Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/70980
Memorial Gardens, named for the Pensacola native who was the first Black four-star general in the U.S. Air Force. Maritime Park, a $54 million downtown entertainment complex overlooking Pensacola Bay, is under construction. It will be a venue for concerts, minor league baseball games TAMPA One of the streetcar lines departing from downtown Tampa takes visitors to the historic Latin American neighborhood known as Ybor City. Centro Ybor, a 210,000-sq. ft. shopping and entertainment complex, is one of the area's main attractions. Other cultural and historical points of interest include the Tampa Bay History Center, the David A. Straz Center for Performing Arts, the Tampa Museum of Art at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and the Henry B. Plant Museum at the University of Tampa, which focuses on the history of the Tampa Bay Hotel and the Gilded Age. Kids tagging along with meeting delegates or as part of a family reunion group are sure to give a thumbs up to attrac- tions like the Glazer Children's Museum , Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the Lowry Park Zoo, the Museum of Science and Industry ,the Florida Aquarium — the departure point for a dolphin ecotour — and Dinosaur World in nearby Plant City. Visitors might enjoy doing some of their sightseeing via a water taxi that travels over the Hillsborough River or the Tampa Bay. and festivals. The city's largest meeting venue, the Pensacola Civic Center, offers more than 20,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and more than 13,000 sq. ft. of meeting space. There are nearly 1,300 hotel rooms citywide. Tampa City Skyline The 600,000-sq. ft. Tampa Convention Center is the city's largest meeting space, containing 200,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space and a 36,000-sq. ft. ballroom. The area offers approximately 24,000 guestrooms. Relax. You'll fit right in... From large national conventions to small regionalmeetings, we've got you covered. Just one call to our knowledgeable staff will provide you with a diverse selection of facilities and accommodations to choose from, and will ensure you find the perfect fit.We make it easy with an in-town airport, a downtownwaterfront convention center, and a sparkling variety of hotels, dining, entertainment, and attractions. So relax, and host your nextmeeting in Tampa Bay. You'll feel good knowing you've selected the perfect destination! Convention ProudHost ofthe2012 Republican National For more information about booking your next convention, contact Sherri Brown: (813) 342-4062 or email SBrown@VisitTampaBay.com 46 the perfect fit. Black Meetings & Tourism May/June 2012: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com