Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1483470
B M & T ••• November/December 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 21 BALTIMORE Baltimore is famous for its beautiful water- front, world-class museums, one-of-a-kind attractions, three centuries of history and much more. The city also boasts great transportation, hundreds of accommodation options, an impressive array of over 130 attractions, and expert planning assistance – everything needed to make your next meeting or convention there a success. Baltimore's premiere destination is the Inner Harbor with shops, restaurants and attractions all within a few city blocks. It's just steps from the Baltimore Convention Center, the Maryland Science Center and the National Aquarium with over 16,500 animals and a wonderful Dolphin Show. Baltimore also celebrates its diversity with festivals and events that spotlight its multicultural heritage, the African-American, Hispanic and Asian communities, and its LGBT pride. Planners will be pleased to hear that dozens of facilities – from casual to elegant and hip to exquisitely traditional – can accommodate intimate, banquet-style gatherings or receptions that draw thousands of guests. The city's central venue is the Baltimore Convention Center, which can accommodate up to 75 percent of today's meetings and conventions with 300,000 sq. ft. of contiguous exhibit space, approximately 85,000 sq. ft. of meeting space in 50 flexible meeting rooms and a 36,672-sq. ft. ballroom. Another possibility is the now closed Royal Farms Arena, just a short walk from the Convention Center, offering 11,000 permanent seats and space for 3,000-plus temporary floor seats. The Arena can accommodate events ranging from 5,000 peo- ple to more than 14,000. Plus, there are seven connecting meeting rooms available for small functions. After completing major renovations, the venue will reopen early next year under a new name yet to be determined. Finding accommodations in Baltimore for your guests and attendees is never a challenge. There are more than 8,000 down- town hotel rooms, 2,300 within one block of the convention center. The Baltimore Convention Center which features 300,000 MARYLAND More than any other state, Maryland has probably played a more central role in American history than any place in the country. From the war that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star Spangled Banner, to its Civil War contributions and African-American heritage, Maryland has pretty much experienced it all. In Annapolis, visitors can take a photo sitting next to a bust of Alex Haley, the famed author of Roots at the Kunta-Kinte Alex Haley Memorial at the City Dock. Annapolis is home to the United States Naval Academy and the Bannaker-Douglass Museum named after Benjamin Bannaker and Frederick Douglas. Annapolis is also a major sailing and powerboat destination. The College Park Aviation Museum opened in 1998 is a 27,000 sq. facility on the grounds of the world's oldest continuously operating airport. The Surratt House and Museum in Clinton played a vital role in the conspiracy to assassinate President Lincoln and one of the stops where John Wilkes-Booth fled after killing the President. cross-country ski centers in Presque Isle. From the shops of Kittery to the dogsled races in Fort Kent, Maine is an outdoor paradise. Maine features whale watching, hiking trails, some of the best skiing in North America, the finest sailing waters in the world and some of America's best muse- ums. More than 60 lighthouses dot the Maine coast from Nubble Light in York to West Quoddy Head, the easternmost light- house in the U.S. The outstanding Maine cuisine will almost assuredly feature their famous lobster. Couple enjoying one of Maryland's eateries