Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544721
B M & T ••• May/June 2026 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 48 Boardwalk and Promenade at sunset, pausing for live music, or spend the afternoon along the shoreline or inside Myrtle Beach State Park. A short drive leads to Brookgreen Gardens, where the Lowcountry Trail and exhibitions like Rooted in the Land offer a deeper look at Gullah Geechee life and legacy. Live music dominates the nighttime scene. Barefoot Landing, Dead Dog Saloon, The Bowery and Broadway at the Beach are just a few of the places to catch live local music while you're in town. Festivals like the Myrtle Beach Jazz Festival, which brings the music to the waterfront, keep the year-round music calendar packed. Myrtle Beach doesn't ask you to choose between reflection and release - you can have both, for a personal, restorative, and shared experience. TENNESSEE In Tennessee, every mile carries an invitation. You sense it in Memphis, where the legacy of soul music, civil rights, and Southern cuisine creates space for reflection and celebration in equal measure. In Nashville, meetings take place amid the spirit of music that shaped generations. Knoxville and Chattanooga round out the city experience with walkable downtowns, river- front views, and access to the Smoky Mountains, ideal for groups seeking fresh air, outdoor recreation, and a slower pace. Across the state, heritage isn't confined to museums. It lives in neighborhoods, festivals, and front-porch storytelling that welcomes you in. Days move easily from guided tours and gallery visits to rooftop gatherings and live music after dark. Tennessee's rivers, lakes, and scenic byways enable distinctive summer escapes, perfect for multigenerational travel and con- nection. Whether you're planning a meeting, reunion, or incen- tive trip, Tennessee sets the stage, and each city adds its own scene. CHATTANOOGA On Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, you'll see Chattanooga's history in real time, from the exhibits at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center and Chattanooga African American Museum to the legacy markers that trace a once- thriving corridor of music, business, and community. That sense of place helps drive your agenda, where meetings at the Chattanooga Convention Center connect easily to downtown, and a stay at the Chattanooga Marriott Downtown or The Westin Chattanooga keeps your group within walking distance of everything. When the workday wraps, the riverfront awaits, with the 16- mile Chattanooga Riverwalk linking art, green space, and sky- line views. Chattanooga, where heritage, fresh air, and shared experience come together naturally, works well for leadership retreats, small-to-midsize conferences, and multi-generational gatherings. KNOXVILLE At the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Knoxville's story is told through African American art, archives, and community memory. It then proceeds to Alex Haley Heritage Square and the streets of East Knoxville. That grounding gives your gather- ing a sense of purpose, whether you're convening at the Knoxville Convention Center or hosting a reception with sky- line views at The Tennessean or Knoxville Marriott Downtown. When the agenda concludes, you can move from Market Square's café tables and street performers to a First Friday gallery walk, or out to Ijams Nature Center for paddling, hiking or quarry swimming. Knoxville is a fine fit for gatherings seek- ing cultural connection, walkability, and fresh-air downtime in one easy-going package. MEMPHIS In Memphis, the groove still holds. At the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, you move through the sound that shaped generations. You can dance that spirit down to Beale Street, where live music still rings. It lives hand-in-hand with the National Civil Rights Museum, where the story of Memphis meets you head-on. Together, they are key elements you can Knoxville Convention Center National Civil Rights Museum Aerial View of Downtown Chattanooga