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27 B M & T ••• July/August 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com world-class thrill rides, live entertainment and one of North America's largest zoos with over 12,000 animals in an unforgettable adventure. Located right across the street from Busch Gardens® Tampa, Adventure Island® is 30 acres of water-drenched fun in the sun featuring the ultimate combination of high- speed thrills and tropical, tranquil surroundings for guests of all ages. Race down rapids, dig your toes into the sand or relax all day in a private cabana. New at Adventure Island, hurtle high and experience a feeling of weightless- ness on Colossal Curl™, Adventure Island's newest family thrill slide. The history of Tampa's African-American populace is embodied in newly opened Perry Harvey, Sr. Park. Named for a local civil rights leader, the park is situated just north of downtown in the area once dubbed "The Scrub." Ex- slaves settled there after earning their freedom and eventually created the bustling business Central Avenue district and Chitlin Circuit hub drawing musicians like Cab Calloway and Ella Fitzgerald. Waterfront location brings the warmth and light of the Florida sunshine right into your meeting rooms. Treasure awaits you at the Tampa Convention Center, a 600,000-sq. ft. meeting and convention facility with unique archi- tectural designs and spectacular waterfront views that provide an ideal set- ting for your next invasion. The facility's 200,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall can be divided into smaller spaces, as can the center's 36,000-sq. ft. ballroom. Additionally, there are 36 meeting rooms and over 84,000 sq. ft. of flexible pre-function space. Tampa Bay dares to be different — the selection of accommodations ranges from lavish resort hotels to cozy motels and four-diamond delights. Stay in touch with state-of-the-art business centers and complimentary Wi-Fi in many locations. From fully stocked kitchens for longer stays to delicious in- room dining, hotels in Tampa Bay can meet the needs of any event. For more information contact Visit Tampa Bay at (813) 223-1111 or www.visittampabay.com. Washington Convention Center is as functional as it is artistically impres- sive. The 2.3-million-sq. ft. space hosts meetings, conventions and events of every kind, from medical industry annual meetings to comic book- inspired expos and board retreats. Planners can book anything from small intimate occasions to large corporate events. The venue contains more than 700,000 sq. ft. of prime exhibit space, complemented by 198,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 77 meeting rooms. You can mold all 703,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space inside the conven- tion center into whatever shape you need. Within its two levels and five exhibit halls is a 473,000 square-foot exhibit hall that can be subdivided into three rooms, 198,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, a 52,000 square-foot ballroom and 77 breakout rooms. The space is versa- tile enough to accommodate events of all sizes, such as the world's largest sit-down dinner (16,2016 people!). DC's award-winning hotels are as well known for their attentive service as for their must-have amenities. With nearly 30,000 hotel rooms in the city, there's a style and price point for every visitor. For more information contact Destination DC at (800) 635-MEET or www.washington.org. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Wash. DC WASHINGTON, DC F rom the founding fathers to Martin Luther King, Jr. to today's pres- ident, Washington, DC is a city steeped in history – and history in the making. Explore the city's museums and memorials, and discover the history of a nation. The National Museum of African American History and Culture along the National Mall, which opened in 2016, is a must see for all visitors, especially those traveling with families. The stunning new building, which prominently sits between The Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial, features three tiers of inverted half-pyramids, sheathed in a shimmering bronze-hue screen cut in an abstract pattern based on the intricate ironwork created by freed slaves in New Orleans and Charleston, S.C. DC's wealth of museums and attractions means there are always mag- ical places where kids are transported from the ho-hum of touring to the "Wow!" of experiencing. Many of these sites feature interactive entertain- ment to help capture the attention of even the littlest sightseer. Options for history and culture buffs include the National Museum of Natural History, National Geographic Museum, International Spy Museum, The Newseum, National Air and Space Museum, National Gallery of Art, National Museum of the American Indian, the Anacostia Historic District and Prince George's African American Museum & Cultural Center. Host your next event in the nation's capital and wow attendees with national landmarks, unique venues and meetings. DC's exciting food scene will fuel your gatherings, and the local, national and international cultures of the city will inspire. With a variety of meeting spaces, conven- tion halls and plenty of things to do after hours in DC, you can meet on your terms. The cornerstone of downtown DC's renaissance, the Walter E.