The Wandering Disciple

American Beach, Florida: American Beach, a historic treasure nestled along Florida's Atlantic coastline, holds a unique and significant place in American history. Established during the era of segregation, it served as a sanctuary for African Americans seeking respite and recreation at a time when they were barred from many public beaches.  The beach's origins date back to the early 20th century when Abraham Lincoln Lewis, a prominent Black businessman and Florida's first Black millionaire, purchased beachfront property with the vision of creating a haven for his community. Lewis's Afro-American Life Insurance Company played a crucial role in financing the development of American Beach, making it possible for Black families to own property and build homes in a safe and welcoming environment.  American Beach quickly blossomed into a vibrant community, attracting Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and artists from across the country. During its heyday in the mid-20th ce...

Marco Island, Florida: What better way to spend Earth Day than exploring nature. For Earth Day 2023, we headed down south to Tigertail Beach Park for a hike on the beach. This Gulf front park features an unspoiled stretch of beach that is one of the best birdwatching spots in all of Southwest Florida.  We got to the beach a little after 8am and began the trek to the beach. This early in the morning, there was just a handful of people on the beach and plenty of wildlife to be seen. It was like having the beach all to ourselves at time. We strolled about three miles of beach. On the way we collected plenty of colorful shells from the shore line and saw plenty of birds. From Osprey and Pelicans soaring above to Sanderling and Willet playing in the surf, there was plenty of nature to explore during the stroll.  We enjoyed our trip and it was certainly worth the drive. We will be back again in the future! Tigertail Beach Park is a public park operated by Collier County Pa...

Venice, Florida: Accessible only by private ferry, South Venice Beach is a quiet tropical oasis distant from the hustle and bustle of busier beaches. The remoteness off the beach is a glimpse back to the coastline before development. A trip to South Venice Beach begins at the ferry launch on the mainland. Here the captain departs with up to 22 passengers every half-hour on a quick seven minute sail across the intercoastal waterway to the island dock. Once the ferry docks at the island, a short walk down the boardwalk will take visitors to the beach. Where the Gulf of Mexico meets the deserted sands of South Venice Beach. Here you can look for shells and sharks teeth, sunbathe or take a swim in the Gulf. When you have had enough of the Florida sun and sand, the ferry will be there every thirty minutes to transport you back to civilization on the mainland. South Venice beach is only accessible via the South Venice Ferry. Yearly passes can be purchased at the dock and is good...

Englewood, Florida: Any day at the beach quickly turns into an opportunity to watch wildlife and airplanes, two of my favorite photography subjects. It was a very quiet day at the beach, despite the spectacular weather. The beach was only visited by the usual shorebirds. Today we saw: Brown Pelican  Laughing Gull  Osprey   Willet  It was pretty quiet on the aircraft as well, just a couple single engine planes flying the coast. Even without a lot of subjects to photograph, it was a great day for the beach. The water was clear and is starting to warm up while the beaches are starting to thin out as winter residents are starting to head home.

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 clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico on Boca Grande is a popular place for swimming. Gasparilla Island State Park features miles of shoreline with four access points great for swimming, shelling, fishing and more. (Photo: March 18, 2012)

The quiet beaches of Lido Key attract visitors from all over the world to enjoy the warm Gulf of Mexico water. The main beach on the Key is Lido Beach and further south is South Lido Park which also has public beach. There is miles of private beach in between the public beach accesses. (Photo: August 31, 2012)

Sun, waves and aircraft highlight Brohard Beach in Venice. While the beach is widely known for its shark’s teeth, it is also a great place to watch airplanes. The beach sits right on the edge of Venice Municipal Airport, allowing for an up close look at approaching aircraft while enjoying the beach. (Photo: January 27, 2013)

Shells by the thousands cover the beach at the southern tip of Boca Grande. Boca Grande is widely known as a premier shelling spot in Florida. It is here where you can find several species of shells, including rare ones like the Lions Paw. The best time to go is during low tide when the more of the beach and the sand bars are accessible or following a storm when the waves push larger shells ashore. This photo here was taken at the lighthouse beach at Gasparilla Island State Park. (Photo: January 25, 2009)

