Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1125304
B M & T ••• March/April 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 14 Another possibility is the Palmdale Amphitheater at Marie Kerr Park, the Antelope Valley's premier outdoor entertainment venue, providing audiences with a blend of high-ener- gy concert performances and community-based programming. Its convenient location, great sight lines and comfortable, grassy seating areas are complemented by Saturday evening con- certs and Friday evening Family Movie Nights presented during summer months. Be sure to block out enough time to visit some of Lancaster's other major attractions. Among them are: The Cat House, a Feline Conservation Center, breeding zoo and research facility that's home to over 70 of the world's most endangered felines; the Prime Desert Woodland Preserve, which provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the animals, plants and the region; and the Air Force Flight Test Museum, which offers general public tours twice a month. For more information contact Destination Lancaster at www.destinationlancasterca.org. OAKLAND, CA J ust 12 minutes from San Francisco, Oakland offers a cutting edge art and music scene, hip international dining experience, world-class sports teams and more. For tour operators, wholesalers and travel profes- sionals, Oakland is the solution to planning an idealistic Northern California experience. This Bay Area destination is accessible by the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, ferry service, buses, BART (Bay Area Rapid Tranist), and Amtrak. The city has been deemed as the "Sunny Side of the Bay," home to some of the best weather in the country with an average of 260 sunny days per year. Located in the heart of downtown Oakland, the Oakland Convention Center is just minutes from San Francisco. Featuring 64,000 sq. ft. of convention, exhibit, social gathering and meeting room space, the facility is con- nected to the Oakland Marriott City Center, offering an additional 25,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and 483 deluxe guest rooms, and nearing completion of its renovations!. Oakland Convention Center is a world-class exhibition hall within walking distance of Jack London Square, Chinatown, Oakland Museum of California, Preservation Park and Oakland City Center. It is also surrounded by beautifully restored Victorian buildings and the finest shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums that this exciting city has to offer. The iconic 363 room Hilton Oakland Airport Hotel is an oasis by the airport with 12 manicured acres in a resort-like setting conveniently located less than a mile from Oakland International Airport (OAK) and two miles from the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system with subway access to down- town San Francisco. This lodging facility offers 16,000 sq. ft. of flexible indoor/outdoor meeting space and is fully equipped with a 24-hour Business Center, a ballroom and 16 meeting rooms as well as complimentary shuttle service to and from Oakland International Airport. Other reputable hotels in the Oakland area that provide conference attendee's top-level hospitality are The Claremont Hotel and The Clarion Hotel Oakland. Oakland, well known for the diverse cultural influence, offers quite a variety of cultural centers and festivals to participate in. The Ebony Museum of Art, located in the City Center area, is a spectacle to see. This downtown museum preserves both African-American and African art and promotes greater appreciation of African-American heritage. The hours of operation are Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Also located in the City Center area, The African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO) is dedicated to discover, preserve, interpret and share the historical and cultural experiences of African-Americans in California and the West for present and future generations. For more information contact Visit Oakland at (510) 208-0529 or visitoakland.org. Lancaster, in the heart of Antelope Valley African American Museum, Oakland photo credit: Almonroth photo credit: David Loceretz