Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/848446
B M & T ••• May/June 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 34 with hiking trails and waterfalls. Outdoor activities are abundant from whitewater rafting on the James River to skiing at one of the mountain resorts, to hiking, biking or horseback riding on the 343-mile Virginia Creeper Trail. NORFOLK Nestled where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean Norfolk has long been a top destination for tourists and meeting plan- ners. Norfolk is the cultural, financial and entertainment hub of the mid-Atlantic coast, and will never disappoint! Centrally located on the Eastern Seaboard, Norfolk is only hours from two thirds of the U.S. population, making getting here and meeting here extremely conven- ient, not only for your travel needs, but for your budget as well. This historic city offers a variety of hotels and venues ready to accommodate meetings of every size, with approximately 5,400 hotel rooms citywide (3,000 committable) and 263,370 sq. ft. of function space in the city and a downtown with 1,200 committable guestrooms and 222,934 sq. ft. of function space. One of the largest hotel proper- ties is the Norfolk Waterside Marriott and Waterside Convention Center with 405 guestrooms and 60,000 square feet of meeting space. The Attucks Theatre, a state and national landmark is the oldest legitimate theatre in the nation. Built in 1919, this theatre was named after Crispus Attucks, the first American to lose his life in the Boston Massacre. The Chrysler Museum of Art has a major collection of photogra- phy chronicling the Civil Rights Movement and has event space avail- able, as does the The Attucks Theatre. VIRGINIA BEACH Virginia Beach has been a top draw for African Americans for decades. It's the spring break destination of choice for many HBCU college students in the state and across the country. It's also one of Black America's top family reunion locales It's all about sand, surf and outdoor fun in Virginia Beach and its thriving beach community. The 35-miles of coastline and expansive beaches means there's room for everyone. The 3.3-mile boardwalk along Resort Beach offers a park-like atmosphere perfect for strolling biking, running or roller-blading. Entertainment is offered nightly during the summer months with oceanfront stages at 7th, 17th, 24th and 31st Streets. The Virginia Legends Walk is one of the top historical attractions with tributes to Ella Fitzgerald, Arthur Ashe, Booker T. Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Edgar Allen Poe. Meeting planners will love the LEED® Gold Certified Virginia Beach Convention Center. Just a few blocks from the ocean, this 525,000 square foot facility is one of the largest on the east coast and arguably the premiere meeting venue in Virginia. There are nearly 12,000 hotel rooms citywide, with 3,500 within a two-mile radius of the convention center. Town Center is the place to go for dining, shopping and enter- tainment offering many of the name brands that are familiar to us all. WEST VIRGINIA West Virginia's mountainous terrain makes the state a prime location for outdoor activities from hiking, whitewater rafting, fish- ing and horseback riding to skiing and snowboarding. Recreation areas include the Monongahela National Forest and the Greenbrier River Trail. Last year this proud state commemorated its 150th birthday with a host of year-round festivities. As the only state born out of the turmoil of the Civil War, the sesquicentennial took on a special significance. This year the state is just celebrating with annual events and activities for locals and visitors alike. Taking advantage of the states' scenic beauty, the summer months brings scores of motorcycle riders to participate in events such as the Freedom Fest Motorcycle Touring and MountainFest Motorcycle. Charleston features a host of musical events. One popular venue is the Haddad Riverfront Park, an outdoor place to just kick back and enjoy. Another venue popular for music is The Clay Center where B.B. King is slated to perform later this year. Charleston has a number of attractions chronicling the African- American experience. The Mattie V. Lee Home is the residence of the first Black female physician in the state. The Samuel Starks House was home to the nation's first librarian and the Heritage Towers Museum looks at the story of life from West Africa to the Underground Railroad. Its no small wonder African Americans have rediscovered part of what makes the South so great. After all many of our ancestors toiled away and planted the seeds for what the South has become today, a place of energy and excitement. While many have a tendency to look at the South through the lens of history and Civil Rights, the South is more than this legacy. Look around at many of these great urban centers. Black-owned businesses are thriving. There are several Black-owned name brand hotel properties. The South is a place of economic opportunity if we just dare to look. The South is not up and coming, it has arrived and awaits your visit with open arms. Waterside Convention Center Virginia Beach Convention Center Photo Credit: Norfolk CVB Photo Credit: Virginia Beach CVB