Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/633921
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SURPRISING PLANNERS WITH A PLETHERA OF MEETING FACILITIES GUARANTEED TO SATISFY THE CLIENT BY REGGIE MURPHY Northern California, often abbreviated NorCal, is the northern portion of the state of California. Spanning the state's north- ernmost 48 counties, in contrast to the 10 counties of Southern California, its main population centers include the San Francisco Bay Area (anchored by the cities of San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland), the Greater Sacramento area (anchored by the state capital Sacramento), and the Metropolitan Fresno area (anchored by the city of Fresno). Northern California also contains red- wood forests, along with the Sierra Nevada including Yosemite Valley and part of Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta and the northern portion of the Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agri- cultural regions. ••OAKLAND•• Whether you are in need of a smaller unique venue or large-scale property, your meeting in Oakland can be as diverse as the city itself. Meet in a lake- side Victorian, or bring out your playful side with a meeting at an outdoor story- book theme park. If you're looking for something more traditional, Oakland's hotel rooms offer state-of-the-art facili- ties, too. The Oakland Convention Center, boasting 64,000 q. ft. of exhibit and meet- ing space, is conveniently located in downtown Oakland only 10 minutes from the Oakland International Airport. Adjoining the convention center is the Oakland Marriott City Center, with an additional 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible meet- ing space and 483 deluxe guest rooms. Close by the center you will find Oakland's Chinatown, Old Oakland, Preservation Park, shopping and within a few short blocks the waterfront, Jack London Square and the Paramount Theatre. While in Oakland be sure to have con- ference attendees explore the African- American sites and cultural centers that tell a story of Oakland's rich history. The African American Museum and Library at Oakland is a museum and non-circulating library dedicated to preserving the history and experiences of African-Americans in Northern California and the Bay Area. February will bring four opportunities to go on a free downtown African- American themed walking tour for Black History Month. The city-spon- sored Oakland Tours Program is offer- ing the New Era/New Politics Tour. This 90-minute tour begins on the steps of the African American Museum and examines the contributions and influ- ences of several African-American leaders who have served the East Bay over the past century. The Oakland International Airport (OAK) is the second largest airport in the San Francisco Bay Area, offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights. ••SACRAMENTO•• Meetings in Sacramento are excep- tionally easy. Sacramento is centrally located in Northern California and is easy to fly or drive into. State-of-the-art meet- ing facilities and excellent accommoda- tions are located just minutes from Sacramento International Airport. The city's facilities, venues, hotels and restaurants, as well as its unsurpassed convenience, all mingle side by side to deliver a truly unique meeting experience. Flexible, affordable meeting and event space at the 384,000-square-foot Sacra- mento Convention Center, the 350-acre indoor/outdoor facilities of Cal Expo, his- toric Memorial Auditorium, newly opened McClellan Conference Center, Sleep Train Arena (home of the NBA's Sacramento Kings), and many full-service hotels make Sacramento meeting plan- ning a cinch with so many great facilities from which to choose. Sacramento International Airport, located just 15 minutes from downtown, offers direct or convenient connecting flights to more than 50 cities. WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Sacramento – (800) 292-2334 http://www.visitsacramento.com B M & T ••• November/December 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 39 Tower Bridge at right, over the Sacramento River at dust. Photo Credit: Ronald Johnson • • • STATS • • • HOTEL ROOMS Oakland Marriott City Center 481 Hilton Oakland Airport 363 EXHIBITION FACILITIES Oakland Convention Center Total Exhibit Space 64,000 sq. ft Meeting Rooms 11 WHO YOU GONNA CALL? Visit Oakland – (510) 839-9000 www.visitoakland.org Oakland African American Chamber (510) 268-1600 AREA GUIDES N O R T H E R N C A L I F O R N I A