About Hoffy

I began giving architectural walking tours in 1981 after earning my Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from UCLA – and I haven’t stopped since!

I’ve been fascinated with cities ever since I spent my junior year of college abroad in Madrid, Spain. I noticed that European cities had the advantage of higher density to create lively public spaces. Then in the 1970s, I saw that American cities were beginning to get serious about preserving historically significant buildings. My first planning project in the 1980s was to help designate LA’s first residential historic district – South Carthay – in the Fairfax District. Now there are 28 and counting!
From 1984 to 2011, I completed my high school teaching career in economics, psychology, and government while working as a planning consultant during the summer. I also lectured in urban planning and urban studies at UCLA and, most recently, at UCI’s School of Planning, Policy and Design. All the while, I continued to give tours for my colleagues, friends and students.
When I officially retired from high school teaching in June of 2012, I decided to launch Hoffy Tours as a true business. For me, it’s the perfect marriage of teaching, planning, creativity and fun. My business goal is to continue to explore new and exciting urban places, and to show people interesting features of cities that they wouldn’t normally have noticed. It’s a life-long passion!

I make two guarantees about my tours. One, that you’ll have a great time. Two, that you will never view cities in the same way again. Come and join me on a Hoffy Tour!

About Hoffy Tours

Hoffy Tours, LLC, is an urban tour company whose primary goal is discovering the best in cities.  The focus is on appreciation of the built environment – great architecture, interesting urban design, fun restaurants, engaging museums.  Hoffy Tours strives to find urban treasures that many people pass up in their daily lives.  It focuses primarily on southern California – downtown LA, Hollywood, Pasadena, San Diego, Santa Barbara – but offers tours to the central coast and San Francisco.  Hoffy Tours is unique because its founder – Bill Hoffman, MA, Ph.D. – entertains and teaches as he gives a personalized view of the many places we visit.  Hoffy Tours was founded in 2012 although Bill has given tours for over 30 years.