Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/592242
B M & T ••• July/August 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 20 Festival, Motor City Pride, the North American International Auto Show, and River Days. With 723,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, Cobo Center boasts one of the largest contiguous exhibit floor spaces in North America and is the 19th largest convention cen- ter in the country. Elegant banquet rooms and more than 80 meeting rooms comprise 180,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. With so many convention facilities, accommodations, attractions and recreational options clustered around the Detroit International Riverfront for easy access, it's no wonder planners and their delegates are placing Detroit high on their wish list of meeting destinations. For more information contact the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau at (313) 202-1800. INNER HARBOR, BALTIMORE, MD Baltimore's Inner Harbor has many stories to tell, from its heyday in the 18th century as the nation's leading shipbuild- ing site, to a major site for oyster canning, steel working, rail- road building, immigration port and military supply center. In 1980, the Inner Harbor area underwent a major revitalization with the addition of many attractions, hotels, restaurants and shops. Today, the Inner Harbor is a major tourist destination and port of call for cruise ships. From family-friendly muse- ums and restaurants to satisfy every palate, to exciting nightlife, cultural experiences and spectacular people watch- ing, Baltimore's Inner Harbor offers more to see and do than you can imagine. And what's more, it's all walkable Planners and their delegates can take in Inner Harbor attractions like The National Aquarium in Baltimore, the Science Center with its IMAX Theater and Planetarium, and the Baltimore Maritime Museum, or they can dine in style at one of many area restaurants. Elegant gourmet cuisine, eth- nic foods from around the world and plenty of fresh seafood from Maryland's Chesapeake Bay can be found at the many Inner Harbor eateries. A short walk from Baltimore's Inner Harbor (about one block) is Power Plant Live!, a premier din- ing and entertainment district that features a variety of restaurants and nightclubs surrounding a common plaza. There is also outdoor seating, which often features live per- formances. Easily accessible from the Inner Harbor is the Baltimore Convention Center, the premier location in the Mid-Atlantic region for organizations wishing to host conventions, meet- ings, banquets and other activities. With 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibition space, approximately 85,000 square feet of meeting space (50 rooms) and a multifunctional 36,672-square-foot ballroom, the Center is able to host a vari- ety of events large and small. And visitors won't have to stray far to find superb accom- modations. Stay Among the Action at an Inner Harbor Hotel, all of which are located around the scenic Baltimore Harbor. Baltimore is known as a city of neighborhoods – more than 200 of them, all with a unique history and feel. Local restau- rants, shops and architecture reflect the character of each neighborhood. Come down to Highlandtown, a designated arts and entertainment district, for its ethnic history and diversity. Hit Downtown with bustling streets and dozens of attractions. Stroll through Fells Point, a National Historic District, replete with 161 buildings on the National Register. And stop by Little Italy to take in the aroma of Italian cuisine and the sound of bocce ball games filling the streets. For more information contact Visit Baltimore at (410) 659- 7300. THREE RIVERS HERITAGE TRAIL, PITTSBURGH, PA The Three Rivers Heritage Trail is an urban rail-trail par- alleling the riverbanks in Pittsburgh for about 25 miles, often on both sides of the rivers, and offering a spectacular view of the city. The trail is promoted and maintained in part by the Friends of the Riverfront. Their mission is to increase awareness and engagement with the region's rivers and riverfronts through activities and stewardship, and to extend the water and land trails on the major rivers within Allegheny County. At the Pittsburgh Point State Park, there are three rivers: the Allegheny River and Monongahela River unite to form the Ohio River. The Three Rivers Heritage Trail extends three miles up the north side of the Allegheny River to Millvale, and also three miles down the north bank of the Ohio River to Brunot Island. On the Monongahela River the trail goes five miles upriver from Station Square