The Wandering Disciple

Prepare for a wild ride as you join Dudley Do-Right on his quest to save Nell from the evil hands of Snidley Whiplash. Opened in 1999 as one of Island’s of Adventures original attractions, the seven minute log flume ride features a 45 foot plunge. (Photo: July 18, 2003)

A Bald Eagle observes its nest from afar at Cedar Point Environmental Park. A nesting pair of bald eagles has been nesting in this park since 1992. (Photo: December 30, 2012)

A male Male Hooded Merganser swims in a lake in north Sarasota. The Hooded Merganser is the second smallest of the Merganser family and is found in North America. (Photo: December 27, 2012)

A mangrove pops up out of the water at Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This is how life as an island begins. The mangrove grows out of the water and then sand and sediment starts to build along the roots. In time, an island will begin to form. (Photo: December 9, 2012)

The bright bloom of a swamp lilly glimmers along Jane’s Scenic Road in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. The 12-mile dirt road traverses the park and allows visitors to get a glimpse of life in the swamp. (Photo: December 8, 2012)

A marble memorial at Collier-Seminole State Park honors the legacy of Baron Collier. Erected in 1941, the memorial pays tribute to the founder of Collier County, Florida. (Photo: December 9, 2012)

I would like to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Enjoy the holidays and be safe. In honor of Christmas, enjoy a photo of the Santa and Mrs. Claus from the Venice Holiday Parade. (Photo: November 24, 2012)

Truck 42 of the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department participates in the 2012 Venice Holiday Parade. The Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department was founded in 1949 and protects the citizens of Nokomis out of two stations. (Photo: November 24, 2012)

A paratrooper of the US Army Golden Knights performs during Wings over Homestead. The Golden Knights were formally organized in 1959 and became the official demonstration unit in 1961. The team consists of 95 soldiers comprised between two teams that perform in at events across the country. (Photo: November 3, 2012)

Miami’s famous South Beach comes to life in a a Lego miniland replica at Legoland Florida. South Beach joins other Floridian landmarks like Key West, Tampa, St. Augustine, Tallhassee, Kennedy Space Center and Daytona International Speedway in the collection. (Photo: October 27, 2012)

Colorful flowers line the trails at Lemon Bay Park in Englewood. The park features several hiking trails that traverse severe ecosystems along Lemon Bay. (Photo: October 13, 2012)

An experimental Savannah VG aircraft departs Buchan Airport. The Savannah VG is a kit aircraft produced in Italy and distributed in the United States by ICP. (Photo: October 13, 2012)

The abundance of shallow waters make Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge a haven for wildlife. The 35,000 acre refuge is home to many species of wading birds, alligators and much more. (Photo of the Day: December 9, 2012)

The Sarasota County Fire Department demonstrate a vehicle extrication during their annual Fire Prevention Open House. The SCFD provides fire and EMS protections for the citizens of Sarasota County. Their services range from fire operations, EMS operations, hazmat-technical rescue, fire prevention, emergency management and beach patrol. (Photo: October 6, 2012)

A replica of Dale Earnhardt Jr’s NASCAR makes a high speed pass down the Walt Disney World Speedway. The speedway’s primary tenant, the Richard Petty Driving Experience allows NASCAR fans to experience the sport from inside the race car. Fans can choose between a ride-along with a professional driver all the way to a race it yourself experience. (Photo: September 29, 2012)

A rare visitor to the Suncoast, a Razorbills searches for food off the South Jetties in Venice. Primarily a resident of colder waters off New England, Canada and northern Europe; the Razorbill has been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico in Sarasota County. Over the past few days, Razorbills have been reported off Longboat Key, Island of Venice and Manasota Key. This one was found by itself along the rocks of the South Jetties today. (Photo: December 16, 2012)

The sun slips below the horizon, painting the sky with another beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset. The beaches at Fort Desoto are rated in the top of the nation. (Photo: April 7, 2012)

Strap into a crop duster and hang on for a wild ride with the great Goofini. The Barnstormer debut in the Magic Kingdom in 1996 as part of Goofy's Wiseacre Farm at Mickey’s Toontown Fair. The ride closed in 2011 during a major renovation during the Fantasyland expansion. It reopened in 2012 in the newly themed Storybook Circus as The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini. (Photo: September 29, 2012)

