The Wandering Disciple

The large steeple of First Baptist Church rises high amongst the quaint shops of Main Street in downtown Sarasota. The congregation was founded in 1902 with the current church being built in 1920. (Photo: January 1, 2005)

Tucked away behind the shops of the island of Venice sits the Venice Little Theater. The community theater opened in 1950 and boasts a full schedule of shows that will entertain the whole family. (Photo: December 20, 2004)

Engine 71 of the Englewood Fire District is seen here on the scene of a vehicle fire in their district. The Englewood Fire District is a fire department on the west coast of Florida that serves south Sarasota and west Charlotte County. They provide fire suppression and first responder service out of six stations. (Photo: July 9, 2004)

Boise, Idaho: For over twenty years, Xtra Airways has served its customers with both charter and commercial flight services. Their small fleet serves the Eastern and Central United States and goes “Beyond what is expected”. The airline was founded in 1987 as Casino Express Airlines to provide charter service to the Nevada casinos. In 2005, the company changed names to their current name Xtra Airways following a partnership with XL Airways UK. That partnership continued until 2008 when XL UK ended operations. By then, Xtra was an independent airline and was able to continue operations unaffected. The Xtra Airways headquarters is located in Boise, Idaho. They currently operate a fleet of four active aircraft and one seasonal aircraft. The four primary aircraft are Boeing 737-400 series. The seasonal aircraft is a Boeing 737-800 series. The aircraft are based at Charlotte County Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport, Miami International Airport and San Antonio Internation...

Appleton, Wisconsin: Air Wisconsin is a regional airline that provides flight service for US Airways and ground services for United Express. They provide service to over six million passengers in seventy destinations throughout the United States and Canada. Founded in 1965, Air Wisconsin is the pioneer in the regional airline service and code sharing. They first entered a code share agreement with United Airlines followed by mergers with Mississippi Valley Airlines in 1985 and Aspen Airways in 1991 to make them the largest regional airline in the United States. Today Air Wisconsin provides code share/flight services to US Airways while maintaining ground services for United Express at Dulles International Airport and 22 airports nationwide. The Air Wisconsin fleet is comprised of 71 Canadair CRJ-200 jets flying under the US Airways Express brand. The CRJ-200 can accommodate 50 passengers. They fly to 70 destinations in North America with hubs based at Philadelphia International Ai...

Although classes are no longer held in the historic Sarasota High building, the history of the building lives on. Built in 1926, it is the oldest school building in Sarasota. Classes were held here until the late 1990’s. Today it is being renovated to house the Sarasota Museum of Art. (Photo: December 12, 2004)

The 400th E-Jet is seen on departure from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Embraer rolled its historic 400th E-Jet off the assembly line in June of 2008. The E-175 ordered by Republic Airlines and flies as a US Airways Express partner. Republic Airlines features the largest fleet of E-Jets with 110 in their fleet alone. (Photo: December 20, 2011)

A California Sea Lion sits on a rock at the Pacific Point Preserve portion of Sea World Orlando. Here guests can purchase fresh fish to feed the seals and sea lions in the exhibit. (Photo: August 28, 2004)

A large Christmas Tree with larger then life presents sits on display at Epcot. Holidays at Epcot's World Showcase is a great place to see how each country celebrates the holidays. (Photo: November 17, 2007)

Grace Baptist Church in Sarasota presents Christmas at Grace, their dazzling display of over 1 million lights. Onlookers watch in amazement as the lights dance to classical Christmas Music. (Photo: December 13, 2011)

Suwanee, Georgia: Vision Airlines is commercial/charter airline that operates primarily in the southern United States. Based out of Louisville International Airport, Vision services sixteen destinations in the United States and the Bahamas. Vision Airlines was founded in 1994 and focused primarily on chartered flights and tours. They provided white water rafting and Grand Canyon charters as well as aerial tours of sites like the Hoover Dam and Monument Valley. In 2011, Vision expanded into the commercial market by adding commercial passenger routes in the Southern United States. The Vision fleet is comprised sixteen active aircraft and ten reserve aircraft. The fleet includes a Boeing 737-300, two Boeing 737-400, two Boeing 767-200, eleven Dornier 228, four Dornier 328 and two Dornier 328JET. The Boeings are used for their commercial passenger service while the Dorniers are for their tour operations. Vision’s only hub is located at Louisville International Airport. They also us...

