The Wandering Disciple

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 ...

Located near the headquarters of the Florida National Guard, the St Augustine National Cemetery is the final resting place for 2,788 fallen heroes. The first interment took place in 1828 as it served as the post cemetery for St. Francis Barracks. Over 1,400 soldiers from the Seminole Wars are buried in a mass grave marked by three pyramids. The cemetery became a National Cemetery in 1881. The superintendent lodge pictured here was added to the St Augustine National Cemetery in 1938. (Photo: November 13, 2011)

This mysterious foot print appeared out of nowhere during our visit to the St Augustine Lighthouse. We arrived at the lighthouse before they opened and were the first ones on the grounds and up the tower, right behind the staffer who was opening the tower. My wife who is afraid of heights, chose to wait at the bottom and not climb the tower. My son and I went up the tower and when we returned, my wife quickly pointed out this footprint that appeared in front of her. There was no one else around and the three of us and the staffer were all wearing hard shoes. As you can see, this is clearly a barefoot footprint and the only one in the hallway. The St Augustine Lighthouse is considered haunted and has appeared on an episode of Ghosthunters. (Photo: November 13, 2011)

The statue of Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles sits in the courtyard of the Lightner Museum. The Lightner Museum is housed in the historic Hotel Alcazar and features the collections of Otto Lightner. (Photo: November 12, 2012)