Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
College sports are followed avidly in Tampa: the USF Bulls ( GOOGLE MAP ;
www.gousfbulls.com ) field competitive football, baseball, basketball and other teams. Bas-
ketball teams play in the Sun Dome ( www.sundomearena.com ) , and football games are held
at Raymond James Stadium. Indeed, Tampa's biggest college-football event is the Out-
back Bowl ( 813-874-2695; www.outbackbowl.com ; tickets $75) , an NCAA (National College
Athletic Association) football game held on New Year's Day.
YBOR CITY CIGARS
Tampa's revitalized historic cigar district has a rich heritage. But let's start further south.
Due to its proximity to Cuba and its excellent tobacco, Key West had long been the cigar-
making capital of the US. But when workers started organizing in Key West, the cigar bar-
ons figured that the only way to break the union's grip on their factories was to relocate
them. In 1886, when Vicénte Martínez Ybor and Ignacio Haya moved their considerable
cigar factories - the Principe de Gales (Prince of Wales) and La Flor de la Sanchez y Haya,
respectively - to present-day Ybor City, it marked a turning point. Over the next 50 years,
Ybor City turned into the cigar capital of the USA, synonymous with quality and epitom-
ized by brands such as Tampa Sweethearts and Hav-a-Tampa. Anyone who loves cigars
shouldn't miss Ybor City's annual cigar festival mid-November.
Today, the old Tampa Sweethearts factory still stands (at 1301 N 22nd St), but the most
personalized experience is the Ybor City Museum walking tour, run by PhD Wallace
Reyes. He has his own cigar label and currently holds the world record for rolling the
longest cigar, more than a whopping 196ft.
The most knowledgeable (and legitimate) places to buy cigars in Ybor City:
Metropolitan Cigars ( GOOGLE MAP ; 2014 E 7th Ave; 9:30am-8pm Mon-Fri,
10:30am-5:30pm Sat) The store itself is actually a humidor; perhaps the best cigar shop in
Tampa Bay.
King Corona Cigar Factory ( GOOGLE MAP ; www.kingcoronacigars.com ; 1523 E 7th Ave;
8am-midnight Mon-Wed, to 1am Thu, to 2am Fri, 10-2am Sat, noon-midnight Sun) The city's largest
cigar emporium, complete with an old-fashioned cigar bar.
Gonzales y Martinez Cigar Company (2025 E 7th Ave;
11am-9pm Mon-Thu, to 11pm Fri &
Sat) Within the Columbia Restaurant gift store.
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