Just a few canons remain of what was once a critical coastal fort in the Tampa Bay. Fort Desoto was positioned at the mouth of Tampa Bay and was an active post until closed by the military in 1922. Weather and neglect took a toll on much of the fort's structures although several canons and some of the battery walls still remain. Today there are historical markers that tell the story of the fort. In addition to the history of the fort, Fort Desoto Park boasts on of the nation's best beaches. (Photo: June 27, 2004)

Punta Gorda, Florida: Located in Eastern Charlotte County, the Charlotte County Airport is the gateway to Charlotte County. The hometown airport is home primarily home to general aviation traffic but has seen a steady increase in commercial traffic over the past few years. The airport operates three active runways. Runway 4/22 is the longest runway on the property and is used as the primary runway for commercial traffic. Runway 15/33 is the primary runway for general aviation. Runway 9/27 is the shortest runway at the airport. These three runways saw 74,854 flights in 2010 according to an FAA report. The airport began its life in the 1940’s as the Punta Gorda Army Air Field. The base was home to a fleet of P-40 Warhawks, P-51 Mustangs and C-45 and C-47 transports. The base was a training center for combat field ops during World War II. During the height of its war efforts, over 1,000 soldiers were assigned to the base. When the war was over, the military decommissioned the ba...

Las Vegas, Nevada: Connecting cities that do not have regular commercial service is a model that has proven successful for Allegiant Air. They help ease the commute by flying directly into popular warm weather destinations that are otherwise neglected by the larger airlines all without compromising the convenience of flying in a large jet. Allegiant Air began offering flights in 1999. Their original operations were based in Fresno. The early years were rough for Allegiant as they were forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000. The bankruptcy forced Allegiant to change their business model to focus on providing service to smaller airports that were not served by large airlines. The change in focus combined with a contract to charter casino trips for Harrah’s led to Allegiant coming out of bankruptcy in 2002. Since then, the airline has expanded considerably. They now have now expanded into seven base cities that provide service to 70 destinations in the United Sta...

A colorful Lorikeet sits on a branch inside the Lory Landing at Busch Gardens Tampa. Here you can enter the free flight aviary and feed the lorikeets with a cup of nectar. (Photo: June 27, 2004)

Phoenix, Arizona: Mesa Airlines is a regional airline that serves as a code share partner for US Airways Express and United Airlines Express while also operating go! Mokulele, an airline that services island hopping in Hawaii. The airline operates over 600 flights daily to 120 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Mesa Airlines was formed in 1982 as a scheduled service route between Farmington and Albuquerque. The airline grew through its first ten years, earning a code share agreement with Midwest Express and United Airlines while acquiring Aspen Airways and Air Midwest. The airline continued to grow throughout the 90’s with additional code share agreements with US Airways and America West while acquire additional airlines along the way. Following 9/11, the airline restructured to adapt to the changing travel climate. They reduced budget by eliminating aircraft that were unprofitable and focusing more on code share agreements. This restructuring led to them earning the Regi...

