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B M & T ••• May/June 2013••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 42 Pine Bluff, nicknamed "The Bass Capital of the World" plays host to 30-35 bass tournaments a year. September is the popular Smoke on the Water Barbecue and Music Festival. Boyhood home of Bill Clinton in Hope, Arkansas FLORIDA The Daytona 500 is America's best-known NASCAR race. Daytona Beach is home to Bethune-Cookman and a spring break paradise. Jacksonville features the Intracoastal waterway, the Atlantic Ocean and the majestic St Johns River – along with the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, a zoo, spas and golf courses galore as home to the PGA Tour. The pristine waters of Pensacola Beach makes this Gulf Coast city one of Florida's premiere vacation destina- tions. While Tallahassee is home turf of college football's reigning national champs the Florida State Seminoles, a Florida A&M University football game halftime show featuring the FAMU Marching Band is a must. Also visit the John G. Riley Museum of African-American Culture and History. Busch Gardens Tampa, Glazer Children's Museum, Florida Aquarium, Lowry Park Zoo and the Museum of Science and Industry are just a few of Tampa's well-known attractions. Palm Beach County means golf, tennis, beaches, shopping, nightlife, art and culture. FORT LAUDERDALE It's a good time to start making plans to attend Jazz in the Gardens. Slated for March 20-22, 2015 this festival features world-renowned Jazz artists and some of hip-hop's biggest stars. The 2014 event hosted by D.L. Hughley featured performances by LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, Rachelle Ferrell, Boney James, Mint Condition and others. It is the place to be in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area in March. Fort Lauderdale is also a premiere meeting destination for African- Americans. The 100 Black Men of America, The National Baptist Sunday School Conference, The National Black Accountants have all held conven- tions here and the National Urban League will hold their 2015 annual confer- ence in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. The 600,000-sq. ft. Broward County Convention Center is the premiere gathering spot for large or small events. This three-level facility nestled on the Intracoastal Waterway is surrounded by six hotel properties known as the Lauderdale Convention Collection. There are 2,700 hotel rooms within 1.5 miles of the Broward County Convention Center. Fort Lauderdale's family reunion business is booming. Today, those reunions take on an international flavor because of the city's proximity to the Caribbean and the African Diaspora. Port Everglades is home base to several cruises lines, which makes plan- ning a meeting-ending trip to the Caribbean or across the Atlantic a breeze. Just two miles north of Port Everglades, visitors can enjoy a landscaped beachfront promenade with its signature white wave wall and brick paved path. Across the street are luxury hotels, shopping and dining. Visitors can take a 90-minute amphibious tour of quaint Las Olas Boulevard, tour histori- cal districts, and view mansions and yachts dotting Millionaires Row. Fort Lauderdale features the African-American Research Library and Cultural Center. This library features more Black history books written by Blacks than anywhere in the country. MIAMI Indulge in the highest standards of pampering and relaxation during the seventh annual Miami Spa Month. During the months of July and August visit some of the city's premiere spas for those special treatments at affordable prices. Go to miamiandbeaches.com/special-offers/monthly-deals/miami- spa-month to see which spas are participating in Miami Spa Month. In addition to its world-famous spas, Miami's spectacular beaches, chic boutiques, trendy hotels, clubs and restaurants makes this city North America's premiere tropical paradise. It's state-of-the-art performing arts centers, bustling downtown, major sports venues, the 650,000+ sq. ft. Miami Beach Convention Center, two national parks, and a convergence of cultures unmatched in America make it a top choice f or meetings and incentives as well. The Greater Miami area has over 48,000 hotel rooms with many unique properties. South Beach is home to the largest collection of restored Art Deco, Art Nouveau and cutting-edge boutique hotels. Downtown Fort Lauderdale Miami Beach Convention Center Photo Credit Visions Of America LLC Photo Credit: Miami Beach CVB Photo Credit: Fort Lauderdale CVB