tampa factory tours

9 Fantastic Factory Tours You Can Only Take In Florida

Victoria is a native Floridian and writer for OIYS. She also makes art, jewelry, and other things for her shop, The Gilded Gator .

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It’s always fascinating to see the process behind how things are made. Here in the Sunshine State, you can get a behind-the-scenes look at factories manufacturing everything from chocolates to airplanes. Take a look at the list below and you might find a fascinating tour near you:

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You can tour Tampa’s Newman cigar factory and be “like walking back in time”

• Paul Guzzo Times staff

TAMPA — J.C. Newman Cigar Company, which runs Tampa’s last cigar factory, celebrated its 125th birthday this year.

But rather than ask for presents, the nation’s oldest family-owned cigar company is giving gifts.

The J.C. Newman Cigar Museum recently opened in their Ybor City factory at 2701 N. 16th St. and offers guided 90-minute tours of an operation that produces 12 million cigars a year.

Admission is free, but the tours cost $15 per person and must be booked in advance via their website www.jcnewman.com .

“This is our birthday gift to the city,” third-generation company president Eric Newman said. “Tampa used to have 150 cigar factories. That is why we are called Cigar City. We built this museum to showcase the way that Tampa was. Walking into our factory is like walking back in time.”

The 1,750-square-foot museum spread over three floors includes artifacts dating to J.C. Newman Cigar Company’s birth in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1895.

Among curator Holden Rasmussen’s favorites is a wooden salesman carrying case from the early 1900s.

“Now we have salespeople for each region,” Rasmussen said. “But back then, cigar salespeople were independent contractors who sold multiple brands for multiple companies.”

Newman is drawn to a financial statement from 1912 that was filed by his grandfather and company founder Julius C. Newman.

“He made $603 one month, which was pretty good back then,” Newman said.

And then there is the humidor humidifier that today, Newman laughed, would be considered a “fire hazard” but in the early 1900s was a “modern marvel.”

The humidifier is a mason jar with a lightbulb hooked to the lid. The jar is filled two-thirds with water and the heat from the bulb creates a mist.

“Place your cigars in a cabinet with the humidifier to keep them moist,” Newman said. “And hope it doesn’t burn down your house.”

The tour of factory operations also provides glimpses into the past, Newman said, but those artifacts are still in use. “We make cigars the same way my grandfather did.”

Tour guests watch employees work the factory’s hand- and foot-operated machines from the 1930s. The factory has 20 machines and runs around 14 per day.

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“These are the same machines my grandfather used,” Newman said.

Employees stretch a wrapper leaf across their machine’s sheet. Controlled by a foot pedal in the same manner as vintage sewing machines, the machine then cuts the wrapper and moves it to other compartments where it is filled with tobacco and rolled into a cigar.

“There is a skill to operating the machines,” Newman said. “It’s like golf. The best golfers make driving a ball far look easy. Then you try and realize it’s not that easy.”

Before those machines, Newman cigars were hand-rolled. To keep that tradition alive, the Newman factory employs three rollers whose skill can be observed as part of the paid tour.

They roll The American, named after the first cigar made at that factory when it was operated by E. Regensburg & Sons.

Built in 1910, the Regensburg’s three-story, 97,000-square-foot brick factory was hailed by newspapers as “Tampa’s great cigar factory” due to its size and clock tower that could be seen and heard for miles.

As part of the 125th celebration, the Newmans restored the clock .

The Newman family’s history is told through museum placards and a public screening room’s 21 short videos.

In 1889, the Newman family moved from Austria-Hungary to Cleveland. Not wanting to become a tailor like his brothers, Julius C. Newman set his sights on cigar rolling. His mother, Hannah Newman, paid a cigarmaker to teach her son the trade.

He established the company in 1895 in the family barn but relocated to the house basement when winter arrived. That locale lasted only a few weeks. His mother kicked him out when the stored fruits and vegetables tasted like tobacco.

Julius C. Newman moved into a Cleveland storefront from where, by 1910, the company became the most successful of Cleveland’s 200 cigar factories. He built a 50,000-square-foot factory in 1914 where Cleveland’s Progressive Field baseball stadium sits today and later expanded to factories in Marion and Lorain, Ohio.

The company relocated to Tampa in 1954 so it could be closer to Cuba, which back then could still ship tobacco to the United States.

