The Wandering Disciple

Just like the childhood fable, an Aldabra Tortoise crawls slowly across its enclosure. These massive turtles move at a speed of just 0.3 miles per hour in comparison to a human's average speed of 2.8 miles per hour.  Aldabra Tortoises are found in the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. They are the second largest tortoise in the world behind the Galapagos. Aldabras can reach up to 550 pounds in the wild.  Taken: November 12, 2005 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL)

Just steps from the inner harbor in downtown Baltimore is M&T Bank Stadium. On Sunday's during football season, thousands of fans pack the stadium filling the seats with purple and black as they cheer on the home town Baltimore Ravens.  Located at Camden Yards with neighboring Oriole Park, M&T Bank Stadium was opened in 1998. The stadium can hold over 70,000 fans for football games. It is home to the Ravens of the NFL and the Baltimore Bayhawks Major League Lacrosse team.  Taken: August 31, 2005 at M&T Bank Stadium at Camden Yards (Baltimore, MD)

A replica of the iconic Hershey Chocolate factory smoke stacks welcomes you to Hershey's Chocolate World. When you pass through these doors, you enter the sweet world of the Hershey's company and get a behind the scenes look at how your favorite candy is made.  Opened in 1973, Hershey's Chocolate World took the place of the over capacity factory tours. Here visitors hopped aboard the chocolate tour ride and get an inside look of the process from the cocoa bean trees of the tropics to final production line with each ride ending with a sample of a Hershey's candy. The popular attraction also features a themed gift store, candy store and much more.  Taken: August 29, 2005 at Hershey's Chocolate World (Hershey, PA)

Bowling Green, Kentucky: Aviation Heritage Park offers a captivating journey through time, showcasing iconic aircraft that have profoundly shaped aviation history. This unique park serves as a profound tribute to the ingenuity, bravery, and sacrifice of those who pushed the boundaries of flight, providing visitors with an immersive experience that blends education, history, and a touch of nostalgia. It stands as a testament to the enduring human fascination with flight and the remarkable achievements of aviation pioneers. The park's existence is largely attributed to the vision of Brigadier General Dan Cherry. During a visit to the National Museum of the Air Force, Cherry and a few friends discovered that the very F-4 Phantom II fighter jet he flew in Vietnam was on display at a heritage park in Ohio. This discovery sparked an idea: to bring a piece of aviation history, specifically an aircraft with a direct connection to a local hero, to Bowling Green. This initial concept rapidly...

Hodgenville, Kentucky: Rural Kentucky, a landscape characterized by its picturesque rolling farmlands, holds a profound place in American history. It is here, amidst this pastoral beauty, that Abraham Lincoln, the nation's 16th president, was born. Lincoln spent his formative years in this region before his family's eventual relocation to Indiana.  Today, the significant birth history of President Lincoln is meticulously preserved and honored as part of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park. This vital national park is uniquely structured into two distinct sites, each offering a glimpse into different phases of Lincoln's early life. The first is the Birthplace Unit, which commemorates the actual site of Lincoln's birth. The second is the Boyhood Unit, which focuses on the environment and experiences of his childhood, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of the influences that shaped this monumental figure in American history.  The primary fo...

  Located on Sarasota Bay, the grounds of the Ringling were once the premiere entertaining spot for the wealthy guests of circus magnate John Ringling.  Today this luxurious resort is home to the Ringling museum which preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling here on the Suncoast. Today the Ringling winter estate is operated by Florida State University and its mission is to tell the story of the Ringling's from their winter home.  It is home to the Ringling Museum of Art, the Ringling Circus Museum and the Ringling mansion named Ca' da' Zan which means House of John.  Connecting each of these museums is lush gardens with colorful flowers and majestic statuary.   Taken: June 14, 2009 at The Ringling (Sarasota, FL)

The Phoenix spins its riders upside down at in the Florida sunshine at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Located in the Pantopia portion of the park, the Phoenix is a based on an Egyptian cargo vessel and spins back and forth until making a complete 360 degree rotation. Currently the ride is out of service until further notice and its future is not clear.  Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a theme park in Tampa, Florida that is part of the Sea World parks system. It features 28 rides and 200 species of animals within 335 acre African themed park.  Taken: May 31, 2009 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay (Tampa, FL)