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B M & T ••• Novemeber/December 2017 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 16 BALTIMORE Baltimore is best known for its beautiful waterfront, authen- tic history and convenient East Coast location. With more than 130 attractions, museums, historic sites and performing arts groups, Charm City promises something for everyone. From "The Star-Spangled Banner" to African American history, pop culture to sharks and dinosaurs, there is something exciting around every corner. Many of our venues are perfect for off- site parties, receptions and small gatherings. Baltimore offers dozens of facilities – from casual, elegant and hip to exquisitely traditional, perfect for meetings of all sizes. The Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) can accom- modate up to 75 percent of today's meetings and conventions with 300,000 sq. ft. of exhibit space, 50 flexible meeting rooms and a 36,672-sq. ft. ballroom. The BCC has invested in upgrades, including a recently completed outdoor terrace that can serve as an event space or place to relax, new audio sys- tems, enhanced Wi-Fi, and upgraded culinary offerings. The BCC and the city's hotels have also put a number of green ini- tiatives in place, and many Baltimore hotels and attractions – as well as the BCC – are Maryland Green Travel partners. Visitors will find it easy to explore Baltimore's cultural legacies in their free time via the Baltimore Legends & Legacies Heritage Pass, which provides discounted admission to the city's premier African-American cultural institutions including the National Great Blacks In Wax Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture, and the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park. Baltimore also offers an award-winning Dream Baltimore Heritage Guide. This free visitor guide, specifically dedicated to the city's multicultural history and attractions, is available for visitors online, at the Baltimore Visitor Center, at other locations around the city and by request via mail. Baltimore, located at the crossroads of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and a region of 50 million people, gives you an edge in attracting attendees. Located off I-95, at a con- venient stop on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and 15 minutes from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport – with 650 daily flights from 70 destinations – Baltimore is well situated to make it easy for your attendees to get there. For those who drive, more than 40,000 off-street spaces in downtown garages and lots make parking conven- ient. To learn more about the benefits of hosting a meeting or special event in Baltimore visit wwwbaltimore.org or call (800) 343-3468. MARYLAND Travelers to Maryland can choose from a lengthy list of Black heritage sites to explore. The capital city of Annapolis is home to the Banneker-Douglass Museum, the Kunta Kinte- Alex Haley Memorial and the Thurgood Marshall Memorial at the Maryland State House. The Frederick Douglass Museum and Cultural Center is located in Highland Beach, in Anne Arundel County. Columbia is the home of the African Art Museum of Maryland and the Howard County Center of African-American Culture, along with an exhibit at Columbia Air Center commemorating the site of the state's first Black- owned and operated airfield. On Maryland's Eastern Shore, the Harriet Tubman Museum and Educational Center and other related sites in Cambridge pay tribute to the most promi- nent figure in the Underground Railroad. Maryland's nearly 4,000 miles of shoreline, including the Chesapeake Bay and 31 miles of Atlantic Coast, provide great settings for fishing, sailing and beachcombing. MASSACHUSETTS From Plymouth Rock, the site of the 17th century Pilgrims' landing, to Beacon Hill, where a large community of free African-Americans resided in the 19th century, the Bay State is home to some of the most iconic places in U.S. history. Massachusetts' maritime history is evident in the light- houses dotting its coastline. The home of one of the nation's first Black sea captains is one of the 22 sites on the African American Heritage Trail on Martha's Vineyard. That island and other seaside resorts like Cape Cod and Nantucket Island are among the state's most popular recre- ational attractions. Outdoor enthusiasts traveling to Massachusetts will also discover plenty more options, from whale watching excursions in Stellwagen Bank to canoeing on the Concord River. Notable cultural attractions include the Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton and Jacob's Pillow, and the nation's oldest interna- tional dance festival, in Becket. National Great Blacks in Wax Museum BOSTON Famous for its hospitality and friendly spirit, Greater Boston is one of the premier meeting destinations in the United States. Bean Town has a thriving economy, history and charm, which make it ideal for both business and pleasure. Each year, it welcomes over 18 million visitors, convention del- egates. Boston has a plethora of convention and event facilities that