Today, the company uses tobacco grown in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Honduras, Ecuador, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and Cameroon.

The American cigar is hand-rolled with tobacco grown only in the United States. It comes from Clermont, Fla., Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

“It makes no economic sense to hand-roll cigars,” Newman said. “It really doesn’t make much economic sense to still use antique hand-operated machines either. But we do both because we respect the family’s history and the industry’s history. We’re happy to now share that with the public.”

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Tabanero Cigars Factory

• 1601 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
• (813) 402-6316
• About Come and experience the re-birth of Handmade Cigars in the USA by passionate Cuban born artisans. As you tour the factory you will be intrigued by how we have recreated Old World Havana at a time when relations with Cuba appear to be headed in a new direction. Experience the methods utilized to make the world's finest cigars in Historic Ybor City, the once and future cigar capital of the World.

Dining/Nightlife

• Days/Hours of Operation: we are open from 10 am until 10 pm Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday 10 am until 11 pm, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 8 pm Sunday Offering the finest handmade cigars and the most amazing coffee for your enjoyment. We also offer a one hour tour of our facility, if interested in a tour please visit out we sbte and click on the tour icon
• Number of Indoor Seats: 20
• Private/Group Room Capacity: 20
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You can move between Ybor City and downtown on the TECO Line Streetcar Service, and there's also affordable bus service between downtown and the Tampa suburbs. Taxis aren't always easy to find, but you can use rideshare. All things considered, you'll get the most out of your Tampa vacation by renting a car, simply because so many sites and top eateries require a bit of a hike from downtown.

Tampa gets hot, very hot, in May through August, and the room prices at this time of year are as high as the temperatures. Sneakily save yourself some money and beat the crowds by booking your vacation between September and December instead. You'll still have plenty of sun, and you'll benefit from hotels offering deals to appeal to off-season travelers. They're trying to win you over, so let them.

Tampa is a laid-back city with weather that never calls for heavy layers, so packing is a cinch. Here are some of the basic items you'll need to bring with you on your trip:

• Sunglasses: Surprise, surprise: Florida, as it turns out, is very sunny indeed. That's why sunglasses are pretty much mandatory wear in Tampa.
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• A swimsuit: Tampas's coastal location means fabulous stretches of sand are close by, and those blue, sun-warmed waters are hard to say no to.

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America’s Oldest Family-Owned Cigar Manufacturer

Tampa is cigar city.

It is hard to overstate the importance of the cigar industry to Tampa. Cigars transformed Tampa from a tiny town into a large city and made Tampa world famous. Anyone whose family has been in Tampa for more than several generations almost certainly had relatives who worked in the cigar industry, whether they rolled cigars, made cigar boxes, printed cigar labels, or supported the cigar industry in another way.

An influx of immigrants fueled Tampa’s growth in the early 1900s. They brough their languages, cultures, and traditions with them. Ybor City became a place where people from around the world lived and worked together.

Ybor City is the only neighborhood on Florida’s west coast to be designated a National Historic Landmark District. Ybor’s 7th Avenue, the main commercial thoroughfare was recognized as one of the “10 Great Streets in America”!

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7 Terrific Tours to Take in Tampa, Florida: Big Cats, Beers, Buccaneers, & Beyond!

Last Updated: January 5, 2022 //  by  Ashley Smith 1 Comment

When most people think of tours to take in Tampa, Florida, it probably most often revolves around, well, the routes the roller coasters take around Busch Gardens. You may not learn a whole lot, but you sure do see Florida from an entirely new perspective—heh–upside down. (Dad jokes—I haz ‘em.)

Having lived just across the bay from Tampa in a place called Clearwater , it took even me many years too long to start discovering what Tampa is all about. (I couldn’t help it—the piña coladas lured me to the beach like brains to the undead!)

But just like Ariel sought to leave the sea for drier, more gravitational, pastures, I, too, have made more of an effort to see what’s beyond Florida’s shore. My landlubbing tale begins in a magical place called Tampa.

Where to stay in Tampa

Before we get started, one of the biggest questions I’ve seen while researching Tampa things to do is people wondering where to stay in Tampa.

The great thing I love about Tampa is that I feel it’s the perfect size and the ideal spot for city life and sea life without having to sacrifice. You can have both bay views and easy access to these tours to take in Tampa without having to sell your soul to that villainous sea witch.

