Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/592242
B M & T ••• July/August 2015 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 21 to a point just short of the Waterfront Shopping District. Within the city, the trail takes the names of neighbor- hoods through which it passes. The north bank of the Allegheny River is Pittsburgh's North Side also known as Northside, and the trail is referred to locally as the North Shore Trail. On the north bank of the Ohio River the trail is called the Chateau Trail because of nearby Chateau Street. On the south bank of the Allegheny it goes through the food market area and is called the Strip District Trail. On Monongahela River's north bank it is called the Eliza Furnace Trail because it passes the site where the Jones and Laughlin Steel Company once had its Eliza fur- naces. Some people call this section the Jail Trail because it also passes the Allegheny County Jail on its way to Oakland, the University Center of the city. A branch that extends into Schenley Park in Oakland is called the Panther Hollow Trail. As it moves further up the Monongahela River towards Frick Park it is called the Duck Hollow Trail, because that is where a stream exits the park into the Monongahela. On the south bank of the Monongahela in Pittsburgh's South Side, it is called the South Side Trail. Pittsburgh is one terminus of the 335-mile long Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) that connects the city to Cumberland, Maryland, and Washington, DC. The route of GAP uses five miles (8 km) of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Within the city, the GAP goes from the Waterfront Mall and Sandcastle upstream on the Monongahela River, and then at the South Side Works crosses the river on the Hot Metal Bridge. Finally it uses the north bank of the Monongahela to reach the Pittsburgh Point. The Friends of the Riverfront have also developed and administer the Three Rivers Water Trail, along the river- fronts of Allegheny County, for kayakers and canoeists, with access points, parking areas and boat racks. Another important activity is the annual Pittsburgh Triathlon, a com- petition for top athletes who use the land and water routes to bike, run, and swim for this Olympic qualifier. A less demanding version is the Adventure Race, for friends, fam- ilies and teams who wish to paddle, bike and run a shorter yet challenging course. For more information contact Visit Pittsburgh at (412) 281-7711 |or (800) 359-0758. RIVERWALK, FORT LAUDERDALE, Located along the city's stunning New River, in down- town Fort Lauderdale, Riverwalk offers an array of excit- ing entertainment options year-round with world-class concerts, events, unique galleries, shopping and fine dining. Lush tropical landscaping and winding walkways link attractions, restaurants and shops on Florida's most beau- tiful mile. For those seeking sunshine with a cultural flair and offerings to suit every taste, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Riverwalk, also known as the Fort Lauderdale Riverfront, was once a peaceful village started in the late '60s and early '70s that was home to everything from health food shops to a community theater. The district boasts two main streets – Las Olas Boulevard and Himmarshee Street. In addition to the area's bars and clubs, there are restaurants, cafes, and a movie theater. Other interesting attractions along the Riverwalk include the Museum of Science & Discovery (a great place for children and adults alike), as well as a park that runs along the waterfront that is home to many festivals and events. Esplanade Park provides a lovely waterfront set- ting for special events along Fort Lauderdale's scenic Riverwalk Park with capacity for one to 2,000. Protection from weather is provided by a large glass pavilion on the water for smaller numbers. Riverwalk Recreation offers a variety of activities to encourage you to spend some time along Riverwalk, including bike tours and rentals, kayak tours, stand-up pad- dleboard tours, segway tours and photography classes. If you are lucky, you can enjoy one of the many festivals and entertainment options that unfold along the Riverwalk throughout the year. For instance, on the first Sunday of every month from 11am-2pm, you can attend an outdoor concert series featuring the area's best local jazz artists on four different stages. There is plenty of room to set up chairs, blankets and picnic baskets to experience the fabu- lous entertainment. Or you can also stroll along the his- toric brick-lined walkway to enjoy live music while brows- ing items from local merchants and enjoying food from area restaurants. Within a stone's throw of the Riverwalk is a must-see attraction when visiting Fort Lauderdale – the world- renowned African-American Research Library And Cultural Center. This 60,000-sq. ft. jewel, only the third of its kind in the U.S., features a main library and a unique children's library with more Black history books and books written by Blacks than any other facility in the country. The Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center, nestled on the Intracoastal Waterway, offers 600,000 sq. ft. Gold LEED Certified meeting and exhibit space for large conventions and conferences. For more information contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB at (954) 765-4466 or (800) 22-SUNNY.