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a 36,000-sq. ft. ballroom. The downtown area has 6,500 hotel rooms, most within walking distance of the convention center. MASSACHUSETTS History buffs might appreciate the fact that first shots of the American Revolution were fired in the town of Marlborough just west of Boston. Planners of small conven- tions and corporate meetings will appreciate the fact that Marlborough provides a cost-effective venue option close to the cultural and historical attractions of its big-city neighbor. As one of Massachusetts' favorite coastal retreats, Martha's Vineyard offers colorful sights of Victorian cottages and the Aquinnah Cliffs, along with a 17-site African American Heritage Trail. On Cape Cod, meeting groups might want to save some leisure time for touring the John F. Kennedy Memorial and Museum or doing some gallery hopping and antique shop- ping on Old King's Highway. Springfield's main downtown cultural attraction is The Quadrangle museum complex, while Six Flags New England and the Dr. Seuss Memorial Sculpture Garden are likely to make the must-see list for kids visiting with a meeting or reunion group. BOSTON Massachusetts' capital is a great walking city, where pedes- trians can easily take in views of historic sites, riverfront parks and the famous Boston Harbor. Maps of several designated historic trails — like the Abolitionist Walking Trail and the Freedom Trail, which features sites connected to the American Revolution — can help self-guided tourists find their way around. The Museum of Afro-American History is located on Beacon Hill, which during the 19th century was home to the largest free Black community in America. The nation's oldest Black church, the African American Meeting House, is part of the city's Black Heritage Trail. NEW HAMPSHIRE A visit to New Hampshire can be as action-packed as ski- ing in the White Mountains or horseback riding in the south- ern Seacoast Region, or as laid back as sampling some sweet treats and cocktails on the new statewide Chocolate & Martini Tour. Other possible diversions include hiking in the 200,000-acre White Mountain National Forest, taking a win- ery tour and viewing the Northeast's highest peak, the 6,288- ft.-high Mount Washington. New Hampshire's Merrimack Valley is the setting for its largest city, Manchester. City Hall, Falls Overlook, the Millyard Museum and several other sites are included on a self-guided walking tour. The largest city in the Seacoast Region is Portsmouth, home to Seacoast African American Cultural Center. The 24-site Black Heritage Trail in downtown Portsmouth guides you to several historic homes and churches and a burial ground. Other notable local attractions include the Hampton Beach gaming casino and the summer-long Prescott Part Arts Festival. NEW JERSEY The most popular convention and vacation spot in the Garden State is Atlantic City, well-known for its boardwalk, beaches, saltwater taffy and gaming casinos. Other top local attractions include the Civil Rights Garden, the Atlantic City Aquarium and Steel Pier. Newark, New Jersey's largest city, offers African- American heritage sites like the Polhemus House, which once served as an Underground Railroad station, and Kreuger Scott Mansion, which was once owned by the city's first Black Atlantic City Convention Center Photo Credit: Beverly Casey Boston Convention Center Photo Credit: Boston CVB Manchester skyline in background. Photo Credit: Manchester CVB Black Meetings & Tourism October/November 2009: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 38