The Wandering Disciple

The crash test is one of the many stages of vehicle testing experienced on Test Track at Epcot. While your vehicle will not actually crash into the barrier, the barrier test is the starting point where your test car accelerates through the high speed test track reaching speeds over 60 miles per hour, making it the fastest ride at Walt Disney World. (Photo: January 29, 2011)

Standing in the middle of Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you are quickly transported from Central Florida to the Pacific Northwest. Pine trees, boulders, springs and even a geyser help set make the resort feel like a national park lodge. (Photo: January 29, 2011)

It’s a great big beautiful tomorrow…. It won’t take long for that catchy theme song to be in your head the rest of the day. Disney’s Carousel of Progress has been entertaining guests at the Magic Kingdom since the park opened. In fact it is the longest running stage show and is also one of the only attractions at Walt Disney World to have been touched by Walt Disney himself. (Photo: January 28, 2011)

The old Manatee County Courthouse is one of the many building that can be toured at the Manatee Village Historical Park. The Courthouse, built in 1860, was the main courthouse for the newly formed Manatee County. The rustic courtroom housed all of the government services for the fledgling county. (Photo: January 8, 2011)

A Great Blue Heron sits on the dock railing at Emerson Point Preserve in Manatee County.  The heron can be found along the waterways, looking for their next meal.  (Photo: January 8, 2011)

The iconic Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco has been recreated there at Universal Studios in Orlando.  It is home to Disaster, a ride on the subway system that is tragically cut short by an earthquake.  (Photo: October 25, 2010)

The Incredible Hulk Coaster towers over the lagoon at Islands of Adventure. The coaster hurls its riders at over 65 miles per hour through seven inversions on the two minute thrill ride. (Photo: October 25, 2010)

The boardwalk winds through the wilderness at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. The boardwalk is almost two miles in length and passes through five distinct ecosystems, giving hikers an up-close look at the wildlife that lives there. (Photo: October 17, 2010)

The Columbia Café at the Tampa Bay History Center is a glimpse into the rich history of Cuban cuisine in Tampa Bay. The original Columbia Restrarunt was founded in nearby Y’bor City in 1905 by a Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez Sr. The menu features many favorites like the 1905 Salad, Cuban Sandwich, Chicken and Yellow Rice and many more specialties. It has expanded to six locations including this one in the History Center. (Photo: May 9, 2010)

Bright blue waters surround the private island of Coco Cay.  Located in the Berry Island chain in the Bahamas, the island was once known as Little Stirrup Cay.  It was purchased by Royal Caribbean and renamed Coco Cay and now is a port of call for Caribbean cruises. It features activities like snorkeling, para-sailing, jet skis and much more for the cruise passengers.  (Photo: April 22, 2010)

A wall of rocks helps separate the water of the Nassau Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean.  The harbor is a major port of call for cruise ships as well as the port of entry for Nassau. (Photo: April 21, 2010)

The sun shines of the facade of the Old Customs House at Key West.  Built in 1891, the four story building served as the islands customs office, post office and courthouse.  In 1932, the building was transferred to the US Navy and became the headquarters of the naval operations for the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.  The building was eventually sold to the state and turned into a museum.  (Photo: April 20, 2010)

The pool deck of Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas is one of the ships most popular features.  The ship has two swimming pools, 2 hot tubs and two stories of sun decks to help passengers relax between ports.  (Photo: April 20, 2010)

The international flights stack the gates at the south terminal at Miami International Airport.  MIA is the 26th busiest airport in the world and averages about a thousand flights a day.  The airport operations was featured on a reality TV show called Airport 24/7 which aired on the Travel Channel for three seasons.  (Photo: April 23, 2010)

The Boca Grande Pass connects the Gulf of Mexico with Charlotte Harbor on the southern end of Boca Grande.  The waters of the pass are calm and quiet, but will not stay that way for long.  Each year from April thorough August, thousands of anglers flock to Boca Grande for tarpon fishing.  The waters of the Boca Grande Pass are said to have the largest concentration of tarpon in the country.  The arrival of the tarpon results in arrival of sharks looking to feed on the tarpon.  (Photo: March 27, 2010)

A replica Spanish Chapel is one of the many replica buildings to comprise the courtyard at the South Florida Museum. Opened in 1980, the courtyard was designed to resemble a Barrcarrota, Spain village in honor of Hernando De Soto. Click on the photo to view more photos from South Florida Museum . (Photo: February 14, 2010)

A memorial to fallen Polk County Sheriff’s deputy Matt Williams and his K-9 partner Diogi at the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum. The deputies were killed in the line of duty in September 2006. The memorial is one of many memorials and artifacts on display at the museum dedicated to law enforcement in America. Click on the photo to view more photos from the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum . (Photo: January 24, 2010)

