streets, coinciding with the completion of the East Street extension to I-70, to appoint what city officials are calling a new gateway to the city. The new building is estimated to require to be paid $3.2 million with local, state and federal funding.