The Wandering Disciple

When people think of Florida, they envision flat land and beaches. But did you know there is an area of the state with rolling hills and underground worlds. Step inside one of these underground worlds at Florida Caverns State Park and see the stalgmites and stalactites of the limestone cave. Constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the New Deal, the park has been taking visitors through the underground world of the Florida Panhandle since 1942. (Photo: April 2, 2017)

Spring time is in full bloom in Florida Caverns State Park and what better way to relax from the heat is by taking a dip in the spring.  While the park is well known for the caverns, another popular attraction within the park is the Blue Hole Spring.  This second-magnitude spring provides a steady flow of water into the park and is a popular spot for swimming in the clear waters.  (Photo: April 2, 2017)

A rain lily blooms on the forest floor along a hiking trail at Florida Caverns State Park. Zephyranthes atamasca or more commonly known as atamasco-lily or rain-lily is native to the Southeastern United States and can be found in swampy forests.  The flower blooms in spring and produces a fragrant bloom.  (Photo: April 2, 2017)

This statue at the Florida Caverns State Park pays tribute to the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps who helped shape our national park systems. Created by President Franklin D Roosevelt as part of the New Deal, this program was designed to help struggling families during the Great Depression. These young men worked on public projects such as creating parks and infrastructure and were paid a salary of $30 in which the worker kept $5 and the remaining $25 was sent to help support their family. This program employed 3 million young men during the program which ran from 1933 to 1942 and impacted over 800 parks nationwide. (Photo: April 2, 2017)

What might look like Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars to some, is actually a naturally formed geological feature within the Florida Caverns State Park near Marianna, Florida. The only underground air-filled cavern in the State of Florida features rock formations that resemble all sorts of things like Donald Duck, bacon, birthday cakes and much more if you use your imagination. Florida Caverns State Park was one of the many places we visited during our weekend Panhandle trip, be sure to check back for more photos from the trip during the upcoming days. (Photo: April 2, 2017)

Marianna, Florida: When most people think of Florida, they immediately think of flat beaches as far as the eye can see. While that image is true for much of the state, there is a hidden gem in the panhandle that features elevation and even a cavern to explore. Located just outside of Marianna, the Florida Caverns State Park features the only dry cavern in the State of Florida. While the geological features of the park date back to over 38 million years ago, Florida Caverns State Park was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and opened to the public in 1942. It was one of the many parks in the nation created by President Franklin D Roosevelt’s New Deal public works project. The crown jewel of the park is the cavern. This limestone cave was created as sea levels fell and ground water eroded away at the surface resulting in a stunning display of stalactites, stalagmites and other geological wonders. Today the park features guided tours of the cavern several times a day f...