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B M & T ••• July/August 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 26 Center Convention Complex, consisting of 502,000 sq. ft. of exhibit and event space, a 28,000-sq. ft. ballroom, 1,400-seat theater and 67,000-seat domed stadium. St. Louis has a wide array of lodging options, from properties like the 910-room Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch, to the 195-room Hilton St. Louis at the Arch, and everything in between. For more information contact Explore St. Louis at (800) 916-8939 or Explorestlouis.com. TAMPA, FL A family that plunders together stays together! The perfect family get- away is a blend of excitement and relaxation – and Tampa Bay has plenty of both. From exhilarating roller coasters to basking in the vibrant local culture, there's no shortage of entertainment. With its combination of acces- sibility, affordability and amenities, Tampa Bay is also the perfect place to unlock the potential of your next meeting. With a host of unique dining experiences, leisure and recreational choices and venues like no other, there is much to discover. Tampa is home to the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), the largest science center in the Southeast, boasting 450 interactive science exhibits and a colossal IMAX dome movie theater with an 82-ft. hemispheri- cal movie screen. It's also where the young explorers in your family can gain new appreciation for art and the way the world works in the air-conditioned comfort of the Glazer Children's Museum. More than 170 interactive activi- ties provide a fun way to learn, exploring wide-ranging ideas with cultural applications from banking and commerce to flying an airplane. Busch Gardens® Tampa is the ultimate family adventure, combining Tampa Convention Center ST. LOUIS, MO S t. Louis is a place where history and imagination collide, and the result is a destination like no other. The Gateway to the West offers exceptional music, arts and cultural options, as well as more free attractions than any place outside of Washington D.C. The city also boasts an impressive inventory of family friendly things to do and see. For instance, you can visit the region's first interactive children's museum, built in a sprawling Victorian mansion in suburban St. Louis. Kids will enjoy all sorts of fun and educational activities at the Magic House, including sit- ting at the president's desk in a spot-on recreation of the Oval Office and per- forming patriotic karaoke. Or you can explore the City Museum's unique all- ages playground filled with caves, slides and climbing apparatus made from recycled and found objects. Visitors can interact with over 10,000 sea crea- tures in the World Aquarium, venture through the Museum of Mirth, Mystery and Mayhem and wander through the Elmslie and Sullivan architectural exhibit. Thrill seekers can drop by Six Flags St. Louis where they'll find fun for the whole family! Visitors can loop the loop on Batman the Ride, soar at speeds of up to 62 mph on the Screaming Eagle wooden coaster and get soaked on the whitewater rapids adventure of Thunder River. History buffs can explore the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, where slave Dred Scott and his wife, Harriett, sued for their freedom in 1847. Shoppers, on the other hand, will find couture and designer brand name fashions available at dozens of high-end shops throughout the city, or can hunt for one-of-a-kind treasures at many area antique shops and independent bookstores. And that's just the tip of the iceberg! Other possibilities include the Saint Louis Science Center, and of course, the iconic Gateway Arch. When it's time to get down to business, America's Center, conveniently located in the heart of downtown St. Louis close to hotels, dining, attractions, shopping, and public transportation, offers three levels housing six exhibit halls, America's Ballroom, meeting rooms, and the St. Louis Executive Conference Center. The Cervantes Convention Center is part of the America's Resort or hotels near SeaWorld® Orlando. In all, Orlando is home to 119,000 guest rooms, and features the largest cluster of meeting hotels in the southeast – 150 – offering more than 5 million sq. ft. or more of flexible meeting space across the destination. For more information contact Visit Orlando at (800) 972-3304 or vis- itorlando.com. new comfort ties applications Thrill seekers can drop by Six by Six by Flags Six Flags Six St. Louis where they'll find fun for the for the for St. Louis Gateway Arch