The Wandering Disciple

Port Charlotte, Florida: Tucked away at the dead-end of a residential street lies a hidden gem of the Sarasota County park system. Myakka Islands Point sits on the edge of the Myakka River and is home many species of plants and animals. The 100 acre parcel was purchased in 2006 by Sarasota County as part of their Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The park takes you on a journey through several distinct ecosystems including the Myakka River, Tidal Marsh, Mangrove Swamp, Scrubby Pine Flatwoods and more. These ecosystems are critical to the environment as they provide home to hawks, wading birds and numerous other species of animals. The park boasts several hiking trails that loop the park. Both trails have a scenic overlook and benches to take a break during your hike. We visited the park on December 4, 2011 and hiked the small trail at the entrance to the parking lot. On the trail we encountered a Red-Shouldered Hawk and several different species of butterf...

St. Augustine, Florida: An open marsh field on the north side of town is all the remains of the first free black settlement in the United States. It was here where British slaves sought asylum from slavery and served in the Spanish military. The Spanish Government officially declared freedom to British slaves in 1693. In exchange for freedom, they agreed to convert to Catholic faith and provide four years service to the Spanish Crown. The provided service was to serve in the Spanish militia in the Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (Fort Mose). They served in the militia at Fort Mose until it was destroyed by British forces in 1740. Today, no structures remain at the site of the original Fort Mose. An elevated boardwalk leads to the field where the fort once stood. There is also an interpretive museum to help tell the story of the fort and its inhabitants. Fort Mose is believed to be the precursor to the Underground Railroad System. Its impact on American history has led to i...

St. Augustine, Florida: Whether you look to kick back and relax on the beach or get active and enjoy the watersports, Anastasia State Park is the answer for everyone in the family. Located just outside historic St. Augustine, the park features four miles of beaches, a nature trail, fishing spots and camping. Established in 1949, Anastasia State Park has over 1,700 acres of maritime land consisting of beaches, tidal marshes and upland hammock. The park offers great recreation options that include swimming, fishing, hiking, biking, windsurfing and much more. The park also features a 139 site campground. Located within the upland hammock, the campsites are situated along seven loops and provide sites for tents, travel trailers and RV’s. Each site is equipped with electricity and running water and are within walking distance to the beach. Near the entrance to the park is the coquina quarry. From here, laborers mined the coquina rock that was used to build the Castillo de San Marcos ...

Fort Myers, Florida: A highway for wildlife, the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve provides a safe corridor for wildlife to travel from northern Lee County to the safe haven of the Estero Bay Preserve. The preserve is home to many wildlife and plant species. The preserve actually got its start thanks to hard work of a group of students. In 1976, he students were working on a project when they learned how quickly natural habitats and ecosystems were diminishing due to development. The group petitioned to preserve some of this natural landscape and won the support of Lee County residents. The result of their hard work saved the slough from development and led to the nature preserve opening to the public in 1991. Today, thousands of visitors come to the preserve to catch a glimpse of wildlife along the one mile boardwalk. The boardwalk meanders through 80 acres of the 2,500 acre preserve, allowing visitors to learn about the different ecosystems within the preserve as well as view the ani...

Sarasota, Florida: Hop aboard a safari tram for a trip into the wilderness of Myakka River State Park. Learn about the history, ecosystems and residents that make up one of Florida’s last few remaining true wilderness experiences. The one hour tram rides takes you into some of the backcountry of the park. You depart the paved road at the Power Line Trail and begin your off-road adventure. Here you will travel along the old rail bed that was once a main line into Sarasota. It is along here that you witness first hand the importance of prescribed burning on maintaining the growth of plants. It is hard to believe that at one time, this thick field was once a vast wide open prairie. As you turn onto the next trail, the ecosystem continues to change. Gone are the wet floodplains of the river. We are now in an ecosystem of pine trees, oak trees and the animals that call this area home. This is the part of Florida that was the hunting ground for the Florida Native American tribes. Th...

Sarasota, Florida: We decided to spend today exploring Myakka River State Park, just a short drive from the house in Eastern Sarasota County. We visited the park a while back and explored some of the popular trails, but today we decided to head back and try a wildlife tour. When we arrived at the park, we headed to the concession area to reserve a spot on the tour. The tours are operated by Myakka Wildlife Tours, not the state park system and are an independent fee in addition to the park admission. Myakka Wildlife Tours operates an airboat tour and a tram tour. We did not have enough time for both tours and the airboat tours were pretty full so we chose to do the tram tour and were booked on the 1:00 trip. We had about forty-five minutes to explore the park before our tour begun so we headed out to the area behind the Outpost building where the dam is located. When we got to the water, we found a few wading birds by the water’s edge including a juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night He...

