Ybor City Archives - Robert Redd Historian & Author

Posted on November 21, 2025November 24, 2025 by Robert — Leave a comment

Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa Florida Review

The Embassy Suites downtown Tampa convention center, by Hilton, is a perfect destination for vacation or business travel.

Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa Convention Center
513 S. Florida Avenue
Tampa, FL 33602
1-800-EMBASSY
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/tpaeses-embassy-suites-tampa-downtown-convention-center/

If you are looking for a great location to stay in downtown Tampa, near almost everything, you won’t do better than staying at the Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa Convention Center. This Hilton property has everything you are looking for.

We were visiting Tampa for a single night, attending a Tampa Bay Lightning hockey game. With that in mind our goal was to find accommodation that was close to the arena if possible so that we weren’t parking and possibly having to leave and pay for parking at, or near, the arena. We all know that expense can be a killer.

Click THIS LINK to find great Lightning tickets at the best prices. Your electronic tickets will be emailed to you for use at Benchmark International Arena.

Everything about our visit was convenient and comfortable, from online booking to the in person staff, we encountered no issues.

Online reservation was easy and the confirmation emailed quickly. We were able to book valet parking and include a tip easily. Valet parking is not cheap, at $45, but I challenge you to find a more convenient method at a better price. The valets were friendly and the service efficient. When we were checking out we were able to schedule pick up for our vehicle and it was already at the valet pick up when we arrived. With the tip already being covered, it was as simple as getting the keys and securing our bags.

Check In

At check in we did need to stop at the front desk but that was no bother at all. The staff were friendly and got us our keys in a flash. She explained the hotel rules and where things were. One thing that might be a concern for some visitors is the mandatory Urban Destination Charge added to all stays. This fee is refunded through the use of the premium guest internet (which unfortunately I found to be lacking), two, one hour bicycle rentals, and a $30 food and beverage credit that can be used at the onsite restaurant, TASTE DOWNTOWN, or the onsite Starbucks. This credit is good only on items charged to the room account and cannot be used after checkout.

Check in is at 4pm and check out is at 11am.

Guest Amenities

For those staying here there are some very nice amenities to take advantage of. Each evening they host a reception from 5p-6:30p featuring select beer, wine, and cocktails. There are some light foods such as nachos and salsa, and some nuts, granola, etc. Nothing fancy but it’s a good way to have a beer and prepare for whatever you are doing that evening.

Every morning be sure to stop and grab your complimentary breakfast buffet. This isn’t your regular old hotel breakfast. There is a custom omelet station or go through the line for eggs, potatoes, bacon, sausage, pancakes, toast, cereal, pastries, and more. Coffee, tea, milk, soda, and juices are available. It’s enough where to where you might not need lunch. It’s hot, everything seemed fresh, and staff keeps the pans filled and clean. The dining area was staffed and tables regularly bussed so everything was clean for the next guest. Breakfast is available from 6:30am until 9:30am during the week and 7:30am until 10:30am on weekends and holidays.

Taste Downtown is open from 11:30am until midnight.

Starbucks is open from 6am until 6pm.

Remember, you can use your $30 food and beverage credit at these two facilities.

Be sure to visit the third floor pool and pool bar to soak in some Florida sunshine. A wedding/reception was booked at the pool area during our stay and the area was highly decorated. I imagine this is a popular destination during the summer. The third floor is also where guests can find the credit card operated laundry facilities and the fitness center.

Odd numbered floors have ice machines and even numbered floors have vending machines.

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Suites Property

Once you navigate the easy parking and check in processes, the quickest way to get to your room is to take one of several elevators, which are located close to the front desk service and the hub of activity going on in the lobby area. Elevator service was a bit erratic; sometimes very quick, and other times not so much. Hardly an inconvenience.

Halloween pumpkin contest in the Embassy Suites lobby — The hotel lobby was hosting a Halloween pumpkin contest during our visit.

Halloween pumpkin contest — Guests were able to vote for their favorite. This is a fun way to engage visitors.

Interior view of the Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa — The interior view may seem a bit stifling and prison like to some but it’s actually quite interesting in person. It’s probably best to not look down if you have an issue with heights.

Our room was quite spacious with a separate living and sleeping area, along with the bathroom. The room was comfortably equipped with a television in each room, coffee maker, refrigerator, extra blankets, desk space, plenty of outlets and charging ports, and more. There is a small closet, perfect for hanging your clothes and to stow your luggage and keep it out of the way. The bedroom had several drawers for your folded items. There were several towels in the bath and I am sure they would be replaced by staff as needed. The room came with a couple of bottles of water but at $4 we easily passed.

Coffee maker and bottled water — Don’t get sucked into the $4 bottled water.

Living room view with couch and television at the Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa — A look toward the room door with couch and television. Notice the window looks onto the hallway.

Living room area — The living room area.

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The couch and seating were comfortable and would be a good spot to relax after a day of seeing the sites and having dinner. The living area looks out onto the hall so be sure to close your curtains for privacy. The images above show the living room layout.