A replica of the space shuttle sits outside the Astronaut Hall of Fame near Kennedy Space Center.  Inside is a collection of memorabilia showcasing the rich history of the US space program from the rocket to the shuttle. Click on the photo to view more photos from the Astronaut Hall of Fame .  (Photo: January 24, 2010)

The Carnival Dream gets underway from Port Canaveral as it embarks on a Caribbean cruise.  Introduced in 2008, the Carnival Dream can accommodate over 3,500 passengers on its 15 decks.  (Photo: January 23, 2010)

The Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center dominates the skyline at the Cape Canaveral complex. At 526 feet tall, the Vehicle Assembly Building is the largest single story building in the world. Built in 1966, the building served as the final assembly point for the Saturn V rocket and the space shuttle. Here the space vehicle would be assembled vertically before departing on the journey to the launch complex aboard the crawler transporter. Click on the photo to view more photos from Kennedy Space Center . (Photo: January 23, 2010)

Nokomis, Florida: Located at the southern tip of Casey Key, North Jetty Park is a popular place for swimming and fishing. The 20 acre park is bordered by three bodies of water; the Gulf of Mexico, Venice Inlet and the Intercoastal Waterway. The western side of the park features 1,900 feet of coast line on the Gulf of Mexico, great for swimming, snorkeling and surfing. The southern and eastern side of the park are great for fishing. There are picnic pavilions, a playground and much more to enjoy between the bodies of water. The park operated by Sarasota County Parks and Recreation was acquired in 1979. It has been upgraded several times including a recent renovation of the bath house and concession area. The park is protected by lifeguards on the beach all year long. Click on the photo above to view my North Jetty Park photo gallery .

The Sanibel Bayou is one of the many bodies of water that comprise the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The 5,200 acre refuge on Sanibel island is a haven for many species of birds both native and migratory. (Photo: November 28, 2009)

A red tail hawk is one of the many native Floridians on display at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The park is home to hawks, eagles, bears, panthers, bobcats and even a hippo. The animal habitats are situated along a nature boardwalk making it a one of a kind attraction. (Photo: November 11, 2009)

The familiar railroad sign leads visitors to the Florida Railroad Museum, formerly the Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum.  The railroad museum in eastern Manatee County features a rolling stock of railroad history.  On select days, visitors to the museum can embark on an excursions through the Manatee countryside on a six mile stretch of track from Parrish to Willow.  (Photo: October 18, 2009)

A water buffalo take a break in the water at Lion Country Safari. The water buffalo can be found throughout Asia and is one of the many animals that can be seen on the driving safari at Lion Country Safari. (Photo: September 7, 2009)

A Yellow-Footed Rock Wallaby takes a much needed break at Wallaro Station at Lowry Park Zoo. The wallaby is a small member of the kangaroo family and can be found in Australia. (Photo: August 30, 2009)

The sitting room of the Gamble Plantation is a glimpse in the past of a prosperous sugar plantation owned by Major Robert Gamble. While it is named after its first owner, the plantation’s most notable resident is Judah Benjamin, the Secretary of State of the Confederate States of America. Benjamin sought refuge here while escape to Europe to avoid being charged with treason at the conclusion of the Civil War. (Photo: August 7, 2009)

A set of stairs leads down to the bamboo landing along the Estero River at Koreshan State Park.  The park was once the site of the Koreshan Unity, a religious community that escaped to Estero to evade persecution in 1894.  (Photo: July 29, 2009)

Today on Independence Day, we celebrate the birth of our nation.  On July 4, 1776 the United States declared independence from England.  Fireworks celebrations like the one pictured hereat Blind Pass Beach take place across the country to celebrate that milestone in American history.  (Photo: July 4, 2013)

A white tiger takes a break from the heat at Lowry Park Zoo.  The white tigers are a rare pigmented Bengal Tiger specie and can be found in Asia.  (Photo: June 28, 2009)

The outside corridor of the Ringling Museum provides a stunning backdrop and a grand entrance for the Ringling Museum of Art.  The museum features a collection of over 10,00 peices and is part of the Ringling Museum complex which features the art museum, historic Asolo Theater, Tibbals Learning Center, the circus museum, Ca' D' Zan and much more.  (Photo: June 14, 2009)

The ferris wheel at Kid Star Park once dominated the skyline of the commercial district of Port Charlotte.  However the small kids amusement park that once had rides like the ferris wheel, a roller coast and much more has closed.  The only thing still in operation is the go-kart track.  (Photo: March 8, 2009)