The Wandering Disciple

An elegant feature on the downtown Tampa riverfront, the historic Tampa Bay Hotel is a glimpse into the lifestyle of the rich & famous of an era long gone.  Built by Henry Plant in 1891, the Tampa Bay Hotel was built to provide an elegant vacation destination for the passengers of his rail line.  Today the building houses the Henry Plant Museum and the administration offices for the University of Tampa.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

Riley Unroe rounds second and digs for third during a Gulf Coast League game in 2013 during his first season of professional baseball.  Unroe was drafted by Rays in the second round of the 2013 draft out of Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, Arizona.  He is currently still in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, playing for Advanced-A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League.  (Photo: July 19, 2013)

The calm and tranquil waters of Clay Gully pass by the Clay Gully Picnic Area at Myakka River State Park.  Clay Gully is one of the many streams that flow into the Myakka River within the boundaries of Myakka River State Park.  (Photo: July 29, 2013)

The historic Cass Street Railroad Bridge sits skyward in downtown Tampa.  The bridge crosses the Hillsborough River, connect downtown Tampa with the rest of the city on the other side of the river.  The iconic bridge is a visual landmark of the waterfront skyline.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

Thanks to a tropical disturbance off the coast of Florida, the usual tranquil Gulf of Mexico was turned into a surfer's paradise with waves around four feet.  While the tropical energy did not develop into a storm, it brought high waves and heavy rains to the Sunshine State and a reminder that we are heading into the peak of hurricane season.  (Photo: August 26, 2017)

A walk around Ybor City feels more like a stroll through Havana rather then Florida.  The Cuban influence in this part of the city is around every corner thanks to the immigrant cigar manufactures who came to the city in the late 1800's.  Today, you can learn more about this Cuban heritage at the Ybor City Museum State Park in the heart of Ybor City.  (Photo: July 11, 2013)

A short paddle through the scenic mangrove tunnel at Emerson Point opens up into the shallows of Tampa Bay.  The kayak tour here is one of the most scenic in the area, allowing kayakers of all experience levels to enjoy a day on the water.  (Photo: July 10, 2013)

A drive through undeveloped areas of Florida highlight the rich citrus industry that helped put Florida on the map.  One of the top agricultural crops in the Sunshine State, the orange industry was so strong, one of the state's biggest county is named after it.  You can learn more about the Florida citrus industry and its effect on the state during a trip to the Orange County Regional History Center in downtown Orlando.  Here you will see how citrus and other industries helped shape the region.  (Photo: July 9, 2013)

Port Charlotte, Florida: The Charlotte Stone Crabs kept their postseason chances alive by delivering a thrilling walk-off win in the series opener against the Clearwater Threshers on Friday night at Charlotte Sports Park. The Stone Crabs left an early lead disappear in the late inning but thanks to ninth inning heroics by the home team, the Stone Crabs sent fans home with a 3-2 victory. Things got scary for Rays fans in the top of the first inning. Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Andriese got the start for the Stone Crabs on an MLB rehab assignment. However the rehab didn’t last long as he took a line drive to the leg on the second pitch of the night prompting his removal from the game and further testing. The Stone Crabs broke the scoreless tie by scoring a pair of runs in the second frame. They put runners on first and second following back to back singles by Riley Unroe and Thomas Milone. Unroe then scored on a single by Jonah Heim and Milone later scored on a single by Luci...

Everyone's favorite big red dog Clifford comes out to play at the Orlando Science Center.  The traveling exhibit was featured at the museum in 2013 and brought the pages of the children's book to life with oversized indoor play equipment.  (Photo: July 9, 2013)

When most people think of Wall Street, they immediately think of the stock market mecca in New York City.  However in Orlando, Wall Street takes on a whole new meaning.  Here tucked away in the heart of downtown, Wall Street is a hot night spot with bars, nightclubs, restaurants and the the famous Friday night block party.  (Photo: July 9, 2013)

Miss Geico sits in the dry pits during the Sarasota Power Boat Grand Prix.  The race team founded in 2005 and sponsored by that popular tiny gecko is a popular competitor on the power boat circuit.  Miss Geico has won 8 world championships including 5 in a row from 2006-2010.  (Photo: July 8, 2013)

A macaw shows off its sharp talons at Sarasota Jungle Gardens.  Colorful macaws and other birds can be seen and enjoyed at the ten acre tropical oasis.  Sarasota Jungle Gardens is an icon in Sarasota, entertaining guests since 1936.  (Photo: July 8, 2013)

A white tiger tries to beat the heat by taking a cat nap at the Big Cat Habitat in eastern Sarasota County.  The non-profit Big Cat Habitat and Gulf Coast Sanctuary is home to tigers, lions, ligers and many more exotic animals.  Here you can come face to face with these big cats and watch them frolic and play in their rescued homes.  (Photo: August 5, 2017)

The roar of the Pratt & Whitney engines brings the crowd to their feet as the AeroShell Aerobatic Team dazzles the crowd in Punta Gorda during the 2013 Florida International Air Show. The team features the AT-6 Texan, a World War II era advanced trainer that can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour as these pilots maneuver just inches apart. (Photo: March 24, 2013)

Miami Marlins pitcher Wei-Yin Chen gets work during a minor league spring training game in 2013 as a member of the Baltimore Orioles. As spring training progresses, its not uncommon to see a big league pitcher get work in during a minor league game while the big league club is on the road. This allows the big league pitcher to get his innings in their own camp rather than taking a bus to a visitor's ballpark. (Photo: March 13, 2013)

Southwest Airlines pays tribute the to brave men of the Tuskegee Airmen on the nose of a Boeing 737.  The Tuskegee Airmen were the first colored unit in the Army Air Force.  They flew bomber escorts during World War II and became known as the Red Tails because of the distinctive red marking on the tail of their aircraft.   (Photo: July 29, 2017)

A brown pelican dives down into the Gulf of Mexico in hopes of catching its next meal.  Pelicans and other shorebirds can be seen along the coast looking for a bite to eat (Photo: March 10, 2013)