Black Meetings and Tourism

July/August 2010

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AREA GUIDES BALTIMORE CHARM CITY BY SCOTTIE BRICE Located at the northern edge of Chesapeake Bay, the Greater Baltimore area boasts a revitalized Inner Harbor that is the crown jewel of Baltimore. A trip to this historic city wouldn’t be com- plete without embarking upon a cruise of the harbor. Adventurous visitors often can be seen renting a paddle boat to see the scene from the bay, or hopping on board one of the many cruise boats for a more leisurely tour. Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city, sees over 13 million visitors each year and has a commercial hub that ranks fifth among all ports in the U.S. Spending a day at the Harbor, folks can find the best in shopping, dining, sightseeing and live entertainment. Fells Point, the oldest section of Baltimore, brings the atmosphere of an old English neighborhood to America, complete with cobblestone streets. Located on the Harbor, Fells Point is well worth a visit, either for leisurely sightsee- ing excursions, souvenir hunting or for a visit to some of the city’s most lively clubs and nightlife. On the other side of the Harbor is Federal Hill, which has retained the cobblestone streets and historic row houses that date back to the early days of the 18th century; it is also known for it’s great shopping districts and for the best picturesque view of the city. At all points of the Harbor, visitors can find great places to treat themselves to excellent dining. Charm City is known for superb seafood, especially crab, which is not at all surprising considering its loca- tion. Baltimore crab feasts are the city’s specialty; seafood lovers can have the true Baltimore experience of enjoying these tasty crustaceans, along with some lessons on exactly how to eat them. During the summer and in early fall, Baltimore crab feasts are plentiful and 54 Baltimore Skyline at Dusk amateur crab eaters are never far from a self-proclaimed master of the art of cracking crabs; any Baltimorean would be glad to walk you through the art of prying crabmeat from its shells. An old- fashioned crab feast can be authentically laid out at Bo Brooks at Lighthouse Point. At Bo Brooks, they can prepare a feast of crab with corn on the cob, cold beers and all the trimmings for a group of 25 to 1,000 guests. Ideally located on Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, the Hyatt Regency Baltimore is one of the city’s premier hotels. The prop- erty features 486 guest rooms and 35,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The Hyatt is con- nected to Harborplace, the Baltimore Convention Center by skywalk. The Center has been expanded and renovat- ed since its original opening date and now, after its $151 million upgrade, offers 1,225,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. The Baltimore Convention Center is the Mid- Atlantic Region’s premier location for conventions, tradeshows and expositions. It is conveniently located close to public transportation for easy access by the Lightrail to Washington, D.C. or the Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI). BWI lies a few miles out- side the city, managing an annual passen- ger flow of more than 20 million travel- ers, with hundreds of daily flights, both domestic and international. The cultural side of Baltimore is very visible throughout the year as the city cel- ebrates its lively cultural diversity. Photo Credit: Baltimore Area CVA Starting in early June, Baltimore is all a buzz with the Showcase of Nations Ethnic Festival. The event brings togeth- er the charm and diversity of Baltimore City’s communities with unique and entertaining weekend celebrations. Each year, festival goers can enjoy an assort- ment of multicultural and delectable foods, live music, traditional dances, arts & crafts, and other customary activities. Caribbean, African and African- American events take place throughout the city during the spring through fall sea- sons. STATS HOTEL Hyatt Regency Baltimore Holiday Inn, Baltimore-Inner Harbor (DWTN) InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore Residence Inn, Marriott Baltimore White Marsh EXHIBITION FACILITIES Baltimore Convention Center total exhibit space largest hall meeting rooms 1,225,000 sq. ft. 62,000 sq. ft. 62 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Baltimore AREA CVA (800) 343-3468 www.baltimore.org Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com ROOMS 486 65 195 131 Baltimore’s Tremont Plaza Hotel 303

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