Three on a ladies day out found this your with Scott Deitch fascinating. The walk was easy, he was…read morevery clear and concise, did not feel rushed. Will certainly go back again.

From the owner: Join us for this one-of-a-kind walking tour of Tampa's most storied neighborhood.read more

Great experience the tour and hand rolling cigars class were amazing. Everyone is very…read moreknowledgeable and professional.

An excellent experience to learn the history and craftsmanship that goes into making great cigars…read more Hospitality: J.C. Newman's staff is very friendly and receptive to all of your questions about cigars and cigar manufacturing. It does get busy during the daily tours, but the staff makes an effort to give everyone personalized attention and service. It is apparent that people enjoy working for the J.C. Newman company and sharing their experiences with others. The tour is a very generous experience. You will be fascinated and will not be disappointed. Service: From answering the phone, to leading the cigar factory tours, and selecting the right cigar for your occasion, the staff at J.C. Newman shares their thorough knowledge and passion for cigar making. Housekeeping: The entire plant, the museum, the cigar shop, and the restrooms are very well maintained. It is quite exceptional for an active production site to be this tidy. Having the daily tours encourages extraordinary housekeeping since cigars could be considered food grade items. Atmosphere: If you love cigars, this is the place for you. You'll enjoy the aromas of the tobacco aging process. You'll get a hands-on experience of the tobacco leaves that go into the production of the cigars. From the cigar production lines in the main production area to the hand rolling stations on the third floor, you'll gain an appreciation for the different grades and price points of fine cigars. The beautifully maintained historical building has unique architecture that is designed for cigar manufacture. If you are the type of person who goes into a cigar lounge and complains about the smoke, well... , there are many other places in Tampa that would be better suited for you. Conclusion: You have to experience this tour to truly appreciate cigars. Anyone who enjoys history will be fascinated by the various displays and the technology that goes into producing fine cigars. J.C. Newman is very generous, and you will be well rewarded for the modest ticket price for the tour. Cigar 101 and Cigar Rolling experiences are also available. I did not avail myself of these experiences during my visit, but would love to return and learn even more about the great cigars that we all enjoy. A hotel and cigar lounge are being built across the street from the cigar company. One of my regrets is that there was no cigar lounge inside the factory to relax and enjoy a J.C. Newman cigar in the Tampa, Florida ambiance. It would seem to be the best way to end the tour in a cigar lounge to taste the various cigars and chat with the staff. Once the cigar lounge is available across the street, customers will be able to enjoy their cigars after the tour. Other cigar manufacturing sites that I've read about show employees smoking cigars on site while working. While the U.S. does have smoking bans against smoking in businesses, it still looks very cool to smoke cigars while making cigars. It just does. It seems like the other countries that manufacture cigars all do this. Cigar culture is different. It's all about relaxing, enjoying high quality cigars, and making friends. J.C. Newman is a great introduction into the world of cigars even if you don't currently enjoy cigars. I noted that many guests were eager to try the cigars for the first time after the tour.

Are you a fan of history? The Ybor City Mafia walking tour will provide plenty of insight on the…read moregrowth of Tampa from a little cigar town called Ybor. It highlights the growth, expansion, historical markers and people. Only about an hour and a half, the leisurely stroll past old cigar factories, gambling establishments and bar/restaurants is well worth it. The mafia had a hold on this little town for most of the 19th and 20th centuries. The tour included stops where many mobster "hits" occurred and houses where Ybor Mafiosi lived. Worth the time and money. Our 13-year experienced tour guide, Scott Deitche, related stories from mobster affiliates he actually had the opportunity to interview for his book, Cigar City Mafia.

This excellent walking tour of Ybor City is an outstanding experience that locals, visitors,…read morenewcomers or anyone interested in the colorful, past of this multi-cultural community will enjoy. Manny Leto guided the group through decades of fascinating facts, very descriptive detail and really entertaining information while navigating through the busy streets to point out various landmarks and significant locations. The pace was easy and the total amount of walking was very manageable. Comfortable walking shoes and dressing for whatever weather awaits would be wise. To get the insights of author Scott Deitch presented in such a knowledgable and personable manner is really exceptional. The narrative never dragged and the information was provided in a very conversational manner. You won't feel like you are being lectured to or being read to from a script. This isn't strictly about Ybor's past but some of the shady characters and questionable activities (bootlegging and gambling, for instance) found throughout Tampa. Leto mentioned movies that have highlighted some of Ybor's history, prominent Tampa families who played a role in this community and blended in some basic history that helped to give everything, and everyone, context. Loved it, laughed at parts and learned lots.

OMG. This was amazing. I was a little apprehensive when I showed up with a 3 year old after reading…read moresome of the reviews. My little one loved it more than the aquarium. There are some areas that are hot and stuffy but there are also designated air conditioned rooms. His favorite part was going up up and up! I won't lie, I was getting nauseous looking down but outside was nice with the winds. I def recommend checking it out.