Bradenton, Florida: Located in northwestern Bradenton, Robinson Preserve is a 487 acre wetland preserve that provides great outdoor recreational activities while helping to preserve the delicate ecosystem. The parcel of land that is now the preserve was once slated to become a 400 home golf course community. Seeing the importance of property to the local ecosystem, Manatee County approached the owner and developer of the property and purchased the property in 2003. Work then began to restore the land to its natural state. Manatee County sought help from various state and local agencies to help remove the exotic plant species and develop and plan for preservation of park. Today the restoration project is nearly completed and the land is thriving. Native plants and animals are doing well in the preserve and the waterways are now some of the best in the area. Robinson Preserve offers plenty of activities to help you get out and enjoy the great outdoors. There are miles of hiking/bik...

Lake Placid, Florida: Located on the western banks of Lake June in Central Florida lies a state park that is trying to preserve a dwindling Florida ecosystem. Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park is one of the few remaining homes of the Florida scrub communities and its mix of unique plants and animals. Opened in 1999, Lake June-in-Winter Scrub State Park was developed to help preserve Florida’s desert, the scrub community. Here you will find 845 acres of scrub community and its resident animals. It is here amongst the thick palmettos you will find the Florida Scrub Jay, gopher tortoises, raccoons, rattlesnakes and more that live in this delicate habitat. As you approach the 3, 500 acre freshwater lake June, the ground gets wetter and the wildlife more abundant. Here you will find egrets, herons, bald eagles, alligators, ospreys and more. The rich variety of birds found here led to it being designated on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The park only features one permanent trail,...

Bradenton, Florida: Lake Manatee in eastern Manatee County is the main freshwater reservoir for thousands of people living in Manatee and Sarasota counties. In addition to being a source of water, it also home to the Lake Manatee State Park. The 526 acre park extends along three miles of the lakes southern bank. The park opened as a campground in 1986. In addition to being a popular spot for camping, it is also known for great fishing, canoeing and hiking. Today thousands of visitors travel to the park to take a break from reality along its tranquil shores. Much of the parks amenities surround the large freshwater lake where it gets its name. The 2,400 acre lake is popular for fishing and is home to bass, perch, bluegill, shell cracker and catfish. You can fish from the dock or from a boat as long as the boat’s motor does not exceed the 20 HP maximum set by county ordinance. The lake is also popular for canoeing and swimming. The park also has three nature trails to enjoy, all...

Bradenton, Florida: On a tiny stretch of land where the Tampa Bay meets the Manatee River sits a National Memorial dedicated to the Spanish conquistador Hernando De Soto and his expedition for riches in La Florida. De Soto National Memorial is a 25 acre park that helps tell the story of De Soto and his landing here on what is today referred to as De Soto Point. In May of 1539, De Soto and his crew of over 600 soldiers sailed their nine ships into the mouth of Tampa Bay. The arrived in the new world to settle a colony for Spain and look for the riches the new world had to offer. When they arrived, their ship was loaded with 200 horses, pigs and dogs to help conquer the Indian tribes. De Soto left a crew of 100 to set up a colony here on the point while the rest of his party ventured further inland in search of gold and other riches. The journey would eventually take them over 4,000 miles thorough the Southeastern United States. The journey was rough, fighting with the Indians eve...

Palmetto, Florida: At the mouth of the Manatee River where it flows into the Tampa Bay, lies a haven for humans and wildlife to enjoy. Located on the tip of Snead Island, Emerson Point Preserve is a 365 acre preserve that is home to many native species of plants and animals. This peninsula in northern Manatee county is surrounded by three bodies of water; the Manatee River, Tampa Bay and Terra Ceia Bay. The abundance of water and the think native vegetation is home to many species of birds and mammals including hawks, osprey, herons and more. The preserve is also rich in history. Its ideal location made it a popular choice for early Native American tribe. The Portavant Temple Mound is an example of a Native American midden complex. The mound is made up fossilized fish bones, pottery and other discarded items from the tribes. The mound located here is the largest in the region. Also located within the boundaries of the park are remnants of another past resident. The ruins of a pioneer ...

Florida: The warm weather and multiple ecosystems make the state of Florida a haven for many different species of birds. From year round resident species to thousands of migratory birds, the area is one of the best in the world for observing birds. Just like the birds are attracted, so are the enthusiast that follow them and for them we have the Great Florida Birding Trail. To accommodate the growing desire for birding, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission developed the trail. With assistance from the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Florida Park Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Audubon of Florida and Visit Florida, they designed a program to highlight the diversity of bird population in Florida. Modeled after a similar program in Texas, the first section of Great Florida Birding Trail opened in 2000. Today the trail has grown to 2,000 miles in length with over 400 individual sites throughout the state. The trail is segmented into four sections: East: opened in 2...

Sarasota, Florida: Just outside of downtown Sarasota lies this small county park along the Philippi Creek. The urban oasis provides a refuge for people and wildlife looking to take a break from city life. The 22 acre park is operated by Sarasota County and offers many activities. The park features a playground, picnic pavilion, basketball courts, boat launch and nature trails just to name a few. The park is also a popular spot for bird watching. The mesic hammock habitat combined with the waters of the creek provide a habitat that supports many species of birds. During the spring months, the park is home to many migratory birds such as wrens, warblers, thrushes and more. They join the year round residents like herons, ibis, ducks and more who find the mix of wood and water a perfect home. Although the park is operated by Sarasota County Parks and Rec, the Sarasota Audubon Society helps oversee the operation of the park to ensure the habitat remains inviting to the birds. The...

