Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/280564
B M & T ••• January/February 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 16 year from outside of LA County. Venues are in full supply. Want to host your group at the beach, in a historic build- ing, state-of-the-art theater complex, or even an entire amusement park on the his- toric Santa Monica Pier? From team-build- ing at the Annenberg Community Beach House to events in aircraft hangars on the Museum of Flying, Santa Monica offers a variety of hotels and venues. Time to rest? Santa Monica offers a diverse array of places to stay from luxury hotels and high-design boutique inns to extended-stay and budget choices. With most hotels located within walking dis- tance to shopping, entertainment and shopping districts, it's easy for meeting planners to venture beyond hotels for din- ners and other activities. There are 35 properties and more than 3,500 rooms with prices ranging from economy to five star – and all are located in close proximity to all of the activities, attractions and beaches that Santa Monica has to offer. Getting to Santa Monica is a breeze. Located only eight miles (13 km) north of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) works of public art enhancing the streets, parks and beaches, visitors can soak in some creativity and inspiration on the City's Art Trek. The Santa Monica Conservancy offers a two hour Downtown Walking Tour that explores the history of Santa Monica. http://www.smconservancy.org/events- programs/downtown-walking-tours/. In 2005, the 100-year-old African- American church was designated as a land- mark in the City of Santa Monica. Interested in getting some exercise while taking in the sights, visitors can rent a bike for the day and check out one of Santa Monica's four "biketineraries" that explore different themes including arts, wellness, vintage shopping and sustainabili- ty. For much of the early to mid-20th cen- tury, a stretch of Santa Monica sand was the preferred hangout for African- American beachgoers who didn't feel wel- comed on other beaches during the Jim Crow era. Some called it The Inkwell. In 2008, Santa Monica installed a plaque on Ocean Front Walk describing The Inkwell as "a place of celebration and pain." and only 13 miles (21 km) from the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica provides easy access to neighboring areas and attractions. Santa Monica is more than just a beau- tiful beach city. It's a pedestrian and bike- friendly city and offers a number of self- guided tour options. With more than 40 •pg_12-21__BMT_pg3-58 2/27/14 4:37 PM Page 16