Venice, Florida: At the end of Venice Avenue on the island of Venice lies Venice Beach. Venice Beach is the centerpiece of several fine beaches located on the island of Venice. Venice Beach is known primarily for its abundance of shark teeth. Tourist come from all over to comb the sands looking for sharks teeth along the shoreline. It has earned Venice the nickname "Shark Tooth Capital of the World." Another popular attraction here is snorkeling. The clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico allow for great visibility of fish. There is a coral reef located about a quarter mile off-shore that is home to grouper, snapper and more. Snorkeling and diving is also a great way to get some of the larger fossilized shark teeth. Most people visit Venice Beach just to sit back and enjoy the beach. The beach is protected by lifeguards throughout the year and is the only beach on Venice Island to have lifeguards. It is also home to that famous Gulf of Mexico sunset. Combine that wi...

Longboat Key, Florida: Located at the northern point of Longboat Key is a secluded primitive beach only reachable by foot or boat. In a short walk you will leave behind the hustle and bustle of the island resorts and become immersed with the quiet beach and the nature that can be found here. Greer Island also known as Beer Can Island is a small stretch of land located along Longboat Pass at the north end of Longboat Key. Here you will find 2,000 feet of primitive beach along the Gulf of Mexico. The “island” is more like a peninsula now since recent beach projects have replenished the beaches enough to make it an easy walk to the island. Prior to the work, visitors needed to reach the island by boat or wait until low tide and walk across a small waterway that separated Greer Island from Longboat Key during high tide. The island is home to many coastal birds leading it to be listed on the Great Florida Birding Trail. Skimmers, terns, willets, black-bellied plovers and oystercatche...

The tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico in Boca Grande, Florida. The beaches are part of the Gasparilla Island State Park and have several beach access along the Gulf. They are well known for great fishing and great shelling as well as their clear, warm waters. (Photo: April 6, 2008)

Venice, Florida: Located in the Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World, it is only fitting that fishermen are drawn to Venice to try and hook one of these predators of the sea. The abundance of sharks in the region and their close proximity to the beach make fishing popular here and the Venice Fishing Pier is one of the hot spots where thousands flock each year to try and bring in the big one. Built 1966, the Venice Fishing Pier extends 700 feet into the Gulf of Mexico. Located on the south end of the island near Venice Municipal Airport, the pier is part of the City of Venice’s park system. The pier was almost lost for good in 2000 when rough seas caused by Hurricane Gordon tore off the end of the pier. Repairs were made to the pier and the newly renovated pier later reopened to the public. There is a small bait shop located on the pier. They offer live and frozen bait, limited tackle, equipment rental, drinks and snacks. For a full meal, Sharky’s on the Pier is located at the base...

Englewood, Florida: At the southern tip of Manasota Key lies a stretch of natural Florida coastline known as Stump Pass Beach State Park. The mile plus strand of unspoiled coastal land is a favorite to locals and tourists alike. Many flock to the park for the great beach, shelling and fishing. The park is made up of three islands sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and Lemon Bay. The main portion of the park is located on Manasota Key and is accessible via the Tom Adams Bridge. Here is the gulf beaches, picnic areas, bath house and nature trail. As you head further east you encounter the uninhabited Peterson Island and Whidden Key which are also part of the park and only accessible via boat. The body of water separating the islands is known as Ski Alley and is a popular local water recreation area. At the southern end of the park is Stump Pass, one of the few passes in the area that allow you to enter the Gulf of Mexico from the Intercoastal Waterway. The water activities are...

Boca Grande, Florida: Located on the southern tip of the private island of Boca Grande, Gasparilla Island State Park is a state park located on the Gulf of Mexico at the entrance to Charlotte Harbor. Since the late 1800’s, the two lighthouses that are located within the park have provided navigation to ships that navigate the shallow waters here. The park is a popular spot for fishing and shelling as well as Florida water sports. Purchased by the State of Florida in 1983 and opened as a park in the park system, Gasparilla Island State Park contains miles of beachfront with several beach accesses. The clear warm Gulf of Mexico waters are a haven for sunbathers as well as wildlife. Many species of birds and animals call the park home including Osprey, Gulls, Terns, Iguanas, Tortoises and more. The waters are also home to a variety of sea life including dolphins, sharks and the popular sport fish Tarpon. Anchoring the park at the southern tip is the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. T...