Here are some recommendations for where to stay in Tampa for any budget  on your next visit:

Budget: Tahitian Inn

When it comes to budget hotels in Florida, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything with a guest rating over 7/10 but the Tahitian Inn has it—and its highest rating is for its location.

It also has free parking, free WiFi, and is located really close to some of the best tours to take in Tampa. (And is just a cool 13 minutes away from Tampa International Airport.) Plus , it’s got a tiki bar, a sun-drenched pool, and that tropical Tahitian vibe you came all the way to Florida for. (Just work with me here.)

Mid-range: Towneplace Suites by Marriott Tampa Westshore

Also located just a few minutes’ drive to and from the airport is the Towneplace Suites by Marriott (Tampa Westshore). This option also has free parking and free WiFi as well as a free airport shuttle and free breakfast. You pay for nothing! And you pay for nothing! Everyone pays for nothing! Well, not exactly, but you get my drift.

This highly rated hotel is also located amongst some of these cool tours to take in Tampa as well as two large shopping malls and the spring training facility for the New York Yankees.

Mid-range: Four Points by Sheraton Tampa Airport Westshore

Also one of the most highly rated Tampa hotels due to its location, this Four Points by Sheraton Tampa property is a completely non-smoking facility.

It has free WiFi and parking (two things that really stir my grits when I have to pay for them, if you can’t tell) as well as a restaurant/bar on site. Plus, they have an indoor pool if you, in fact, did not come to Florida to enjoy the sun.

Treat yourself: Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

I’ve driven past this hotel hundreds of times—it’s right at the intersection of Tampa and the Courtney Campbell Causeway that takes you over the bay to Clearwater. I’ve always dreamed of staying here. A ridiculous statement since where I’m actually staying is my friends’ houses for free where I also have pool access, free WiFi, and cats that like to snuggle.

But this property is GORGEOUS. It’s right on the water and the views are amazing. They have a beautiful pool on the bay surrounded by hammocks, incredibly sun-lit rooms, three restaurants and lounges, is completely smoke-free, and, be still my beating heart, free WiFi and parking!

When you want the best of both worlds—salt life + city life—book yourself a stay at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay . (Then tell me if it’s as dreamy as it looks!)

Tours to take in Tampa, Florida

In my many years of living near and visiting the Tampa Bay area, I’ve regularly sought out cool tours to take in Tampa.

I look for tours that are beyond the stale learning experiences no one is interested in past optimal field trip age. Tours that are a little offbeat, that teach you things you never, ever could have imagined, and tours that really aim to make a difference. But also, just so I don’t lose you, free beer.

I love getting to see how things are made, how things operate behind the scenes, and how things came to be. But mostly, and I think we can all agree, I want to drink free beer and look at baby animals. Luckily, you can find all that (and more) on this list of fun tours to take in Tampa. (in no particular order)

1. Manatee Viewing Center

One of the first really unique places I visited after moving to Florida was the Manatee Viewing Center at the Tampa Electric Company’s power plant. I know that sentence is all kinds of whhatt??? And, at the time, I, too, thought manatees and power plants went together about as well as bathtubs and toasters. However, today I know this to be a totally normal thing. The manatee thing… not desperately needing a bagel during a bubble bath.

Lemme break it down for ya. The Tampa Electric Company pulls saltwater from Tampa Bay into its power plants to cool down its energy producing parts. This water is then discharged, clean and warm, back into the bay.

When the throngs of winter hit Florida (*stabs own eyes with pencil*) the temperature of the Gulf of Mexico drops below 68°F. In what some (me) are calling the relationship of the century, Florida’s manatees then flock to the warm waters around the power plants. (Warm as in 86°F.)

Because manatees need warm water to survive (you and me both, Bertha), you’re as sure as seaweed to see manatees here between the months of November and April.

As one of the coolest tours to take in Tampa, you can watch the manatees playing in the water from the elevated platforms, visit the educational center, walk the mangrove trails, check out the butterfly garden, and, yes, take guided tours with trained docents. And all for free! 

For more information on Tampa’s Manatee Viewing Center , I wrote an entire post about this amazing place, so check it out in that link! There’s also a similar manatee park in Fort Myers if you find yourself that far south.

