Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/187632
•pg_42-55__BMT_pg3-58 9/25/13 12:27 AM Page 43 BY GORDON HICKS Minneapolis Convention Center Evansville's Riverfront/Dress Plaza is a great place for a leisurely stroll, outdoor concerts and spectacular views of the Ohio River. The African American Museum is a must visit. In September it's the Downtown Jazz and Wine Festival. The state's second largest city, Ft. Wayne features an award-winning Children's Zoo. The Three Rivers and the Johnnie Appleseed festivals are among the city's most popular events. Indianapolis is known for its sports, from the Indianapolis 500 to the NFL, NBA and host city for Big Ten Tournaments. Tour the NCAA Hall of Champions and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museums. MICHIGAN Grand Rapids is known for fantastic art, farm-to-fork foods, lots of outdoor recreation and beer. The city earned the name Beer City USA in 2012 and one of the Top 10 Best Vacation Cities for Beer Lovers. The city prides itself on its Midwestern values. Try ice-skating at the Rosa Parks Circle, walk the Riverfront or visit the Gerald R. Ford Museum. Lansing, Michigan's capital city features wonderful attractions such as All Around the African World Museum and Resource Center, Impressions 5 Science Center, Michigan International Speedway and the State Capitol Building. The Lansing Center is a state-of-the-art facility with 175,000 sq. ft. of meeting space including 75,000 sq. ft. of column free exhibit halls and 20 breakout rooms. Mackinac Island located between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas has the Grand Hotel and the Mission Point Resort – two great properties for hiking, biking, water activities, weddings and music festivals. DETROIT Detroit is divided into five distinct districts, perfect for planning your travel, tourism, meeting and conventions needs. Visitors to Detroit can enjoy three pro-sports teams, upscale casinos, theaters, a thriving arts district and live entertainment sure to keep you up all night. Downtown is home to the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and The Carr Center, dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the African and African-American cultural arts tradition. The Dearborn/Wayne region is the birthplace of Henry Ford and the museum that bears his name. The area features the Black Holocaust Museum and the Labor Day Weekend Detroit Jazz Festival. Greater Novi is known for its many boutique shopping experiences, trendy malls and lots of fine dining. Twelve Oaks Mall is the region's largest. Macomb is all about the great outdoors. With miles of coast- B M & T ••• September/October 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 43