tribes – are celebrated through numerous exhibits and festivals through-
out Hampton Roads.
The list of recreational and sightseeing attractions in the
Commonwealth includes Hampton's Buckroe Beach, Shenandoah
National Park, Luray Caverns and the 343-mile Virginia Creeper Trail.
• • • WEST VIRGINIA
Among the best places to enjoy the views of West Virginia's pictur-
esque landscape are the Bluestone National Scenic River in the southern
part of the state, the Gauley River National Recreation Area in the south-
central area and the Midland Trail National Scenic Highway near
Charleston.
The Mountain State is world-famous for its crafts, and one of the
state's top art events is Charleston's Capitol City Arts & Crafts Show in
November. The Fenton Art Glass factory near Charleston is open for
tours.
For a closer view of the area's African-American culture and history,
you can visit the Mattie V. Lee Home, the residence of the first Black
female physician in the state; the Samuel Starks House, home of the
nation's first Black state librarian; the Black Culture and African
Heritage Center at Heritage Towers; and the Booker T. Washington
Memorial in nearby Malden.
For entertainment, consider heading over to the Mardi Gras Casino
& Resort in Crosslanes.
If the history, the culture and the landscape of the South sound
intriguing enough to start planning a trip in that direction, you can get
more information and ideas through the state tourism offices listed with
this article.
West Virginia State Capitol Building, Charleston
Alabama Bureau of Tourism and Travel
(800) ALABAMA
www.800alabama.com
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
(800) NATURAL
www.arkansas.com
Visit Florida/Florida Tourism and Marketing Corp.
(888) 7-FLAUSA
www.visitflorida.com
Georgia Department of Economic Development
(800) 847-4842
www.exploregeorgia.org
Department of Tourism
(800) 225-8747
www.kentuckytourism.com
Louisiana Office of Tourism
(800) 677-4082
www.louisianatravel.com
Mississippi Division of Tourism Development
(866) SEE MISS
www.visitmississippi.org
North Carolina Division of Tourism
(800) VISIT NC
www.visitnc.com
South Carolina Department of parks, Recreation & Tourism
(888) SC SMILE
www.discoversouthcarolina.com
Tennessee Department of Tourism Development
(800) GO2TENN
www.tnvacation.com
Virginia Tourism Corp.
(800) VISITVA
www.virginia.org
West Virginia Division of Tourism
(800) CALL-WVA
www.wvtourism.com
photo credit: West Virginia Tourism
GETTING IN TOUCH
Virginia Beach Convention Center
B M & T ••• May/June 2019 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com
45
photo credit: Virginia Beach C.C