2. Raymond James Stadium

The guided tour of the NFL’s Raymond James Stadium is the only one on this list of cool tours to take in Tampa I haven’t personally taken myself. Unless we’re counting that time I tailgated way too hard and couldn’t find my seat at the game for like an hour. Which we’re not.

So yes, you can take 75-minute guided, behind-the-scenes tours of Raymond James Stadium , home of the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As someone who’s worked at her fair share of professional sports arenas (basketball, football, and baseball), I find this incredibly interesting. And if you’re a sports fan who’s already had to suffer through your fair share of Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party parades during this trip, so will you.

On this tour you’ll see the luxury suites, locker rooms, the field, and even the stadium’s famed pirate ship. Avast ye mateys, there is indeed a life-size pirate ship that’s been beached inside Raymond James Stadium. It even shoots cannons! So if you’ve been wondering where your NFL ticket dollars go, I think we know now. 

Raymond James tour information ─ Availability: Year-round, Mondays through (some) Fridays, 2:00 pm Cost: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Children $7, Children 4 and under Free Fully accessible tour? Yes Directions: see their tour information Contact: (813) 350-6500 |  [email protected]

3. Big Cat Rescue

Some of the most informative and eye-opening tours to take in Tampa are those of Big Cat Rescue. Big Cat Rescue is a big cat sanctuary dedicated to rescuing, caring for, and rehabilitating exotic cats.

They rescue big cats from the exotic animal trade, from being kept as house pets, and from being abused in circuses, roadside zoos, and other entertainment venues such as up-close animal interactions—issues that are very close to my heart.

At Big Cat Rescue you can see tigers, lions, jaguars, leopards, and “small” big cats like bobcats, lynx, caracals, cougars, ocelots, and some adorably big-eared servals.

Big Cat Rescue offers a variety of tours you can take and all do a great job of explaining how the particular animals came to be at BCR, the larger issues that brought them there, and what needs to be done going forward. (To illustrate my point, I googled the last four on that list and the top search suggestions each time were “How much do … cost?” and “Can I have … as a pet?”)

Did you know? ─ It’s easier to own a pet tiger than it is a “dangerous” dog breed in Texas? Or that four U.S. states have zero laws regulating keeping exotic big cats as pets? For more on America’s pet tiger problem, read this article . And head here for more tips on how to be an animal-friendly traveler . *dismounts high horse*

The zoo? Or Big Cat Rescue?

Another question asked a lot in terms of tours to take in Tampa is: Should I visit the Tampa Zoo or Big Cat Rescue? While Zoo Tampa at Lowry Park is great, when given the choice I always opt for “sanctuaries” over “zoos.”

This means visiting places like Big Cat Rescue and the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (more info on the CMA in my post about spending a weekend in Clearwater )–places where the animals you’ll see have been rescued from dire conditions, are in a rehabilitation program, and/or are otherwise unable to return to the wild. (Instead of bred in captivity for the purposes of display–see what I mean?) 

The things I learned while volunteering at Big Cat Rescue (I’ve led so many lives!) were the most eye-opening lessons of my life. But these tours aren’t just super informative—you also get to see a large variety of these beautiful cats and take tons of great pictures. (They even have photography tours!)

Fun fact: I actually used to volunteer at Big Cat Rescue. Because I can share a little reality behind the reality show, I’ve written a post on how the Netflix show Tiger King relates to travel . It covers a lot of important information you need to know that the show doesn’t tell you.

Big Cat Rescue tour information ─ Availability: Year-round, every day except Wednesdays & Thursdays Cost: All different – see tour options here . Location: 12802 Easy Street Tampa, FL Contact: (813) 920-4130 | [email protected]

4. Ybor City Walking Tour

Maybe you want to visit Cuba during your trip to Tampa? I totally understand. In that case, make sure one of the tours to take in Tampa you take advantage of is a walking tour of historic Ybor City.

Ybor City (pronounced E-bore ) is Tampa’s historic district, named for Vicente Martinez-Ybor, the Spanish entrepreneur who brought the cigar industry to Florida from Cuba in the 1880s. Much of this part of Tampa is as it’s always been, and a small part of this part of Tampa is actually Cuba.

Es verdad, amigos! In Ybor City you’ll find a 0.14-acre park that’s been designated official Cuban land. And the interesting little tidbits about this city just roll on from there. (There’s a cigar joke in there somewhere I know it.)

