Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1468083
B M & T ••• May/June 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 The Detroit International RiverWalk will span 5 ½ miles of riverfront, from the Ambassador Bridge to Gabriel Richard Park, just east of the Belle Isle Bridge. Currently, 2 ½ miles of East Riverfront is complete and open to the public. The Detroit riverfront includes the Detroit RiverWalk, views of Canada and the Ambassador Bridge, the GM Renaissance Center, a carousel, a garden, fountains, and endless family fun. Every summer, the GM River Days and Ford Fireworks take over the Detroit riverfront, and both are family fun all around. For more information contact the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau at (313) 202-1800. INNER HARBOR, BALTIMORE, MD B altimore's Inner Harbor has many stories to tell, from its heyday in the 18th century as the nation's leading shipbuilding site, to a major site for oyster canning, steel working, railroad building, immigration port and military supply center. In 1980, the Inner Harbor area underwent a major revitalization with the addition of many attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops. Today, the Inner Harbor is a major tourist destination and port of call for cruise ships. From family-friendly museums and restaurants to satisfy every palate, to exciting nightlife, cultural experiences and spectacular people watching, Baltimore's Inner Harbor offers more to see and do than you can imagine. And what's more, it's all walkable! The Inner Harbor is rimmed with beloved museums. One of the leading favorites for locals and visitors alike is the National Aquarium, where you can see 20,000 different animals in award- winning habitats, including a tropical rainforest and an Australian river gorge. Interested in maritime history? Docked along the edges of the Inner Harbor are the Historic Ships In Baltimore's floating museums. Take a tour of the U.S.S. Constellation, built in 1854 by the U.S. Navy and now holding court as the only surviving ship from the Civil War. Nearby, find three additional ships and a lighthouse that all detail marine experiences between the mid- 1800s and the 1980s. Got a budding scientist on your hands? Across the harbor from the Aquarium sits the Maryland Science Center, where three floors of science-focused demonstrations thrill kids and grown-ups alike. Hands-on exhibits explore the solar system, the human body and more. An especially family-friendly neighborhood, the Inner Harbor is home to the Port Discovery Children's Museum, ranked among the nation's best. This playful museum tucks a world of fun into a former fish market building. Let little ones explore the four-story SkyClimber, or play pretend on the life-sized cargo ship. Easily accessible from the Inner Harbor is the Baltimore Convention Center, the premier location in the Mid-Atlantic region for organizations wishing to host conventions, meetings, banquets and other activities. With 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space, approximately 85,000 sq. ft. of meeting space (50 rooms) and a multifunctional 36,672-sq. ft. ballroom, the Center is able to host a variety of events large and small. And visitors won't have to stray far to find superb accommodations. Stay Among the Action at an Inner Harbor Hotel, all of which are located around the scenic Baltimore Harbor. Baltimore is known as a city of neighborhoods – more than 200 of them, all with a unique history and feel. Local restaurants, shops and archi- tecture reflect the character of each neighborhood. Come down to Highlandtown, a designated arts and entertainment district, for its ethnic his- tory and diversity. Hit Downtown with bustling streets and dozens of attractions. Stroll through Fells Point, a National Historic District, replete with 161 buildings on the National Register. And stop by Little Italy to take in the aroma of Italian cuisine and the sound of bocce ball games filling the streets. For more information contact Visit Baltimore at (410) 659-7300. CHICAGO RIVERWALK, CHICAGO, IL T he Chicago Riverwalk, one of the city's most beautiful outdoor spaces, is a downtown waterfront park space and pedestrian trail along the south bank of the Chicago River. This scenic promenade contains restaurants and concessions during the summer months, benches and lookout points, boat rentals and tours, and theater-style seating for performances. Other attractions along the Riverwalk include the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Plaza, and the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Enjoy stunning views of Chicago architecture in the Loop and River North districts on a walk beside the water's edge. The Chicago Riverwalk runs along historic Wacker Drive from Lake Michigan west to Lake Street, with access at street level from each major intersection. Chicago has always been a city of two waterfronts — Lake Michigan, with 26 miles of sandy beachfront, and the Chicago River, which flows through the heart of the city. While the lake has always been a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, the riverfront has become its own hotspot in the last few years. Aerial view of Baltimore Skyline Inner Harbor