The Boca Grande Lighthouse has been guiding ships into Charlotte Harbor since 1890. Located on the southern tip of Gasparilla Island, it is one of two lighthouse that help guide ships into the harbor. (Photo: June 26, 2004)

Delta Flight 963 prepares for flight at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The McDonnell-Douglas MD-88 would deliver us home on the final leg of our 2004 Mid-Atlantic vacation. The MD-88 is Delta's primary jet for the Sarasota-Bradenton to Atlanta run. (Photo: May 1, 2004)

Sarasota, Florida: A production crew from the Travel Channel made a visit to the Word’s Best Beach, Siesta Beach, to film a new reality show. Sand Wars puts the creative skills of the competitors to the test as they race the clock and each other. The pairs of sculptures do battle against their opponents as they race the clock to finish their masterpiece before time runs out. Once time has expired, the audience gets the opportunity to vote for their favorite. The team with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and has a front row seat while a Hollywood pyrotechnics team explodes their sculpture and reduces it to a pile of sand. Each round, the stakes get higher and the challenge gets tougher with the winner walking away with $10,000. Sand Wars is scheduled to premier on the Travel Channel in 2012. Click on the photo above to see pictures from the filming of Sand Wars .

The home of the Great American Chocolate Bar, Hershey's Chocolate Factory has been producing that favorite candy bar since 1903. The factory located in the heart of downtown Hershey, fills the streets of downtown with the rich aroma of chocolate. Public tours of the factory are no longer offered but a trip to nearby Hershey's Chocolate World will give you an inside look at how that American favorite is made. (Photo: May 1, 2004)

The Ocean City Boardwalk has been a vacation hot spot for over a hundred years. The concept of the Boardwalk began by hotel owners in 1902. They created wooden walkway for their guests. This temporary walkway was rolled up during high ride to keep from getting damaged. It was later replaced with a five block permanent boardwalk in 1910 which was later extended to the present 2 1/2 mile long boardwalk following storm in 1962. Today the boardwalk is home to storefronts, restaurants, carnival games, amusement rides and museums. The entertainment at the Boardwalk has led to it being a popular East Coast vacation spot. (Photo: April 30, 2004)

A member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment performs a wreath presentation ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The regiment known as "The Old Guard" stands guard over the tomb 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of weather. Serving in the regiment is one of the highest honors in the Army, with only a handful of soldiers being awarded the Tomb of the Unknown Solder Guard Identification Badge. The badge is the second rarest award issued in the US Army. (Photo: April 29, 2004)

Built to honor the legacy of the United States longest serving president, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington DC pays tribute to one of the countries most influential leaders. The outdoor memorial features four outdoor rooms, one for each of the four terms Roosevelt spent as president. The memorial is filled with statues, waterfalls and quotes from the inspirational leader. (Photo: April 29, 2004)

The Delaware Breakwater East End Light sits on a breakwater near Cape Henlopen, Delaware. It was constructed as part of a safe haven project initiated by President John Quincy Adams. The Atlantic Coast from Virginia to New Jersey provided no safe harbors for large ships during storms. So a breakwater was added to protect the Delaware Bay, giving the ships a harbor of refuge. The 49 foot lighthouse was built in 1884 to help guide ships to the safe waters of the Delaware Bay. (Photo: April 28, 2004)

The Showplace of the Nation, Radio City Music Hall has entertained the world since its opening in 1932. Numerous concerts, movie premieres, award shows and even a basketball game have taken placed within the venue. One of the most notable residents continue to be the Rockettes, a holiday favorite since 1933. Radio City Music Hall was declared a NYC Landmark by the City of New York in 1978. (Photo: April 27, 2004)

The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and the Discovery are docked along the James River as part of the Jamestown Settlement historic park. These three ships are replicas of the three ships that help bring settlers to the new colony of Jamestown in the Virginia Colony. The Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that tells the story of the settlement which includes a Powhatan Village and Fort James. (Photo: April 24, 2004)

Step back in time to the day when the British Crown was in control and a revolution was building. A trip to Colonial Williamsburg is like a time machine, transporting you back to the American Revolution. Travel the streets in a horse drawn carriage and envision what life was like during these times. (Photo: April 25, 2004)

