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CINCINNATI The renowned National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, which spotlights the anti-slavery movement and other human rights struggles, is a must-see for Cincinnati visitors. The Harriet Beecher Stowe House also contains exhibits on the Underground Railroad. Summer or fall visitors to Cincinnati might be able to catch one of the city's special celebrations, like the Macy's Music Festival in July, the Midwest Black Family Reunion in August or Oktoberfest Zinzinnati – the largest Oktoberfest event in North America, drawing 500,000 revel- ers each year. Cincinnati's premier meeting venue, the 750,000-sq. ft. Duke Entergy Center, contains 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, more than 100,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 40,000-sq. ft. ballroom. The good news is that your hotel is only a short stroll away – that's because there are nearly 3,000 hotel rooms in just three blocks right next to the Duke Energy Convention Center. Seven downtown hotels include the 872- room Millennium Hotel Cincinnati, 496-room Hyatt Regency Cincinnati, and the 488-room Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza. And thousands more rooms are a few minutes away throughout Cincinnati USA and on the Kentucky riverfront. B M & T ••• September/October 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 21 CLEVELAND From a sleek, new downtown convention center to dozens of new and/or renovated hotels, Cleveland has the meetings and convention infra- structure covered. But we know that attendees want much more than just a great meeting space. They want nightlife, social-media worthy culinary offerings and a great arts & culture scene. Cleveland has all of that and more. WISCONSIN The design of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison was inspired by the nation's capitol building in Washington, DC. Visitors can note the resemblance on a free guided tour. Madison is also known for being both green and fit. Visiting outdoor enthusiasts can head to one of sev- eral picturesque bike trails in the city, stroll through Olbrich Botanical Gardens or pick up the hiking trails at Lussier Heritage Center or the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. Other n otable outdoor attractions throughout the state include Devil's Lake State Park, near Wisconsin Dells, known for its 500-ft. sand- stone bluffs; Apostle Island National Lakeshore on Lake Superior, a 21- island site featuring sea caves, hiking trails and a waterfall; and the Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds, west of Madison. The town of Spring Green, also just west of Madison, is the site of Taliesin, Frank Lloyd's Wright's home and workshop, which marked its centennial this year. In 2010 Cleveland demolished its downtown convention center paving the way for one of the city's most needed development projects – the new $465 million Cleveland Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation facility. The exhibit hall floor is 225,000- sq. ft. of Class A exhibit space with 90 ft. of column spacing, 30-ft. ceilings and direct access to 17 truck bays. The exhibit hall floor holds 1,000 10x10 tradeshow booths with direct access to water, electricity, air and other utilities. Remaining in its central location and within walking distance of 14 downtown hotels and most restaurants and nightlife, the facility is con- nected to the Global Center for Health Innovaion and the future 600- room Hilton convention center hotel opening in 2016. Cleveland's Warehouse District, Gateway District, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and PlayhouseSquare are all within walking distance with plenty of restaurants, bars, n ight life and sports. founder F.A. Seiberling, spotlight the industry that put the city on the map. The Invent Now Museum offers free admission to see its chang- ing exhibits. Columbus offers a pair of notable Black heritage attractions for the itinerary: the Kelton House and Garden – a restored Underground Railroad stop — and the King Arts Complex. A summertime meeting or reunion group might want to join the fun at the Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest in July. The Dayton African American Cultural Festival in August is another event to consider planning a trip around. Two notable year-round Dayton attractions are the Paul Dunbar House and the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The Toledo Museum of Art offers free access to its Georgia and David K. Wells Sculpture Garden. The Toledo Zoo, a popular family attraction, opens after hours for gr ownup wine tastings at Vineyard Adventures. Cincinnati Art Museum MILWAUKEE An exceptional blend of stunning natural beauty, meeting facil- ities, entertainment and Midwest charm, Milwaukee is an exciting meetings destination with an unexpected "wow" factor, and all this at a substantial cost savings. Milwaukee's budget-friendly convention campus features three unique venues. Designed with input from meeting planners, the compact, three-story Wisconsin Center offers cutting-edge tech- nology, along with sixteen loading docks and three spiral drive-in ramps with direct access to the 189,000-sq. ft. exhibit hall. The his- toric Milwaukee Theatre and the 12,700-seat UW-Milwaukee Cleveland new Convention Center Rendering