Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/52019
tacular resorts to quaint cottages and villas.And with 1,700 restaurants there is no shortage of dining options. The 250,000-sq. ft. Myrtle Beach Convention Center is one of the southeast's most popular for everything from government meetings to national and regional trade shows and religious gatherings. The center features a 100,800-sq. ft. column-free exhibit hall that divides into three sections, and 17 meeting rooms for breakout sessions. Adjacent to the convention center is the 402-room Sheraton Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Other large properties in the area with meeting space Charleston Aerial View throughout the region in places like Drayton Hall, the Old SlaveMartMuseum andMann-Simons Cottage, the home of CeliaMann,who is said to have walked fromCharleston to Columbia to gain her freedom. The slave trade also brought to our shores the most unique culture in theUnited States – theGullah (also called Geechee) people. Gullah is the language spoken by the Lowcountry's first Black inhabitants. The language pre- servesmuch of itsAfrican grammar and sentence structure. The culture survives today in and around Charleston and can be experienced through several tours. On the meetings and conventions front the Charleston Convention Center has 150,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting and exhibit space with an adjoining performing arts center. Just a fewsteps away are theNorthCharlestonColiseum and anEmbassy Suites hotel. Combined, the complex is the largest of its kind in the Southeast. About 100 miles north of Charleston is Myrtle Beach, SouthCarolina'smost popular tourist destination attracting 14million visitors a year. MyrtleBeach has ranked as a top ten tourist destinations in virtually every survey, travelmag- azine, industry trade group and national newspaper for decades. Visitors love the 60 miles of sandy beaches, cultural and historic activities, fishing, amusement and water parks, and arguably some of this nation's top golf courses. When you combine those amenities with live entertain- ment, exciting nightlife and accommodations ranging from luxurious to family-friendly along with a wonderful year- round climate, it's no smallwonderwhyMyrtleBeachmain- tains their pristine reputation. Popular attractions include; gambling onboard a casino cruise ship, the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Promenade, NASCAR Speedpark and numerous festivals sprinkled throughout the year. For those wanting a touch of the African-American experience there are Gullah Geechee tours and several restaurants in the region that specialize in Lowcountry cui- sine. MyrtleBeach is a hot destination for group travel. There are nearly 90,000 hotel rooms in the area ranging fromspec- 86 include the 855-room Embassy Suites Hotel at Kingston Plantation, the 750-room Ocean Dunes/Sand Dunes Resort Conference Center and The Breakers Resort a 620-room facility with 5,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. Just a couple of hours drive inland from both Myrtle Beach and Charleston is Columbia, the state's capital and largest city. Columbia is the home of the University of South Carolina and all the energy and vibe that comes with the youthful presence of college age students. For those seek- ing a somewhat more relaxed pace, Columbia has that too. The city is divided into "Districts" with a little something for everyone. Main Street / Downtown Columbia is quick- ly becoming the hip part of town as condos, new restaurants and hip nightlife hotspots are moving in to cater to a new set of youthful residents. The Congaree Vista, the former warehouse district has been transformed into a lively arts community and creative dining scene. The Five Points area is a laid-back bohemian district with a collection of upscale specialty shops and restaurants. The city's most popular destinations are Riverbanks Zoo and EdVenture – a top ten children's museums. For out- door activity try kayaking on one of the three rivers that converge in Columbia or sailing on Lake Murray. Meeting planners should take a look at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The convention center is 142,500 sq. ft. with a 24-700-sq. ft. column-free exhibit hall and a 17,000-sq ft. ballroom. The condensed convention district offers 2,000 hotel rooms and 45 restaurants and bars within a one-mile radius of the convention center. There is so much to see and do in South Carolina, it's sad that some are missing out because of an insidious stain from our past that hangs over us like a dark cloud. I'm talking about the Confederate flag issue and the NAACP boycott. Now in its 12th year, the NAACP shows no signs of lifting the boycott anytime soon. The original intent of the boycott was to encourage the state to remove the Confederate Flag from atop the state capitol. Back in 2000, the state legislature voted to take the flag down and place it elsewhere on state grounds. That relocation hasn't appeased some African-American leaders so the stalemate continues. In 2001, South Carolina unveiled a monument honoring Black Meetings & Tourism November/December 2011: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com