PLANO

It's only a short drive from Plano to the famous Southfork Ranch, where you can view all kinds of exhibits on the TV show "Dallas." Real farm life of the early 20th century is depicted at Heritage Farmstead, while at Fairview Farms, meeting groups can rent event space in the Fairview Corral Barn and kids can enjoy the pony rides and petting zoos. Other area attractions include the ArtCentre of Plano, the Biblical Arts Center and the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. The largest meeting venue is the Plano Centre, offering more than 33,000 sq. ft. of space.

SAN ANTONIO

The Carver Community Cultural Center, a key institution in San Antonio's African-American community, was originally the auditorium of the Colored Library Association. The city's most famous historical attraction is the Alamo, site of the famed battle of the Texas Revolution. Two others are the King William Historic District and San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. Of course, no trip to San Antonio would be complete without a visit to the River Walk, whose cobblestone paths are lined with all kinds of shops and eateries. The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, with more than 1.3 million sq. ft., is San Antonio's premier meeting venue.

UTAH

Utah offers a number of ideal destinations for meeting and incentive travelers who love outdoor adventure. Park City's three resorts - the Canyons Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, and Deer Valley Resort - provide a host of recreational amenities, and the new Utah Winter Sports Park serves up more.

Salt Lake City is an hour's drive from seven ski resorts. Within Utah's capital and largest city, you'll find attractions like the Calvary Baptist Church, the state's oldest African-American Baptist church; Fort Douglas Military Museum, site where Buffalo Soldiers of the 9th cavalry and 24th infantry served and many are buried; and of the famous Temple Square, where you can take in a free concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Snowbird, located 30 miles from Salt Lake International Airport, is a popular resort destination where you can enjoy skiing in the winter and hiking and mountain biking in the summer.

WASHINGTON

Seattle's Northwest African American Museum showcases the visual arts, music, literature and history in three galleries. Along with a tour of the museum, you'll want to include some of the city's classic visitor attractions, like the Space Needle and Pike Place Market, on your itinerary. In the capital city of Olympia, you can visit sites like the Bigelow House Museum, Capitol Lake Park and the Butterworth Reservoir. Snohomish County, considered the antique capital of the Northwest, with more than 450 dealers in a five-mile radius, is also home to such attractions as Pilchuck Park and Arts of Snohomish.

In Spokane, the 100-acre Riverfront Park offers views of Spokane Falls, while the Centennial Trail along the Spokane River is a great place for hiking. Tacoma, a Mecca for glass artists, like the renowned Dale Chihuly, is home to the Chihuly Bridge of Glass, the Museum of Glass and the Tacoma Art Museum.

From art to adventure, the things to see and do in the West are as expansive as its vast and varied landscape. The region also offers a wide array of choices in meeting venues and lodging accommodations. The state tourism offices listed here can provide you with information to help you start planning your next meeting or incentive trip to the West.

CONTACTS

Arizona Office of Tourism - (866) 275-5816
California Travel & Tourism Commission - (800) 862-2543
Colorado Tourism Office - (800) COLORADO
Nevada Commission on Tourism - (800) NEVADA-8
New Mexico Department of Tourism - (800) 733-6396, ext. 0643
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department - (800) 652-6552
Oregon Tourism Commission - (800) 547-7842
Texas Tourism Division - (800) 8888-TEX
Utah Travel Council - (800) 200-1160
Washington State Tourism - (800) 544-1800