A seagull walks the shoreline at Manasota Beach. Located at the north end of Manasota Key, Manasota Beach is one of four public beaches in Englewood. The beach operated by Sarasota County is protected by lifeguards and has picinic facilities, a bathhouse and boat ramp on the intercoastal side. (Photo: July 7, 2012)

A marine unit from the Venice Police Department responds to a call in the Gulf of Mexico. Established in 1927, the Venice Police Department protects 10 square miles in Southwest Florida. Their force of 45 officers provide uniformed patrol, K-9 services, Marine Patrol and support services. (Photo: June 12, 2012)

Naples, Florida: The swamp came to life with the sound of song birds, a sign that we made it through the night. We dodge the mosquitoes, snakes and rain to enjoy another day in the wilderness. We broke down camp early, grabbed breakfast and then set out to explore the neighboring area. Our first stop was a return trip to Fakahatchee Strand. This time we did not drive all the way to the main entrance in Copeland, instead we decided to visit the Cypress Bend Boardwalk along Tamiami Trl. The 2,000 foot boardwalk extends into the swamp, passing plenty of flora and fauna along the way. On our way to the observation platform at the end of the boardwalk, we passed numerous alligators ranging in age and size. Afterwards we headed west to the marsh trail at Ten Thousands Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The 2.4 mile marsh trail extends into the refuge with a three story observation tower in the beginning of the trail. Unfortunately, we did not complete the trail due to lack o...

A great egret sits along Janes Scenic Road at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Many species of wildlife can be found along the 11-mile Janes Scenic Road that traverses the park. (Photo: December 8, 2012)

Naples, Florida: During our long drive to Homestead last month, we noticed the hidden natural wonders that lie along Tamiami Trail through South Florida. While we didn’t stop off during that trip, we vowed to get back there to enjoy some of these attractions. That time came this weekend as we decided to take a weekend camping excursion to Collier-Seminole State Park.  We had our eyes on a tent site at Collier-Seminole since our November trip, but it wasn’t until last week that we saw an opening. I jumped on the vacant site and booked it. We came close to losing our site due to a glitch in the system, but luckily I confirmed the reservation and was able to correct it before we lost the site to someone else. To make a long story short, we booked the site with a prepaid card, the site did not process the payment and our site was released for non-payment. Lucky enough, I logged on to print our reservation and saw it was cancelled. What was even luckier is that the site was still...

The bright and colorful Tigger entertains guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The larger then life Disney characters are a big hit within the parks, sometimes creating lines longer then some of the rides. (Photo: January 28, 2012)

A new icon on the downtown skyline, the Ringling Bridge connects Lido Key and St Armands Circle with downtown Sarasota. Completed in 2003, the bridge provides a stunning view of the surrounding areas from the tip of the 60 foot tall span. It addition to being a main transportation hub, the bridge has become a popular spot for exercising. (Photo: January 25, 2012)

A giant Christmas tree welcomes visitors to Epcot’s World Showcase. Here you can circle the World Showcase lagoon and celebrate the holiday’s in eleven different countries. (Photo: January 7, 2012)

A Zebra Longwing lands on a flower at the Myakka Islands Point Preserve. The official butterfly of Florida, the Zebra Longwing can be found throughout the Southern United States, Central and South America. (Photo: December 4, 2011)

A colonist is hard at work in the Colonial Spanish Quarter. Take a step back in time and witness life in St. Augustine during the mid 1700’s. Here you will encounter blacksmiths, carpenters and much more going about their life as they would during the time period. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

A Spanish Soldier stands guard at Castillo de San Marcos. The fort was built by the Spanish in 1672 to protect the city of Saint Augustine. Today the park is operated by the National Park Service who provide history interpreters dressed like Spanish soldiers to tell the story of the fort. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Colorful decorated boats light up the Intercoastal Waterway in Venice for the annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade. The parade which is held the first Saturday of December takes place on the Intercoastal Waterway extending from Nokomis Beach to the Venice Airport. (Photo: December 1, 2012)