By Hunter R. Slaton

1 GulfQuestNational MaritimeMuseumof the Gulf ofMexico www.national maritime.us When it debuts in fall 2012,

GulfQuestwill be the firstmuseumdevoted to one ofAmerica’s best- loved and richest bodies ofwater: the Gulf of Mexico.The facilitywill featuremore than 90 interactive exhibits and unique displays on marine archaeology, shipwrecks,hurricanes, andmore—including a panoramic viewof the Mobile River.

2 The Battle House RenaissanceMobile Hotel&Spa www.marriott.com /hotels/travel/mobbr TheAAAFour-Dia- mond,207-room

BattleHouse Renais- sanceMobileHotel& Spa is a reincarnation of a famous hotel originally opened in 1852.After being abandoned for more than three decades, the property was restored to its full grandeur and reopened in 2007.TheBattleHouse has 26,000 square feet of meeting space spread across 20 rooms.

3 Wintzell’sOyster House www.wintzells oysterhouse.com Wintzell’sOyster House on Dauphin

Street has been serving up oysters—“fried, stewed,&nude”—and other Gulf delicacies for nearly 75 years.The Banquet Roomcan seat

4 USS Alabama BattleshipMemorial Park www.uss alabama.com The battleship USS Alabama

up to 50 people,while theOliver Room— named forOliver Wintzell,who founded the place as a six-stool oyster bar in 1938— can accommodate 75 guests.

sawthree years of action duringWorldWar II. Shewas saved from the scrapyard in 1964 by a local fundraising cam- paign, and towed to her current berth.Visitors can tour the ship and also a submarine,while groups can hold events in a variety of spaces, including the 36,000- square-footAircraft Pavilion.

5 5 Rivers –Alabama’s Delta Resource Center www.dcnr.state.al .us/outdoor- adventures/5rivers Mobile Bay’s newest eco-

attraction is 5 Rivers – Alabama’s Delta Resource Center, situat- edwhere theMobile, Spanish,Tensaw, Appalachee, and Blakely riversmeet. Its 250,000 acres are perfect for outdoor recreation, while 5 Rivers’ Delta Hall can hostmeetings or receptions in its Longleaf Room.

pcma convene September 2011

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MAP BY JIM McMAHON

Oct. 7–9, 2011

BayFest www.bayfest.com This yearmarks the 17th anniversary of BayFest, Alabama’s largestmusic festival,which rocks out everyOctober in downtownMobile.Two hun- dred thousandmusic fans are expected to attend, to enjoy 125 live-music acts—in genres ranging fromclassic rock to country—on nine stages. Headliners includeDuranDuran,Blake Shelton, AnthonyHamilton,andTobyKeith.