A view of the bed and window — The king bed was comfortable and allowed a good night’s sleep.

The bed. — The bed area. The room included multiple electric outlets and charging ports for USB cables.

While each room would be different, our room looked out toward the skyline where we could see cruise ships and Benchmark International Areana. The top of an adjacent parking garage was readily visible but to be honest, it was easy to ignore that for more interesting views beyond.

The king sized bed was comfortable and was stocked with four pillows. There were additional linens in the closet but I didn’t open the bag to see the exact contents.

The view from our room at the Embassy Suites featuring the Tampa skyline — The view from our room.

Skyline with more of the parking shown from the Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa — Scanning to the right to show a different angle of the view from our room. Benchmark International Arena is clearly visible.

Zoomed in view showing Benchmark International Arena and a cruise ship — Zooming in a bit you can see how close Embassy Suites is to Benchmark International Arena and the **Port of Tampa**

The bathroom facilities met our needs. It wasn’t fancy or overdone but featured plenty of room to move around. The rain style shower head was nice with good water pressure and hot water. The sink and counter area offered room to spread out a bit. For the two of us there were ample towels provided. A couple of photos are provided for reference.

Location, Location, Location

When selecting a hotel, price is certainly a primary consideration. We all want to get value for our money. However, when traveling, location should play a big role in your decision. The location of Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa is excellent. It is near so many great sites and convenient to major transportation that this can be a great jumping off point every morning.

As we have seen, the hotel is very short walk from Benchmark International Arena. There is a sidewalk next to the parking garage that will lead you right there. Also close by are the Tampa Riverwalk, a nearly 2.5 mile walking and biking path which connects sites along the Hillsborough River. You can easily visit the Florida Aquarium, the Tampa Theatre, and more from this convenient location.

Do you want to go shopping? Try a visit to the Tampa Armature Works, where you will find bakeries, cafes, bars, bistros, and shops. Or perhaps head to Hyde Park Village where boutiques, cafes, and bars await.

Do you have a history lover in your group. Do not miss the Tampa Bay History Center where permanent and temporary exhibits await. Be sure to hop on the TECO Streetcar Line for a nostalgic ride to the Ybor City Historical District where museums, cigars, dining, music, checkers, and chickens await. You can easily make a full day of Ybor City. If you don’t want to miss anything, try taking a Tampa Historic Walking Tour. This 1.5 hour, wheelchair accessible tour is perfect for history lovers in your family.

If you are headed to Ybor City, do not miss the Tampa Baseball Museum. This is a must visit for any baseball fan. Click THIS LINK to read my review.

How to Get There

Use this Google Map to help orient yourself and find the best route to the hotel and all the locations nearby.

Conclusion

While we were only at the Embassy Suites for a single night, I left highly impressed. The facility was spotless, the staff friendly and knowledgeable, and the location was excellent. All reasons to return the next time we are in Tampa. Check them out during your next visit.

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This post may contain affiliate links. If you click these links and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This commission does not affect any price that you pay. Affiliate programs or sponsors providing products do not influence my views and opinions.

Embassy Suites DID NOT provide compensation or provide a complimentary room in exchange for this blog post.

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Posted on July 18, 2025September 29, 2025 by Robert — Leave a comment

Tampa Baseball Museum in Ybor City, Florida

Any fan of baseball should make a visit to the Tampa Baseball Museum, located in the former home of National Baseball Hall of Fame member Al Lopez, in Ybor City, Florida.

Ybor City

Ybor City is a neighborhood located to the northeast of downtown Tampa. The area is perhaps most known for being a cigar producing are founded by Vicente Martinez Ybor and other cigar producers. Ybor City is widely known for the influence of its Cuban immigrants. Italians and Spaniards have also played a considerable role in the history of the community.

Beginning in the 1880s through the years of the Great Depression, Ybor was known its cigar production. Historian Frank Lastra has stated that in 1929 more than 500 million cigars were rolled. Today, cigar makers ca still be found, with makers such as J.C. Newman Cigar Company, La Faraona Cigars, and Tabanero Cigars satisfying the tobacco needs of users across the country.

Old b/w baseball image. Clickable link to find Florida sports history books. — Click the image to visit my **bookshop.org** site. Here you will find many Florida sports books, including books on baseball in Tampa.

Visiting Ybor City

Whether you are in town departing or arriving on a cruise, taking in a sporting event, or a day tripper, a visit to Ybor City is worth your time.

Finding Ybor City is quite easy. From the north, the easiest route is I-275 South, taking the east I-4 exit and getting off at exit 1 for the Port of Tampa and Ybor City. From the east, travel on I-4 and get off at exit 1. I recommend using Google Maps for the most accurate route. Use the map embedded below or click the link in the prior sentence to find the best route for you.

The weather in Ybor City can be considered hot for much of the year but being located near the Gulf of Mexico, the worst of the summer heat is avoided. May through September have an average high of around 90 degrees with lows in the lower 80s. The winter months are a bit cooler, with highs in the low to mid 70s and lows averaging in the 60s. You will seldom need long sleeves.