The rolling farm fields of Lancaster County, heart of Amish Country. Here, the fertile fields stretch as far as the eye can see. Generations of farmers have made a living off farms like these by growing crops and raising livestock. (Photo: April 23, 2004)

"Colts One" a Boeing 717 operated by AirTran is seen on arrival to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Dedicated in 2009, Colts One is one of several special edition paint schemes on AirTran aircraft. AirTran operates a fleet of 140 jets that service 70 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. (Photo: December 9, 2011)

A white tail deer looks up from the tall grass of the Pinelands Reserve. Pinelands Reserve is a 6,151 acres reserve in Central Sarasota County. The reserve was purchased as a buffer zone for the Central County landfill. Today the reserve is home to various species of wildlife including deer, tortoises, bald eagles, hawks and many more. (Photo: December 8, 2011)

The Clydesdale has been the long standing image of Budweiser. Clydesdale are a breed of draught horses from Scotland. Budweiser first started using the Clydesdale following the Prohibition era and they quickly became the image of the company. The Clydesdale pictured here is one of the many that you can see at the Clydesdale Hamlet at Busch Gardens Tampa. (Photo: March 20, 2004)

Here come the Men in Black. Hop aboard your vehicle, grab your S4 Alienator guns and head to the streets of New York to shoot as many aliens as you can. Housed in a building designed to resemble the Expo at the World's Fair, The Men in Black: Aliens Attack ride opened at Universal Studios in 2000. The ride is based on the 1997 film Men in Black featuring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. (Photo: September 21, 2003)

The grandest ship of her time, the RMS Titanic was the largest and most luxurious ocean liner in the early 1900's. The Titanic set forth on her maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, 1912 with 2,240 passengers onboard. On the way to New York, the voyage took a tragic turn as the ship struck an iceberg and sank 400 miles south of Newfoundland. 1,514 people lost their lives that night due to the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. The photo here is a re-creation of a first class suite at Titanic The Experience in Orlando. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

Port Charlotte, Florida: Tucked away at the dead-end of a residential street lies a hidden gem of the Sarasota County park system. Myakka Islands Point sits on the edge of the Myakka River and is home many species of plants and animals. The 100 acre parcel was purchased in 2006 by Sarasota County as part of their Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The park takes you on a journey through several distinct ecosystems including the Myakka River, Tidal Marsh, Mangrove Swamp, Scrubby Pine Flatwoods and more. These ecosystems are critical to the environment as they provide home to hawks, wading birds and numerous other species of animals. The park boasts several hiking trails that loop the park. Both trails have a scenic overlook and benches to take a break during your hike. We visited the park on December 4, 2011 and hiked the small trail at the entrance to the parking lot. On the trail we encountered a Red-Shouldered Hawk and several different species of butterf...

Straight from Hollywood, the shrimp boat named Jenny sits in a lagoon outside the Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney. Jenny was used during the filming of the Academy Award winning movie Forrest Gump. The 1994 movie staring Tom Hanks follows the life of Forrest Gump during the late 20th century. Today the shrimp boat used by Forrest is on display as one of the many movie props on display at Planet Hollywood. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

Venice, Florida: A crisp December night led the way to a great night of holiday festivities for the annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade. Thousands of spectators lined the banks of the waterway to watch the lighted boats travel the parade route. The parade of boats begins at the southern end of Casey Key and travels south through the Intercoastal Waterway until reaching the Venice Airport. Forty seven vessels participated in the 23rd annual event with awards given in five categories; Best in Show, Best Under 30’, Best 31’-39’, Best 40’ or larger and Best Commercial entry. The Venice Christmas Boat Parade takes place annually on the first Saturday in December. The event got started in 1989 and has grown since. The proceeds from the parade go towards youth activities and scholarships. Click on the photo above to see pictures from the 2011 Venice Christmas Boat Parade .