Naples, Florida: Just a few miles east of I-75 in eastern Collier County lies a hidden gem on the edge of the Big Cypress Swamp. One of the last remaining strands of Bald and Pond Cypress in existence, the 10,000 acres of the Corkscrew Swamp are home to over 200 species of birds and wildlife. During the early 1900’s the Big Cypress Swamp was in its prime. The swamp stretched for over 5,000 square miles and was home to thick forests of cypress trees. The Bald Cypress were Florida’s version of the California Redwood, they grew to over 130 feet tall and towered over the swamp. Many species of wildlife resided within the canopy of the cypress, resulting in a very diverse population. By 1912, the National Audubon Society had wardens stationed within the Corkscrew Swamp to monitor the wildlife and most importantly protect the wading birds nests. During this time, it was common for a warden to record bird populations in the hundreds during a tour. The numbers continued to grow thanks the gre...

Sanibel, Florida: Thousands of native and migratory birds call the 6,400 acre wildlife refuge located on Sanibel Island their home. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge has been a well known spot for bird lovers, photographers and biologist to observe many species of birds that flock to this unique ecosystem each year. The refuge got started in 1945. Developers look to purchase the mangrove property in an attempt to develop it into a tourist hot spot similar to Miami Beach on the east coast. Knowing how environmentally important the land was to the ecosystem, political cartoonist Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling led an effort to protect the land. The successful effort led to an executive order by President Harry Truman that created the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge and spared the land of any development. Following the death of Darling in 1967, the refuge was renamed J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge” in his honor. The 6,400 acre refuge consists of several ecosyste...

Osprey, Florida: This thirty acre peninsula on the edge of Little Sarasota Bay has been home to humans for over 5,000 years. From early prehistoric natives in 3000 B.C. to the wealthy Palmer family in the 1900’s, much of their way of life has be preserved in this living museum. Through careful excavation of the middens on the property, it has been determined that life on the point dates back to around 3000 B.C. The site was occupied prehistoric natives from the Late Archaic period through the Late Woodland period. Excavations indicated that the prehistoric natives lived on the land until around AD 1100. The point remained vacant until 1867 when John Webb moved his family here from New York. Webb learned of the area from a Spanish trader he met in Key West. IN honor of the trader, Webb named the land Spanish Point. They began to grow citrus and built a packing house to shop the fruit to markets in Cedar Key and Key West. The Webb family marketed Spanish Point as a getaway from t...

Homosassa, Florida: In the midst of dense tropical foliage lies home to many of Florida’s residents. Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park provides a walk into the habitats of the animals that call Florida their home. The park is home to bobcats, panthers, bears, birds of prey, manatees and many more Florida natives. The vision of the park began in the early 1900’s when the train that traveled through Homosassa would stop at the springs. Guests would disembark the train and marvel that the clear waters and abundance of fish that called the springs home. In 1940, the site was purchased and operated as a petting zoo style attraction. In 1964, the land was bought by the Norris Development Company. Although the master plan of the company was to build a city here, the beginning of the project led to what is now present day Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. The project began with the dredging of the creek, which exhausted much of the money that was set aside for the project. Then on a trip ...

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. ...

Osprey, Florida: In a rapidly developing area of central Sarasota County lies a 1,400 acre wildlife habitat that welcomes of 130,000 visitors annually. Oscar Scherer State Park has been in operation since 1956 and is home to many of Florida native wildlife. In 1955, Elsa Scherer Burrows passed away and left the family’s 460 acre ranch along the South Creek to the state of Florida in the name of her father, Oscar Scherer. One year later the park opened to the public. The park expanded in 1991 due to an effort to protect the Florida Scrub-Jay by realtor and current Sarasota County commissioner Jon Thaxton. With the efforts of Thaxton and the Nature Conservancy, the park added 922 acres from Palmer Ranch and grew to 1,384 acres. Then in recognition of National Public Lands Day 2008, local developer Lee Wetherington donated 16 acres from the Willowbend subdivision to bring the park to its current day size of 1,400 acres. Oscar Scherer State Park consist of several Florida landscapes i...

Estero, Florida: In 1894, Cyrus Teed ventured into rural southern Florida to establish a “New Jerusalem”, a utopia for the followers of Koreshanity. The utopia became known as the Koreshan Unity and was a was a self preserving society until the early 1900’s. Teed was an eclectic physician who in 1869 suffered an electrical shock during an experiment which rendered him unconscious. While unconscious, Teed believed he had a divine inspiration and was the messiah of a new religious belief. He changed his name to Koresh which is Hebrew for Cyrus and began spreading the beliefs of Koreshanity. The beliefs of Koreshanity revolved around the core belief of Cellular Cosmogony. They believed the earth and universe were contained inside a sphere known as a cell. They spent much of their time doing science experiments trying to prove this theory. They also believed in reincarnation, immortality, alchemy, communism and celibacy. Teed began preaching his beliefs in New York. The followers ...