Dunedin, Florida: Located on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County lies the picturesque Honeymoon Island. With over 2,800 acres of wildland and 4 miles of beaches, the island is home to many Florida native plants and wildlife. The island was once much larger, but was split in two by a major hurricane in 1921. The result was two islands, Hog Island and Caladesi Island separated by Hurricane Pass. Hog Island was later purchased by Clinton Washburn, an New York developer in 1939. Washburn built cottages and marketed the island as a honeymoon getaway for newlywed couples. The island was then renamed Honeymoon Island. The island remained a prominent vacation spot until World War II when the cottages fell into disrepair. The State of Florida took possession of the island and it became part of the Florida State Park system. The cottages were removed and the island was attached to the mainland via the Dunedin Causeway. This resulted in more than 900,000 annual visitors to the park. ...

Punta Gorda, Florida: On the edge of Punta Gorda lies this ten acre park on the shores of Charlotte Harbor. Ponce De Leon Park is also thought to be the site where Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce De Leon came ashore on the west cost of Florida. Ponce De Leon initially came ashore in this area in 1513 while exploring the west coast of Florida. After skirmishes with the native Indian tribes, Ponce De Leon set sail to continue his explorations. In 1521, Ponce De Leon set sail again for Florida, this time in an attempt to establish a colony. The expedition consisted over 200 men, animals and farming tools. The ships reached Charlotte Harbor and work began to colonize the region. However, they were once again attacked by Calusa Indians and Ponce De Leon was struck by a poisoned arrow. The colonist left the area enroute to Cuba was De Leon later died. Today the site of the landings is a city park. There are several statues and monuments commemorating De Leon. There is also a 1/4 m...

Venice, Florida: Located at the southern tip of the island of Venice, lies a haven for shell seekers. Caspersen Beach attracts thousands of visitor’s each year hoping find some of the rare gems that wash up on the shore each day. Sarasota County took possession of the land in 1968 when the Caspersen Family deeded the property to the County. The land was transformed into a public park with beach access. The family later sued the county to prove the need for the land as a public park and the county won in Federal Court and Caspersen Beach was here to stay. Today the park is 177 acres of freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangroves and tidal flat along with over 9,000 feet of beachfront. The beach is one of the best places to find sharks teeth, a tradition that has called Venice the Shark’s Tooth Capital of the World. There is also a 1,000 foot boardwalk and a 1/4 mile nature trail. The far southern end of the beach has been preserved in its natural state. The clear waters of...

Charlotte-Amalie, St Thomas: The white sand beaches and cool Caribbean waters make Magens Bay one of National Geographic’s top beaches in the world. Located on the north side of St Thomas about three miles north of Charlotte-Amalie, Magens Bay is one of the top attractions on the island. Magens Bay became a public park in 1943. Property owner Arthur Fairchild felt the beach needed to maintained as a public park for all to enjoy. So he deeded the 50 acres of land to the government of St Thomas. The Magens Bay Authority was created to run the public park. Today guests flock to the 500 yard beach to swim in the clear and cool Caribbean waters. You can snorkel, kayak or just relax on the white sand beach. There is even a mile and a half nature trail that winds through various ecosystems. With so much to offer, its easy to see why Magens Bay is one of the top rated beaches in the world.

Tierra Verde, Florida: At the mouth of the Tampa Bay lies a barrier island known as Mullet Key. Mullet Key has been a prominent site of Tampa Bay history and is the current home of Fort DeSoto Park, a 1,136 acre park built around the site of the historic fort. Like much of Florida, the first inhabitant to the island were Native Americans. The Tocobaga Indians resided on the island from 1000 to 1500. The location at the mouth of the bay was ideal to the Tocobaga lifestyle. The waters provided an abundance of shellfish and fish provided plenty of food for the tribe as well as a means to trade with other tribes and eventually the Spanish conquistadors. The first Spanish explorer to reach the island was Panfilo de Narvaez in April 1528. Narvaez landed in the region and began searching for riches. As the confrontation with the local tribes became more violent, Narvaez and his group of explorers headed further north. The next major explorer to reach the region was possibly the most p...