Depending on which Historic Walking Tours or  Sightseeing Tours you select--Historic Downtown Plant City, West Tampa "Ciudad de Cigars," beautiful downtown Tampa, or the Latin Quarter of Ybor City--you will  enjoy a fun-filled one and a half-hour walking tour while learning about some of the area's most interesting and historic sites.  Gary G. DeSantis, Ph. D., US History 20th c., MA American Studies is your docent and guide to local history.  Dr. DeSantis is a former lecturer at several state colleges and universities including:  Florida State University, University of South Florida, Florida Southern College, and Hillsborough Community College.  As a resident of Tampa for over thirty years, let him enthrall you with his comprehensive knowledge of local history. 

Stroll the picturesque  tree-lined streets of Plant City's Downtown Historical District.  See how H. B. Plant's Railroad changed the course of West Central Florida and made his namesake the "Strawberry Capital of the World."  

Visit the ethnic enclave of West Tampa and witness how entrepreneur Hugh MacFarlane lured cigar factories, along with Cuban, Spanish, and Italian workers to Florida's one-time fifth largest city.

Walk the streets of downtown Tampa and re-live local history from its Native American beginnings to Spanish explorers and to the founding of Fort Brooke in 1824 and beyond.  

Step back in time and explore the multi-ethnic paella that is Ybor City--named for famed cigar magnate V. M. Ybor.  Learn how this bustling factory town put Tampa on the map. 

Enjoy Historic Walking Tours and Sightseeing Tours of the Bay area's most memorable streets--whether Plant City, Tampa's Downtown, Ybor City, or West Tampa-- and have fun while learning about the area's past in an informative tour that will delight out-of-town guests as well as pique the curiosity of local residents.   While this is a fun and informative walking tour, Dr. DeSantis is  a trained and accredited historian dedicated to giving you an authentic social and cultural history of the area's past.  Tours begin at stated starting time regardless of weather conditions.  You are advised to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring an umbrella along with a  bottle of water to hydrate yourself properly.