In Ybor City you’ll find amazing and authentic Cuban eats and drinks, historical buildings, tons of history, and a protected colony of wild chickens that just may take the tour with you.

Also check out ─ And if you’re looking to just spend some time in Ybor on your own, check out my full post on how to Spend a Day in Ybor City, Tampa . (It’s one of my most popular posts OF ALL TIME.)

During my day in Ybor City, I had a tourism professional from Visit Tampa Bay lead me around, but these Ybor City Historic Walking Tours are an Ybor crowd favorite.

Ybor City tour information ─ Availability: Tuesdays – Saturdays 11 am & 2 pm, Sundays at noon Cost: Adults $20, Children $10, Children 5 and under Free More Info: Ybor City Walking Tour FAQ Contact: (813) 505-6779 | [email protected]  

5. Tabanero Cigar Factory

Another on the list of Ybor tours to take in Tampa is a tour of the Tabanero Cigar Factory. Tabanero’s is the most popular Tampa cigar factory tour where they make quality, hand-rolled cigars the old way, and look damn cool doing it.

Tabanero offers tours of their factory where you’ll learn all about Tampa’s cigar-centric history, see up-close how their cigars are handmade, get to go inside the humidor and inspect tobacco leaves, and each tour includes a complimentary cup of their Cuban coffee.

What they don’t teach you on a Tabanero Cigar Factory tour is how to look cool while smoking one of these things. Some things just can’t be taught–helping Ashley look cool is one of them. Many have tried; all have failed. 

Tabanero tour information ─ Availability: Saturdays at 3:00 pm Cost: $15 includes cup of coffee + cigar discount Location: 1601 E 7th Ave, Tampa, FL Contact: (813) 403-6316 | tabanerocigars.com/pages/contact

6. Cigar City Brewery

And speaking of Tampa’s cigar history, another great option for tours to take in Tampa is a tour of the Cigar City brewery —Tampa’s leading craft brewery.

Cigar City is by far the most well-known and widespread of all the breweries in the Tampa Bay area. You may have heard of this little IPA thing called Cigar City Jai Alai? Ringing any bells? Even wayyy up here at the North Pole where I live (ahem, Boston) Jai Alai is high and alive! (ok, not all jokes are winners)

The Cigar City brewery tour has been one of my all-time favorite brewery tours. A lot of that has to do with the fact that you get a free beer sample at each stop on the tour (and get to keep the glass). Plus, the beers are great. Po’ up, drank.

On one of Cigar City’s 40-minute brewery tours, you’ll get to visit their production facilities and learn how the beer as made, as well as the culture and history that have made their beers such a success.

For details on what taking one of their tours is like from a girl who takes a lot of brewery tours (*takes a bow*), check out my full post on what it’s like to take a Cigar City Brewery tour .

Cigar City tour information ─ Availability: Wednesdays – Sundays noon, 1:30 pm, 4 pm, 5:30 pm Cost: $8, includes souvenir glass Location: 3924 W Spruce St., Tampa, FL Contact: (813) 348-6363 | Contact page

7. SS American Victory

And for something a little different than other Tampa tours, how about a World War II cargo ship, eh? Yes, right here in Tampa, Florida.

The SS American Victory , docked in Tampa’s Channelside district just behind the Florida Aquarium, is one of only three fully-functioning WWII cargo ships left in the world. This one also participated in the Korean and Vietnam wars.

At the American Victory Ship & Museum you can tour almost the entire ship, learn about that and other WWII cargo ships in the museum, and really see what life was like aboard a cargo ship back in 1945. (And attempt to look cool reenacting it… again.)

Most of the visitors to the American Victory Ship & Museum take self-guided tours, as did I. It’s great to go where you want and spend as much time reading and taking photos as you like, all at your own pace. However, they do offer guided tours if booked in advanced.

If this is something that interests you, check out my full post dedicated to visiting the SS American Victory over on my World War II travel blog. Yes, I have two blogs. I never stood a chance at being cool, did I?

American Victory self-guided tour information ─ Availability: Sundays & Mondays noon – 5 pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays 10 am – 5 pm Cost: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Veterans $5, Children 4-12 $5, Children 3 and under Free Location: 705 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL Contact: (813) 228-8766 | Tour info page

Heading to Tampa? Find great places to stay here . Want to see more? The Tampa Bay CityPASS saves you 54% on the city’s top attractions. What else have I covered in the area? Check out  these posts . Like this post? Have questions? Hit me up on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest

Which tours to take in Tampa are on your bucket list? Let me know below!

