Black Meetings and Tourism

LONG BEACH If you go to Long Beach, don't miss a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific, where noteworthy features include the Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet Forest and a new exhibition and educational facility that's been singled out for its LEED platinum-rated green design. CALIFORNIA A chance to visit California's best known theme park isn't the only reason to meet in Anaheim, which also boasts other attractions like the new Anaheim Garden Walk. Avid shop- pers would be particularly pleased with the choice of either Beverly Hills, famous for its upscale shopping, or Newport Beach, the boarding spot for shopping excursions to Balboa Island, as a gathering place. Besides iconic sights like Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco offers such notable Black cultural attractions as the African American Shakespeare Company and the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. In the capital city of Sacramento, the 40 Acres Art Gallery & Cultural Center spotlights African-American works. California's natural wonders include the Living Desert Reserve in Palm Springs and the Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno. The mountain resorts of Tahoe North offer more great natural attractions, while the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose showcases inspirational human feats. Black Meetings & Tourism February/March 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 66 an 1880s western town complete with shootouts, stagecoaches and pony rides. To take in some of the natural beauty in the Valley of the Sun, you might head for the Desert Botanical Garden, the world's largest col- lection of desert plants, or book some tee time at one of the more than 200 golf courses in Greater Phoenix. The Phoenix Convention Center recently completed a $600 mil- lion renovation project that added a new facility with 150,000-plus sq. ft. of meeting and exhibit space, another building with 310,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, and a 50,000-sq. ft. ballroom. Lodging is plentiful, with about 55,000 hotel rooms in the metro area. Phoenix parks offer a variety of paths for those searching for a challenge. Photo Credit: Greater Phoenix CVB

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