GULF COAST More than 624 miles of coastline, arching southward from the Louisiana border to the Mexican border near Brownsville, distinguish Texas’ Gulf Coast region. But the Gulf Coast is far more than a

Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth

produces quality live theater year round, and the Levitt Pavilion downtown presents 50 free concerts per year. The Arlington Convention Center, situated in the heart of the Entertainment District, features 50,000 square feet of column-free exhibit space, a 30,000-square-foot Grand Hall, and 8,000 square feet of meeting space. Speaking of convention centers, the

new Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas in Irving includes a 50,000-square- foot, column-free exhibit hall; a 20,000- square-foot ballroom; and 20,000 square feet of breakout meeting space. Situated in between — and just minutes from — Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Love Field, Irving is intersected by five major interstates and is less than a three- and-a-half-hour flight from any airport in the continental United States. Irving boasts hotel brands like Four

Seasons, Omni, Marriott, Westin, Shera- ton, Hilton, and Radisson — all within 15 minutes of the airport. More than 200,000 square feet of meeting space, with an addi- tional 100,000 square feet of off-site space, is available. Unique venues include the Studios at Las Colinas, where events easily “theme” themselves with 12,000-square- foot sound stages; the National Scouting Museum, a 53,000-square-foot facility with the world’s largest private collection of Norman Rockwell art; and the dual the- aters at the Irving Arts Center, with capaci- ties of 253 and 712 people, respectively.

haven for beach-lovers; it offers a multi- tude of possibilities for meetings, no matter the group’s size. Houston has an enhanced meetings package that includes 5,000 hotel rooms downtown and more than 65,000 hotel rooms citywide, from budget to luxury. The George R. Brown Convention Center (GRB), one of the 10 largest con- vention centers in the United States, has expanded to span nearly two million square feet of space and now boasts seven exhibit halls, more than 100 meeting rooms, four outdoor balconies, a 31,590-square-foot ballroom, a 3,600-seat amphitheater, 6,000 retractable arena seats, and 66 loading docks on two levels. A 7.5-mile light-rail system links the convention center to the 1.6-million-square-foot Reliant Park, a second top-tier convention facility. Across the street from the center, the

12-acre Discovery Green park — planned as an extension of its event space — fea- tures an amphitheater and outdoor stage, picnic areas, interactive fountains, a pond, and an event lawn. It’s an ideal spot for off- site meetings, corporate events, or a casual gathering of meeting attendees. Regardless of where they meet or stay,

groups will find plenty to do in Houston once business has concluded. Hungry attendees can indulge at many award- winning dining establishments that are a short walk, cab, or train ride away from the convention centers. Houston’s Museum District features 17 museums, all within walking distance of one another, while downtown Houston serves as headquarters to eight resident performing-arts groups. Beyond the city itself, Bay Area Houston

comprises a great choice for smaller meet- ings in Kemah, LaPorte, League City, Nassau Bay, Seabrook, and Webster. Nearby as well

is The Woodlands, situated just 18 miles from Houston’s George Bush Interconti- nental Airport and home to The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center. The center’s menu of indoor and outdoor meeting facilities encompasses many options, from glass-enclosed ballrooms and boardrooms to forest decks, a poolside pavilion, and verdant fairways. Houston and its surrounding cities are easy to access from anywhere in the U.S., with the Houston Airport System serving 110 U.S. and 65 international destinations. Meanwhile, for Texas meetings with a

tropical twist, there’s Galveston, situated 50 miles from Houston. The city’s primary convention venue, the Galveston Island Convention Center at the San Luis Resort, occupies a beachfront location and pro- vides 291,000 square feet of event space. In addition to 5,000 hotel rooms, a

temperate climate, and beautiful beaches, Galveston has several historic districts, one of the nation’s largest, best-preserved collections of Victorian architecture, and many heralded restaurants and shops. Other not-to-be-missed attractions in

Galveston include The Grand 1894 Opera House, ranked among the nation’s finest historical theaters; the Texas Seaport Museum & 1877 Tall Ship Elissa, highlight- ing the history of the Port of Galveston; the Ocean Star Offshore Drilling Rig & Museum; the Railroad Museum in the restored Union Depot; Harbor Tours offer- ing dolphin watching; and the Lone Star Flight Museum & Texas Aviation Hall of

South Padre Island’s beautiful beach convene 5