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About Ashley Smith

Ashley is a historian and Oktoberfest expert & tour guide. She has traveled to 33 countries and specializes in quick trips throughout Europe and the Americas that prioritize hiking adventures, museums of all kinds, cultural experiences, and jam-packed itineraries. She hails from Memphis, TN and currently lives in Boston with her husband and two feline sidekicks.

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Map for Tour

Up in smoke: the cigar industry in tampa, tour description.

Tampa is known as the "Cigar City." Without the cigar industry, the modern history of the city would have looked entirely different. This tour explores the history of the cigar industry in Ybor City and West Tampa. It was created by USF history students in Dr. K. Stephen Prince's Spring 2019 seminar, "Tampa History as U.S. History."

Locations for Tour

Vicente martinez ybor, ybor cigar factory, ignacio haya, la flor de sanchez y haya, macfarlane park, wonderland of tampa, the regensburg factory, cigars, revolution, and the cuban connection, tour postscript.

Come Tour America’s Oldest Brewery!

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Yuengling Brewery

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Yuengling Brewery - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Factory Tours

Celebrating american imagination and industry, 16 tours in florida.

25 Best Factory Tours in America for Families Who Love to Go Behind the Scenes

Find out what it takes to construct a jellybean, giant plane and everything in between.

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After a prolonged period of being stuck at home, some families are looking to travel again. And while the COVID-19 pandemic means that precautions still have to be taken, and not every destination is up and running at 100% capacity, there's still plenty of unique experiences out there that are once again open to the public.

The following factory tours and appropriate for kids, are well-reviewed by families and are currently open to visitors (or will be opening soon). But you might want to book ahead — some require timed tickets or reservations before you visit. But when you're done, you'll all know a little bit more about how the world around you is made.

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory (Louisville, Kentucky)

Swing by to see how baseball bats are made — this company has been churning them out since 1884. Your family can walk through the factory production line and watch the wood chips fly! Everyone can try out bats from iconic players, like Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter. With plenty of photo ops (including your crew inside a giant baseball mitt) and a free mini bat souvenir for every guest, this tour will be a home run. Open daily; $ 18 for adults, $11 for ages 6 – 12, free for ages 5 and under

Jelly Belly Visitor Center & Factory (Fairfield, California)

From your perch above the production line, you’ll witness all the steps — slurry, steam bath, glossy application — it takes to create the gourmet jellybeans that have been a thing since the late 1800s. Video screens provide close-ups and fun facts (like it takes 1 – 2 weeks to make a jellybean). Feeling hungry? Stop at the café for a jellybean-shaped pizza. Open daily (but factory workers are typically there only on weekdays), $5 for adults, $2 for ages 2 and up, free for younger kids

The Kazoo Factory Tour Experience (Beaufort, South Carolina)

After learning the ins and outs of kazoo-making during a factory walk-through, everyone gets to create their own instrument to take home. A built-in souvenir is music to our ears! Open Monday to Friday, $9 for adults, $7 for ages 4 – 11, free for younger kids

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PEZ Visitor Center (Orange, Connecticut)

The colorful facility dispenses equal parts nostalgia (it maintains well-organized vintage PEZ displays) and tech wizardry (you can see how the famous candy is packed). Be sure to snap your kid’s pic in front of the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, which looks like a person wearing a PEZ-themed baseball cap. Open daily; $5 for adults, $4 for ages 3 – 12, free for younger kids

Polaris Experience Center (Roseau, Minnesota)

School-age kids who love to build things will have their mind blown going behind-the-scenes at this maker of snowmobiles and ATVs. On the guided tour, they’ll see laser cutters, high-speed saws and other cool equipment making parts for the vehicles. They can also watch motors being installed and ATVs being tested. Whoa! Open Monday to Friday; children under age 6 prohibited; free

Hammond’s Candy Factory Tour (Denver, Colorado)

This centuries-old confectioner invites you to see how it makes its lollipops, candy canes and other treats. Looking through large viewing windows, your crew will be gobsmacked at how the colorful candies are shaped and packaged. Open Monday –Saturday; free