Universal Orlando is an theme park resort in Central Florida. Opened in 1990, Universal Orlando has grown to two theme park, three resort hotels and an entertainment complex featuring shops, dining, clubs and a movie theater. The resorts hosts many special events and concerts through-out the year and is home to the Blue Man Group. Universal Orlando is the second largest theme park resort in Florida and the largest in the Universal family. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

Party like a rock star at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando. Marvel at the rock and roll memorabilia that adorn the walls throughout the hotel. The sound of rock music can be heard throughout the hotel, even underwater in the swimming pool. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Hop onboard a colorful fish and watch the storybook come to life. The ride at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando take the story to a whole to level as riders listen to the words of the song to avoid getting wet. (Photo: July 18, 2003)

The former Python roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Tampa was the first inversion coaster in Florida. The coaster featured two corkscrews and reached 50 miles per hour. It was built in 1976 and thrilled guests until it was closed in 2006 to make way for the Jungala expansion to Busch Gardens. (Photo: March 20, 2004)

An Embraer 175 operated by Republic Airlines departs Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. Republic Airlines is a regional airline based out of Indianapolis that operates service for US Airways Express (pictured here) and Frontier Airlines. They operate a fleet of 85 aircraft that call upon almost a hundred airports in the United States and Canada. (November 21, 2011)

A little blue heron sits on the boardwalk at Fort Mose State Park. The park lies just north of downtown St. Augustine and features a 1/4 mile linear boardwalk trail. The 49 acre park is on the Great Florida Birding Trail and is home to resident and migratory birds. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

When railroad tycoon Henry Flagler lost his daughter Jennie Louise in 1889, he ordered a church be built in her honor. The Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church was constructed in less then one year. The magnificent church features marble floors and a colossal organ with pipes ranging from the size of a pinky to as large as two adult males. The church is now the final resting place for Flagler and his family. The Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church is included on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Model Land Company Historic District. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

A giant marble lion statue stands guard at the base of the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida. The lions are copies of the Medici lions statues found in Florence, Italy. They were gifts to the city by Dr. Andrew Anderson. The Bridge of Lions was built in 1927 to link St. Augustine with Anastasia Island. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

At 165 feet above sea level, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is the tallest structure in St. Augustine. Built in 1874, it was the second lighthouse in St. Augustine replacing the earlier structure that was threatened by erosion. The lens at the top of the lighthouse consist of 370 hand-cut prisms that work to sign a beacon of light over the Atlantic to help navigate ships through the seas. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

One of prestigious hotels of the Flagler era, the Alcazar hotel was one of the first poured concrete buildings in the city and home to the largest indoor swimming pool in the world. Built in 1887, it operated as a posh hotel until 1932. In 1946, publisher Otto Lightner purchased the building to house his various collections and in 1948 opened the Lightner Museum. The building is also home to the City of St. Augustine City Hall and is a popular site for weddings. (November 12, 2011)

Built by the Spanish in 1672, the Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. During its history, the fort operated under four separate commands; Spanish, British, United States and Confederate States. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

From many years, these old City Gates were the only way to enter the walled city of St. Augustine. The gates worked in conjunction with a draw bridge to help secure the city. The bridge would open in the morning and close at sunset, leaving any deserted villagers to fend for themselves on the outside until sunrise the next day. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Built in 1887 as a winter homer to William Warden, Warden Castle is the current home to Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. The castle was the private residence of the Warden’s through the 1930’s. In 1941 it was remodeled as a hotel and even had an apartment for writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. In 1950, the estate of Robert Ripley purchased the castle and opened the first Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

The Ancient City Baptist Church was constructed with the help of Henry Flagler. After Flagler helped to build the neighboring Methodist Church, the Baptists reached out to him to help build their church. Flagler agreed but under three conditions: 1) The congregation had to match his $10,000 funds. 2) The church had to be completed in two years. 3) They could build the largest bell tower it the city, but it could never house a bell. The congregation met all three of the conditions and the church was completed in 1895. (Photo: November 11, 2011)