The Wandering Disciple

Large strands of cypress trees rise above the swamp, touching the skies and providing a majestic sight.  The Cypress Swamp trail at Highlands Hammock State Park takes hikers on a trip through these large trees on a boardwalk elevated above the swamp.  (Photo: February 28, 2016)

Tampa Bay Rays pitching leader Chris Archer congratulates lefty Matt Moore on a great outing during live batting practice on Saturday morning at Charlotte Sports Park.  The team continues to fine tune their skills prior to opening the spring training exhibition schedule on Tuesday.  (Photo: February 27, 2016)

Current Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitcher of the year Blake Snell gets some pointers from former minor league pitcher of the year Matt Moore during a full-team spring training workout at Charlotte Sports Park. (Photo: February 27, 2016)

Spring is right around the corner and the wildflowers are starting to brighten up the woods as seen on this hiking trail at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. The mild temperatures and weekly rainfall have helped to keep colorful flowers in bloom all winter this year. (Photo: February 21, 2016)

Looking like a masked bandit, a raccoon passes by visitors of the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium.  The nature center is home to many native Florida animals including raccoon, turtles, bald eagles, hawks, owls and much more.  (Photo: February 21, 2016)

A business jet is on short final for Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport while a regional jet can be seen in the distance making its base leg as the sun sets over the Gulf of Mexico.  (Photo: February 17, 2016)

A cottonmouth snake lies in the brush along the hiking trail at Calusa Nature Center.  This snake was a great reminder that we are in their house when we go hiking and provides an important reminder of how important it is to watch where you walk and to always be aware of your surroundings.  The cottonmouth is one of six venomous snakes that can be found in Florida joining the Southern Copperhead, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Timber Rattlesnake, Pigmy Rattlesnake and Coral Snake as the Sunshine State's poisonous viper club.  (Photo: February 21, 2016)

The bright green colors standout among the cypress trees on the Cypress Swamp Boardwalk at the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. The Cypress Swamp Boardwalk is one of three hiking trails available to visitors to the 105 acre nature center. (Photo: February 21, 2016)

A pair of gators bask in the Florida sun at the Calusa Nature Center in Fort Myers. The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a 105 acre facility with a nature center, planetarium, aviary, butterfly garden and hiking trails. We will have more photos and a full review from today's visit online in the coming days. (Photo: February 21, 2016)

Fort Myers, Florida: A top rated attraction in the Fort Myers area, the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium gives visitors a look at the natural world around them from the earth to the sky and all inhabitants in between. Our visit began with the nature center. Here they had exhibits of the native wildlife that can be found in Southwest Florida. While some were just stuffed, there were plenty of live animals here including a large collection of reptiles. Beneath the nature center is a few aviaries featuring a bald eagle, several hawks and owls. There is also some alligators, foxes, raccoons and skunks. Next to the aviary is a butterfly garden with colorful plants and butterflies. Then we went on the hiking trails. Calusa offers three hiking trails. We started with the Wildlands Trail, but the trail was not accessible for my nephew’s stroller so we backtracked to the Cypress Swamp Trail. The Cypress Swamp Trail was a nice walk on an elevated boardwalk through the swamp. ...

Tyler Norrick of the Palm Beach Cardinals delivers the pitch against the Sarasota Reds during a minor league game during the summer of 2007. (Photo: June 30, 2007)

Sarasota Reds first baseman Jeremiah Piepkorn holds Vero Beach Devil Rays baserunner Sergio Pedroza close to the bag during a minor league baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium.  (Photo: June 2, 2007)

Sarasota Reds first baseman plays under the lights at Ed Smith Stadium during a minor league baseball game.  Ballparks throughout the country come to life with exciting baseball action all summer long as the boys of summer work their way up the ladder trying to make the majors.  (Photo: May 11, 2007)

As you look closely, you begin to see the rock is not actually a rock but a rock fish.  This little guy uses his appearance to camouflage with the rocks to help protect itself from predators but more importantly lie in wait for its prey.  (Photo: April 29, 2007)