Kohler Design Center Factory Tour (Kohler, Wisconsin)

Got a teen whose interested in manufacturing? They’ll be fascinated by this detailed two-hour, 3 ½-mile foray behind the scenes of how the brand’s famous plumbing products are created. Open Monday – Friday, children under 14 not permitted, free

Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop (Jacksonville, Florida)

Willy Wonka vibes are strong at this mansion that takes guests from room to room of candy-making demos. You’ll get to design your own chocolate bar, choosing from more than 16 toppings. Check availability online; $6.45 per person

Henry Ford Rouge Factory Tour (Dearborn, Michigan)

One truck per minute rolls off the assembly line at this famous automotive factory — and your crew gets a birds-eye view of the goings-on from a 1/3-mile observation deck. There’s also a gallery of cool cars, like a 1965 Ford Mustang, to check out. Check dates online; $22 for adults, $16.50 for ages 5 – 11, free for younger kids

Turkey Hill Experience (Columbia, Pennsylvania)

While the dairy producer’s actual factory is closed to the public, this children’s museum-like attraction gives families the inside scoop on ice cream-making, plus unlimited free samples. Your kids can create their own virtual flavor, and then star in a commercial promoting it . Open daily; starts at $10.50 per person

World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta, Georgia)

Since you can’t tour an actual Coke bottling plant, this attraction is the next best thing. Its Bottle Works exhibit, showcasing real equipment, explains the packaging process. And you’ll get a chance to taste different kinds of sodas from around the world. Open daily; $19 for adults, $15 for ages 3 – 12, free for younger kids

Tillamook Creamery Tour (Tillamook, Oregon)

From a viewing gallery above the factory floor, you’ll see how milk becomes cheese. Then hit the dining hall for gooey faves, likes grilled cheese and mac ’n cheese. Your fam can even share a “flight” of ice cream. Open daily; tour is free, you can add tasting experiences for a charge

Warner Bros. Studio Tour (Los Angeles, California)

Your crew will be star-struck hanging out at a working movie studio. During the hour-long guided portion, you’ll see backlots, movie sets and maybe even spy someone famous. Then you’ll have two more hours to explore on your own — plenty of time to snap a pic of your family in front of the fountain from Friends . Open daily: $69 for adults, $59 for ages 5 – 10

The Great Utz Chip Trip Tour (Hanover, Pennsylvania)

Kids will discover how potatoes get turned into chips at this famous maker’s plant near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. They can watch factory workers from an observation gallery; closed-circuit TV monitors provide close-ups. Everyone receives a free sample of chips at the end. Open Monday – Thursday, free

Ben & Jerry’s Factory Experience (Waterbury, Vermont)

With a tentative re-opening planned for the end of June 2022, this beloved attraction wets appetites with a short movie about how Ben & Jerry got their start. From there, it’s off to the mezzanine where you’ll watch how the ice cream is made. Samples of ice cream (sometimes a flavor that’s exclusive to the factory) is the proverbial cherry on top. On your way out, visit the “ice cream graveyard” of flavors that are no longer made. Check back for ticket info

The Crayola Experience (Easton, Pennsylvania)

There are many activities to take part in at The Crayola experience, including a live show where a "crayonologist" demonstrates how crayons are made. The 65,000-square-foot attraction also includes a toddler and a big-kid playground, interactive games and a studio for art projects, among manny other stations — they recommend blocking out three or four hours for a visit. Open daily. Admission is $25 if you buy tickets in advance; a timed ticket is required for all visitors ages 3 and up. There are also Crayola Experience locations in Chandler, Arizona; Mall of America, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida and Plano, Texas, but offerings may vary

Taza Chocolate Factory Tour (Somerville, Massachusetts)

Specializing in stone-ground chocolate, this candy maker explains the production process and hosts a sampling. On weekends, there’s a scavenger hunt-themed tour for kids under age 10 . Open Wednesday – Sunday; $8-$12 per person

The White House (Washington, DC)

Though not a factory in the traditional sense, White House tours are back, and you can meander around the famous Blue Room, Red Room, State dining room and — best of all — the Rose Garden. But you can’t wait until the last minute to book. Twenty-one to 90 days before you’d like to visit, you need to request one of the free tours by contacting your congress member’s office. Tours are only available on Fridays and Saturdays

