The Wandering Disciple

An elegant feature on the downtown Tampa riverfront, the historic Tampa Bay Hotel is a glimpse into the lifestyle of the rich & famous of an era long gone.  Built by Henry Plant in 1891, the Tampa Bay Hotel was built to provide an elegant vacation destination for the passengers of his rail line.  Today the building houses the Henry Plant Museum and the administration offices for the University of Tampa.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

Riley Unroe rounds second and digs for third during a Gulf Coast League game in 2013 during his first season of professional baseball.  Unroe was drafted by Rays in the second round of the 2013 draft out of Desert Ridge High School in Mesa, Arizona.  He is currently still in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, playing for Advanced-A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League.  (Photo: July 19, 2013)

The calm and tranquil waters of Clay Gully pass by the Clay Gully Picnic Area at Myakka River State Park.  Clay Gully is one of the many streams that flow into the Myakka River within the boundaries of Myakka River State Park.  (Photo: July 29, 2013)

The historic Cass Street Railroad Bridge sits skyward in downtown Tampa.  The bridge crosses the Hillsborough River, connect downtown Tampa with the rest of the city on the other side of the river.  The iconic bridge is a visual landmark of the waterfront skyline.  (Photo: July 27, 2013)

Thanks to a tropical disturbance off the coast of Florida, the usual tranquil Gulf of Mexico was turned into a surfer's paradise with waves around four feet.  While the tropical energy did not develop into a storm, it brought high waves and heavy rains to the Sunshine State and a reminder that we are heading into the peak of hurricane season.  (Photo: August 26, 2017)

A walk around Ybor City feels more like a stroll through Havana rather then Florida.  The Cuban influence in this part of the city is around every corner thanks to the immigrant cigar manufactures who came to the city in the late 1800's.  Today, you can learn more about this Cuban heritage at the Ybor City Museum State Park in the heart of Ybor City.  (Photo: July 11, 2013)

A short paddle through the scenic mangrove tunnel at Emerson Point opens up into the shallows of Tampa Bay.  The kayak tour here is one of the most scenic in the area, allowing kayakers of all experience levels to enjoy a day on the water.  (Photo: July 10, 2013)