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B M & T ••• November/December 2014 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 30 Times Square to the sites and sounds of Harlem, New York City is the nation's top travel destination. Everyone knows the iconic entertainment venues and tourist attractions that make up this great city: The Empire State Building, Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Broadway, the Statute of Liberty, Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Zoo, just to name a few. A don't forget Restaurant Row and fine dining. Arguably the most famous of all New York venues is the Apollo Theater. Located on W. 125th Street (Frederick Douglass Blvd), this theater exerted greater influence on popular culture than anyplace in the world, and for African-Americans this is the place where careers are made. Amateur Night at the Apollo started back in 1934 with young, talented new performers such as 15-year-old Ella Fitzgerald. Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Count Basie, James Brown, Bill Cosby and numerous Motown acts all per- formed and/or debuted at the Apollo. Today, the Apollo continues its fine tradition attracting new and seasoned world-class talent. Central Park in Autumn with Manhattan skyscrapers in the background. ONTARIO, CANADA The Niagara Falls and Wine Country region of Ontario is a place of majestic beauty. Explore the many vineyards and soothe your palate with world-class wines then retreat to one of the many spas in the area for a little pampering. If you're feeling lucky head to the Casino Niagara or Niagara Fallsview Casino for a little gambling, nightlife and live entertainment 24 hours a day. The Windsor-Essex-Peele Island region in Southwest Ontario, just across the river from Detroit is known for its sheer natural beauty with hundreds of miles of pristine coast- line. This region was the premiere entry point to Canada for escaped slaves using the Underground Railroad. Learn more about this and other historical achievements of both Black Americans and Canadians at the North American Black Historical Museum in Amhertsburg. The museum is a com- plex of several buildings including The Nazrey African Methodist Episcopal Church. TORONTO Toronto might be the trendiest and most diverse city in the Western Hemisphere and is ranked as the safest city in North America. Over 140 different languages and dialects are spo- ken in this most welcoming of cities. Toronto hosts upwards of 16 million visitors a year and has everything you would expect to find in any large American city – outstanding restaurants, arts, entertainment, sports and culture. For meetings and conventions the Direct Energy Centre has over 1 million sq. ft. of flexible meeting space and depend- ing on configuration can hold up to 15,000 people. The International Centre has over 500,000 sq. ft., the Toronto Congress Center has one million sq. ft. and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre has over 600,000 sq. ft. Toronto has over 35,000 hotel rooms, many within min- utes of local event centers. Whether you're on a budget or demand the utmost in opulence, there's a room for everyone. From boutique to headquarter hotels, Toronto has the room to accommodate events of any size. Stay within minutes of the airport, or hop on a shuttle bus for a quick ride to the city's centre, close to Union Train Station, shopping districts, the- atres and restaurants. Start with a trip up the CNN Tower, the highest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere. The city views are spec- tacular Canada's Wonderland features over 200 attractions and 65 thrilling rides including North America's greatest variety of roller coasters. The park usually opens in May and closes in October. Outdoor activities are in abundance in Toronto. Take a trip to Riverdale Farm, the only farm remaining in Toronto. For recre- ational activities try cycling in High Park, The Beaches or Toronto Island – a 10-minute ferry ride from mainland Toronto. During the winter months Nathan Phillips Square turns into an outdoor ice skating rink. Toronto sunset over Lake Panorama with urban skyline. PENNSYLVANIA The Commonwealth and American history go hand-in- hand. From the country's founding to the Civil War and Photo Credit: Songquan Deng Photo Credit: Songquan Deng