Daisy Duck does her best to excite the crowd during the Family Fun Day Parade at the Magic Kingdom Park.  Daisy and other Disney favorites make the crowd part of the parade as they make their way down Main Street.  (Photo: March 28, 2007)

A lion lies in the grass of the Edge of Africa section of Busch Gardens Tampa.  The Edge of Africa is a walking trail that is home to Lions, Hyenas, Hippos and Lemurs.  It also provides great viewing locations to see the animals of the Serengeti Plain.  (Photo: March 10, 2007)

A pair of bald eagles flies over the house on a sunny afternoon. Eagles are one of the few animals that mate for life. Their mating ritual known as cartwheeling has both eagles flying high and then locking talons and tumbling towards the ground. As they approach the ground they break apart and head to the nest to mate. (Photo: February 13, 2016)

The Collings Foundation B-17 Flying Fortress "Nine-O-Nine" approaches Venice Municipal Airport. The B-17 was one of the most popular US bomber during the World War II campaign. This B-17 joins the B-24 Liberator and the P-51 Mustang as part of the Collings Foundation's Wings of Freedom Tour. The tour will be in Venice through Sunday. (Photo: February 11, 2016)

The Collings Foundations P-51 Mustang "Betty Jane" makes an arrival at Venice Municipal Airport for the Wings of Freedom tour.  In addition to touring these great planes, riders can even take to the skies on these World War II icons to help support the Collings Foundation.  (Photo: February 11, 2016)

The B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" lands at Venice Municipal Airport, marking the start of the Wings of Freedom tour in Venice, Florida.  Each year in Febrauary, the Collings Foundation makes a stop in Venice with a trio of World War II era aircraft including the B-24 along with a B-17 Flying Fortress and a P-51 Mustang.  The Wings of Freedom tour will be in Venice through the weekend.  (Photo: February 11, 2016)

Herbie the Love Bug make a guest appearance during the Light, Motors, Action stunt show at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  The iconic Volkswagen Beetle debuted on the silver screen in 1968 and has appeared in several movies since.  (Photo: March 27, 2007)

The Three Caballeros have been recreated as a topiary display during the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot.  The entire park gets a makeover during this annual event bringing flashes of color and exciting character displays to help ring in the Spring.  (Photo: March 27, 2007)

The greatest pop icons are larger than life at Disney's Pop Century Resort.  The Walt Disney World Resort features enormous four story icons from the 1950's era through the 90's.  (Photo: March 26, 2007)

The worn out look of the old Ed Smith Stadium back in 2007 when it was the Florida operations for the Cincinnati Reds.  The stadium hosted the Cincinnati Reds for spring training, the Sarasota Reds of the Florida State League and the Gulf Coast Reds of the Gulf Coast League until they moved operations to Arizona.  The stadium then underwent a major face lift before becoming the Florida home for the Baltimore Orioles.  (Photo: January 31, 2007)

Colorful jellyfish fill the tank at the Florida Aquarium in the Channelside district of downtown Tampa.  The translucent jellyfish take the color of their environment, helping them remain camouflaged to their predators and to help them lure in their prey.  (Photo: January 28, 2007)

A white tail deer blends in with the tall grasses of the Pineland Reserve in Nokomis. Deer use the cover of the tall grasses to camouflage them from predators. (Photo: December 8, 2011)

A snowy egret chows down in the surf at Gasparilla Island State Park. The beach is a great spot to watch birds look for food along the waterline. (Photo: March 8, 2005)

A manatee enjoys the warmer waters of the TECO Power Plant in Apollo Beach. Each winter, hundreds of manatees swim to the discharge waters of the power plant providing them with a warm water refuge during the colder months. (Photo: February 21, 2015)

A gator lurks under the bridge at Myakka River State Park in eastern Sarasota County. (Photo: November 15, 2014)

A red shouldered hawk stands guard over the fleet of fire prevention vehicle at Sarasota County Fire Station 16 on the edge of Twin Lake Park in eastern Sarasota County. (Photo: January 26, 2016)