Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/79688
multiplemeetings rooms and a gym. The region is full of family-friendly activities with museums such as the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum, the Hesston Steam Museum and the Great Lakes Museum of Military History. Just two miles west of Michigan City is Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore/- Mt. Baldy, featuring a 123-ft. sand dune. There's art, theater, music, festivals, beaches and lots of water activities. Try bike riding through the many parks and trails or charter fishing. If you are looking for a tranquil place to unwind as opposed to a busy hotel, there are numerous Bed & Breakfast properties and a couple of spas to soothe those aching bones after a day of strenuous fun-filled activity. For spas try Reverie Spa Retreat LLC or the year round couples resort Serenity Springs. For more information on the Michigan City La Porte area go to www.MichiganCityLaPorte.com or call (800) 634-2650. Centrally located in North GREENSBORO, NC Carolina's heartland "Where the Mountains Meet the Coast," Greens- boro is a treasure trove of blended travel and family-friendly activities. The city boasts 135 attractions, 500 restaurants and 86 accommodations to choose from. The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is one of the best facilities in the country designed for maximum flexibility. This complex holds over 800 events each year. That equals out to two a day. The 167,000-sq. ft. Special Events Center can be parti- tioned into four halls leaving 60,000 sq. ft. for exhibits and 4,500 seats for general setup for group sessions or entertainment. Meeting planners could also choose the 23,500-seat Coliseum Arena and the adjacent 2,300-seat WarMemorialAuditorium. This com- plex can also be configured for small intimate gatherings. These large ven- ues have some of the best state-of- the-art technology in the country. Greensboro is also home to Sheraton Greensboro Hotel at Four Parents enjoying moment with their at kids the Greensboro's Children's Museum. Seasons/Joseph S. Koury Convention Center. The hotel features 990-rooms and the attached convention center has approximately 250,000 sq. ft. of meeting and convention space. Greensboro is steeped in African American history. For an education- al experience take the family down- town to the historic district of Old Greensborough and the famous F.W. Woolworth Company site, where on February 1, 1960, four North CarolinaA&T students staged a sit- in at the segregated lunch counter and refused service. This was a piv- otal moment in the Civil Rights Movement. On the 50th anniversary of the sit- in the International Civil Rights Center andMuseumopened. Stop by and take the tour. Take the kids to the Natural Science Center of Greensboro and the Animal Discovery Zoological Park. Also try the Barn Dinner Theatre and the Greensboro Ice- House. For more Greensboro activities go to www.visitgreensboronc.com or call (800) 344-2282. Blended travel is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the family on a budget. The hotel roomcosts are cov- ered on the nights the business trip overlaps. If you add extra days, you might qualify for a lower corporate rate. Attendance at meetings and con- ventions increase when employees are allowed to bring their families along. Many hotels have responded to this trend by creating kid-friendly programs that incorporate tours, site seeing activities, amusement parks and baby-sitting services. Who among us has not seen the Play- Station and Xbox games in some hotel rooms? Many corporations and meeting planners are actively seeking on site children's programs at conventions and tradeshows. Accent onChildren's Arrangements accentoca.com and KiddieCrop kiddiecorp.com provide childcare and babysitting services for groups and individuals attending con- ference and conventions. Experts say parents should seek properties with adjoining rooms or suites with two rooms to allow space for those cranky teenagers or a place to nap for the little ones. For the Road Warriors among us blended travel just might be the answer. Black Meetings & Tourism July/August 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 47