Blue Bell Creamery Factory Tour (Brenham, Texas)

Look high above the factory floor to see ice cream being packaged in different types of containers. An employee is on-hand to answer all the kids’ questions about the process, so encourage them to ask away. Open Monday – Friday; free

American Whistle Company (Columbus, Ohio)

A kitschy stop on a Midwest road trip, this factory doles out loads of engaging info about a topic you probably never considered — how whistles are made. Everyone receives a whistle to take home. Open Monday Friday; $6 per person

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“Europe shall gather in Worship”: Sleep Token announce extra November tour dates, plus UK/EU support band

The masked metal cult will precede their UK arena tour with some dates on the European mainland

Sleep Token have announced a string of live dates in mainland Europe for November.

The concerts, which will run from November 9 to 22, will precede the masked metal superstars’ UK arena tour, which starts on November 25.

See the full list of dates below.

Tickets to the European dates go on sale tomorrow (April 30) at 10am CEST.

The band have also announced that their support act for the Europe and UK shows will be pop-metal artist Bilmuri.

Sleep Token comment on social media: “Come November, Europe shall gather in Worship.

“Opening proceedings in Europe, as indeed the United Kingdom, will be the Bilmuri collective.

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“Prepare.”

Sleep Token are currently in the US and will start their Teeth Of God North American run tomorrow at the Financial Theatre in Phoenix, Arizona.

The band are promoting their 2023 album Take Me Back To Eden , which was released via Spinefarm.

Metal Hammer gave Take Me Back To Eden a glowing 8/10 review upon release.

Journalist Dannii Leivers wrote: “Combining feeling and sound in a potent, masterful statement, …Eden is Sleep Token’s strongest effort to date.

“And, while they’ll always be Marmite, there’s no question it will delight those already onboard.

“This is a record that not only expands the band’s universe and continues to prod metal’s boundaries, but considers what it means to be human. Otherworldly they may be, but there’s the deepest empathy within.”

Sleep Token have since inked a deal with major label RCA.

The band announced the signing by calling it the start of their “new era”, which they’d previously teased by unveiling new masks in December 2023.

Mask designer Lani Hernadez-David stated in an interview with Metal Hammer that month: “I’m sure they have something in mind that the fans will appreciate greatly.

“There’s definitely a new era coming, but I won’t speak too much on that, because I’m not really clued up on it.”

Sleep Token 2024 tour dates:

Apr 30: Phoenix Arizona Financial Theatre, AZ May 01: Albuquerque Revel, NM May 03: Austin H-E-B- Center at Cedar Park, TX May 04: Dallas Toyota Music Factory, TX May 06: Tampa Yuengling Center, FL May 07: Atlanta Coca-Cola Roxy, GA May 08: Asheville Exploreasheville.com Arena, NC May 10: St. Louis The Factory, MO May 12: Denver Red Rocks Amphitheatre, CO May 14: Des Moines Vibrant Music Hall, IA May 15: Chicago The Salt Shed, IL May 16: Chicago The Salt Shed, IL May 18: Columbus Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival, OJ May 19: Pittsburgh Petersen Events Center, PA May 20: Philadelphia The Met Philadelphia, PA May 22: New York City Radio City Music Hall, NY May 24: Boston MGM Music at Fenway, MA May 25: Montreal Place Bell, QC, Canada May 27: Toronto Massey Hall, ON, Canada May 28: Toronto Massey Hall, ON, Canada

Nov 09: Nuremberg Arena, Germany Nov 10: Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany Nov 12: Linz Tips Arena, Austria Nov 13: Budapest MVM Dome, Hungary Nov 15: Prague O2 Universum, Czech Republic Nov 16: Chemnitz Messe, Germany Nov 18: Amsterdam Afas Live, Netherlands Nov 19: Brussels Forset National, Belgium Nov 21: Hamburg Barclays Arena, Germany Nov 22: Berlin Velodrom, Germany Nov 25: Glasgow OVO Hydro, UK Nov 26: Manchester Co-Op Live, UK Nov 28: Birmingham Utilita Arena, UK Nov 29: London The O2, UK Nov 30: Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, UK Dec 02: Leeds First Direct Arena, UK Dec 03: London The O2, UK

Get tickets.

Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Prog and Metal Hammer, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Guitar and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.

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