Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/12999
AFRICAN AMERICAN GUIDE TO MEETING, INCENTIVES AND TRAVELING IN THE SOUTH by SONYA STINSON W ALABAMA One of Alabama’s top attractions, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, is found in Huntsville, where another point of interest, the Imhotep Art Gallery, showcases the works of Black artists. History comes alive in Mobile, where cos- tumed guides depict 18th century life at the restored Fort Conde, which now serves as the city’s Visitors Center. Mobile is also home to the National African American Archives & Museum. Gulf Shores, another popular coastal destination, is currently working on a major renovation of its Gulf State Park, which has facilities for picnicking, fish- ing, golf other outdoor activities. Tuscaloosa, best known as the home of the University of Alabama’s famed Crimson Tide football team, is also the site of the Murphy African-American Museum and the Alabama Museum of Natural History. A storied African-American university is found in Tuskegee, where the campus-based Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center can accommodate small groups and the National Tuskegee Airmen Museum is a major historical attraction. BIRMINGHAM Alabama’s largest city boasts an impressive list of cultur- al, recreational and entertainment attractions, many of which open after hours to groups holding special events. The 50 Flamingos, Birmingham Zoo Photo Credit: Birmingham CVB hether it’s the sites that let visitors experience the region’s difficult and inspiring past or the exciting places that focus on its diverse and forward-looking contemporary culture, the South is a memorable meeting and travel destination. The region is home to a wide range of attractions to suit just about every kind of interest, along with a variety of meet- ing and lodging accommodations. And of course it’s all served up with that famous Southern hospitality. Here‘s a sampling of what the region has to offer its guests. McWane Science Center, Barber Village Motorsports Museum, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Alys Robins Stephens Performing Arts Center all offer event space. Other interest- ing off-site venues include the Sloth Furnaces National Historic Landmark, once an ironworks plant, now an indus- trial museum; the WorkPlay Theater, part of the WorkPlay entertainment complex on the city’s south side; and Harambe, a loft setting filled with African art. Birmingham’s largest meeting venue, the Jefferson Convention Complex, contains 220,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 60 meeting rooms, and a 10-story Medical Forum. There are 14,000 area guestrooms. Groups choosing Birmingham as a gathering spot will find plenty of diversions between meeting sessions. Five Points South, the historic entertainment district noted for its eclectic architectural mix, features restaurants, bars, shops and a theater. Other attractions include Alabama Adventure, the state’s first amusement park; the Southern Museum of Flight, located near Birmingham International Airport; the Oxmoor Valley Golf Course, part of the state- wide Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail; and Oak Mountain State Park, located about 20 minutes from downtown Birmingham. Of course, one of the city’s most outstanding attractions is the six-block Birmingham Civil Rights District, which includes the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, site of the Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com