Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1483470
B M & T ••• November/December 2022 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 28 rocky cliffs just above the Atlantic Ocean. The Newport Gilded Age Trail will take you to opulent Victorian mansions, palatial summer residences and the International Tennis Hall of Fame. VERMONT What's a vacation without ice cream? Vermont's top tourist attraction is Ben & Jerry's Factory Tours in the town of Waterbury. Visitors view the manufacturing process and a little sam- pling is in order. Vermont is an agricultural-paradise known for its abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. The farmers here make it easy to pick your own for the journey home. The picking season starts in early summer with berry season and in fall its Apple season. Follow Route 2 into the Lake Champlain Islands to Hackett's Orchard where you can wonder around trees weighed-down by 45 vari- eties of apples. Vermont is also known for its maple syrup, cheese and of course chocolate. There are sev- eral chocolatiers in Burlington, Stowe, Montpelier, Arlington and Brattleboro to choose from. In addition to its pristine lakes and wilderness, there is a full menu of winter sports activities from skiing to snowboarding. History buffs will enjoy a tour of the Rokeby Museum, a National Historic Landmark and Underground Railroad stop. Group of Skiers enjoying the moment in Killington, Vermont WASHINGTON The contributions of African-Americans to the landscape and culture of our nation's capital runs deep. From Benjamin Bannaker, a free African- American scientist and surveyor who was part of the team that surveyed the original borders of the District of Columbia to President Barack Obama, this city is the embodiment of the African-American experience. Whether you are bringing a board meeting of 20, a family reunion of 200, or a convention of 15,000, DC will meet and exceed your expectations. For larger events, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center is a 2.3 million-sq. ft. facility with 77 meeting rooms that is located between the historic Arts District/U Street/Shaw district and the revitalized Downtown/Penn Quarter/Chinatown district. Nearby, the Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square combines simple elegance and modern amenities to create a versatile space perfect for smaller events. Located across the street from the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, this historic land- mark has awe-inspiring architecture, spacious rooms, and a 150-seat theater. The city features over 30,000 hotel rooms with several thousand more in the surrounding area eas- ily accessible by public transportation. DC's largest property, the Marriott Marquis Washington, DC, features 1,175 sleeping rooms, 105,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and is connected to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center via underground Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial,Wash. DC