The Wandering Disciple

A canopy of cypress trees tower of the swamps of South Florida. The wet and nutrient rich soils of the swampy ecosystems is a prime growing mixture for the bald cypress tree, a staple of the swamplands. (Photo: August 30, 2014)

The slow and tranquil waters of the Big Cypress Swamp flow peacefully through the Big Cypress National Preserve in south Florida.  Established in 1974, the 720,000 acre park is one of the first National Preserves established by the US Park Service.  (Photo:

The cypress swamp at the Big Cypress National Preserve provides a calming oasis for visitors and animals alike.  The 1,100 square mile preserve located in South Florida combines with the Everglades National Park, Ten Thousand Islands Wildlife Refuge and the Collier-Seminole Park to create an expansive wilderness tract that spreads from Miami to Naples.  (Photo: August 30, 2014)

The eyes of an American Alligator rise above the calm waters of the swamp at Big Cypress National Preserve. Alligators can be found throughout the waters of the preserve in South Florida. (Photo: August 30, 2014)

The clear water of the Big Cypress Swamp flow slowly though the Big Cypress National Preserve. The 720,566 acre national park is nestled between the Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge along Tamiami Trail in South Florida. (Photo: August 30, 2014)

Ochopee, Florida: Between Naples and Miami, Tamiami Trail passes through the isolated Florida wilderness. Much of this landscape is comprised within the Big Cypress National Preserve, one of the nation’s first national preserves. The Big Cypress National Preserve is nestled between the Everglades National Park and the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The 720,566 acre preserve was founded on October 4, 1974 making it one of the first preserves in the National Parks system. Before becoming a national preserve, the region was home to Native Americans. The Calusa, Miccosukee and Seminole tribes all called the swamp home. But the region began to change in 1928 when the Tamiami Trail was completed, opening the region up to travelers. Today over a million visitors a year visit the preserve. There are plenty of way to enjoy the park. There are 12 campgrounds, mile of roads to drive or bike and several boardwalks allowing visitors to get a glimpse at the plants and...

Ochopee, Florida: A while back, we took a trip down Tamiami Trail through South Florida on our way to Homestead Air Reserve Base on the way to an air show. During this trip, we marveled at the beauty of the Florida wilderness along the way and made it a point to come back and spend a little more time exploring these areas. This resulted in a weekend camping trip and exploration of Collier-Seminole State Park, Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Fakahatchee Strand Preserve last year. Today we decided to take a journey back down to South Florida to explore the Big Cypress National Preserve. My uncle is currently in town visiting from Pennsylvania and after the amount of wildlife we saw on our previous trips, I suggested we give it a try. We headed out early and embarked on the 2 hour journey into the wilderness. When we arrived at Big Cypress, we stopped off at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center. The welcome center is located just inside the western boundary ...