The ship is still listed as active so it could be called into service. This is a very good museum…read more It has a guided tour or you could go of by yourself. Wear some shorts, comfortable shoes, and cool tee shirts. Watch your step if you never been on a ship that isn't a cruise ship these decks are sloped. They also are uneven. Be prepared for tight spaces and a million stairs. Don't forget to ring the bell on the forward deck. It's under the forward gun on the main deck. It's a really nice museum a gift shop is there. I went on a Tuesday and it wasn't crowded at all. Lots of seating everywhere. On the main deck there are several benches all down the deck.

Wonder place to visit especially for a simple family day with older children or a date night.read more

From the owner: This page is intended for weddings and event bookings only. Not for museum or Ybor city tours…read more The Ybor City Museum, located in the heart of Tampa’s vibrant Ybor City, offers a historic and charming venue for weddings and special events. Its beautifully landscaped courtyard, surrounded by lush greenery and iconic brick architecture, creates a romantic and intimate atmosphere for outdoor weddings, receptions, concerts and social gatherings. The museum features a serene and elegant bridal suite plus a relaxing groom’s lounge, providing comfort and privacy for the wedding party. Combining historical charm with modern amenities, the Ybor City Museum ensures a unique and memorable experience for any celebration. Interior space includes a bridal suite, grooms lounge, board room, meeting rooms and unique photo locations. The outdoor courtyard features a stage, fountain and an intimate oasis in the heart of Ybor City. Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Ybor City at our museum and special event space. Discover the stories underneath the trees, where the community bloomed and thrived since 1886 and known as "Cigar Capital of the World".

What a fun little Museum. It used to be Al Lopez's house and now it's a baseball museum. It is…read morechuck full of baseball stories and memorabilia. If you are a baseball fan then you really need to make the time to stop here. My husband loved it. The docent was great. He was so knowledgeable and loved sharing stories with us. It's amazing at how many baseball players originated from the Tampa area. They have a whole case of signed balls from all of the Tampa players. Parking is a little tricky if you aren't from the area. The parking on the street around the museum is for museum volunteers only. Then your only option is street parking down the street or a lot. All parking is paid at all times. There is never any free parking. The good thing is we had the app already on our phone so we were able to pay using our phone and it was only 50 cents for two hours. I think that is what my husband said. So parking isn't a big money maker there, just an inconvenience for those that are from out of town trying to navigate the parking situation.

I visited recently with my 93 yr old father who was born and raised in Ybor City and we truly…read moreenjoyed all of the great memorabilia and history here. The curators made us feel so welcomed and were informative about the history of Ybor City and baseball. Thank you Josh Weaver for the great conversation and help that you extended to us, I appreciate the easy wheelchair accessibility to the museum. I highly recommend this place to anyone. Lots of history and things to learn. Fun place to visit for everyone!

Home tours are a great way to explore an area, get some design and decor inspiration, and spy on…read moreyour neighbors. V.M. Ybor is a historic area not far from the cigar manufacturing Ybor area. You know and love. People have fixed up many of the homes and it's less mansiony and more community pride type feel than fancier locales. At its heart is the lovely Cuscaden pool and park complex. Many of the homes have very high ceilings to keep them cooler. A gangster's home complete with wood paneling, extensive bar area, and bullet holes was one of the stops. And some British peeps have fixed up a gorgeous house that was just in its early stages of renovation last year. Another highlight this year were the homeowners who bought a boarded up place and fixed it up to have members of the original family that owned it come by amd tell.them how happy they were to see it restored. Theu even shared family pictures and it turns out both families were military and immigrants. Super beautiful!!! Everyone was very nice and friendly and the organizers did a great job. Parking and guidebook with history writeups and map. The stories told you who owned the homes originally. Lots of fun. See you next year.

We went to 1 house. Going to the second house there were people in the streets yelling at us. We…read moreattempted to look at another house but it wasn't in a safe neighborhood either. We spent $20.00 and wasted half our day driving to Tampa. Other people were leaving for the same reason. It was a waste of time and money.

We purchased tickets online for the Victorian Christmas Stroll. Tickets were $20 per person. The…read morearchitecture of the building is stunning; looks like a castle! Upon entry the receptionist checks you in and encourages you to watch the 15 min video prior to exploring. They also have a scavenger hunt to keep you entertained throughout the stroll. The exhibit was very unique and filled with unique history. The museum is very tiny and leaves you wanting more. As large as it appears from the outside, you would think the museum would be congruent. It took us about 30-45 mins to stroll through it, and that included the 15 minute video. Overall it was a good experience.

This was a really great experience. It's on campus and it was a weekday so we were busy navigating…read morethat but it was very interesting to see so much history still persevered in the little wing of the original hotel. Definitely worth checking out if you love history and appreciate vintage furniture and architecture.