The rain comes to Ybor City during the summer months. From June through September, you’ll have about a 50% chance of rain on most days. During July, the area receives rain on average two out of three days. Bring your umbrella. The remainder of the year is comparatively dry. Snow? Forget about it. Hurricanes and tropical storms? Definitely. Keep watch during the season and be prepared to evacuate if need be.

If you are a first time visitor, a stop at the Ybor City Visitor Center is a must. They will help orient you, suggest must see spots, suggest dining and hotel options, and much more. Visit the website and click Info Request. They’ll get you everything you need ahead of your visit.

Don’t miss the Gasparilla Pirate Festival each January. The Ybor Saturday Market, held during the non-summer months, is a must do event. Find local foods, music, art, plants, pet related items, jewelry, and more.

Tampa Baseball Museum

Located at

2003 N. 19th Street Tampa, FL 33605 813-400-2353

Hours Sunday during Spring Training and the MLB season: 11:00a.m. until 5:00p.m. Monday through Wednesday: CLOSED Thursday through Saturday: 10:00a,m until 4:00p.m. CLOSED on New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (They are not listed as closed on Easter but I would make that assumption.)

Admission $12 Adults $10 Seniors 65+, active military, first responders, teachers, students age 18+ (ID required for discount) $6 children Free children ages 5 and under

Bring your Baseball Attractions Pass-Port and get it stamped!

Follow the Tampa Baseball Museum on Instagram.

The island of Cuba has a long love of the game of baseball, and with the close association that Ybor City has with its Cuban heritage, it should be no surprise that baseball is important to the community. The Tampa Baseball Museum in the Ybor City neighborhood, is a great visit for baseball fans, history enthusiasts, locals looking to learn more about their community, or visitors soaking in the aura that makes this area so unique.

The museum is located in a circa 1905 home that was the boyhood home of National Baseball Hall of Fame member Al Lopez. The structure no longer sits in its original location. The home was moved during a 14 hour, mile and a half journey made possible through the Interstate Historic Mitigation Plan during a widening of I-4 in 2013.

The information below on Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa is taken from the museum website.

Hillsborough County

In addition to providing the land, the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners has awarded three Historic Preservation Challenge Grants to the Ybor City Museum Society to support the rehabilitation of the Al Lopez House and development of the Tampa Baseball Museum. The grants provide a 100% match for monetary and in-kind donations. Through the generosity of community partners and individual donors, the Society is actively funding from the most recent grant to complete exhibits for the Museum.

The City of Tampa

At the very beginning of development, the City of Tampa awarded a Community Redevelopment Area Façade Improvement Grant to the Ybor City Museum Society for the Tampa Baseball Museum. The grant provided financial assistance for exterior renovation, restoration, and rehabilitation as well as landscaping improvements. Then, the City gifted the house to the Society to help make this new museum a reality.

Who was Al Lopez

Al Lopez was born in Tampa in 1908 to parents born in Spain, who worked in Cuba, before moving to the Ybor City area in search of work in the cigar industry. Lopez’s baseball career began locally in 1924 when he signed with the Florida State League, Tampa Smokers, at age 16. At the young age, Lopez was already recognized as a promising catcher. Working his way through the minor leagues, he debuted in the major league in 1928 before becoming the Brooklyn Dodgers starting catcher in 1930.

Lopez’s career as a player would last until 1947, an unusually long tenor both for the era and for his position. He played for Brooklyn, Boston Bees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians. Upon retiring as a player, he had caught 1,918 games, a record that would stand until broken in 1987 by Bob Boone.

In 1948, the year following his last as an active player, Lopez began his managerial career, serving as skipper for the Pittsburgh Pirates AAA affiliate, Indianapolis Indians. He would stay with the team through the 1950 season before returning to Cleveland as manager in 1951. He resigned from the team following a disagreement with management after the 1956 season, boasting a record of 570 wins and 354 losses.

Al LopezTampa Baseball Museum in Ybor City — Courtesy Florida Sports Hall of Fame

Lopez was far from finished in his career, signing on to be the field boss with the Chicago White Sox in 1957. He would stay with the team through the 1965 season, never winning less than 82 games. He then transitioned into a Vice President role with the team before returning to the field during the 1968 season.

During his long bench career he posted a record of 1,410 wins against 1,004 losses. His teams went to the World Series twice, losing both times however. Ten times, his team finished second in the American League, narrowly missing visits to the World Series. Lopez currently ranks 29th on the all-time list of major league wins for a manager.

Lopez was elected to the Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 1961 and later, in 1977, the Veterans Committee elected Lopez to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

Lopez died in 2005, at the age of 97 after suffering a heart attack. Lopez had lived just long enough to witness his White Sox team win the World Series, their first in 88 years. An online memorial for Lopez can be found using THIS LINK.

The Museum

Here are a few photos from the collection and exhibits when we visited. It’s important to remember that museums are not static facilities. They need to change and update to survive. What you see below may or may not be on exhibit during your visit.