Around the World in Pictures by Donten Photography

Photo of the Day: First Lady Obama's Visit to the Suncoast

2012-01-26T20:20:00.000-05:00

First Lady Michelle Obama made a stop on the Suncoast today for a Democratic fundraiser on the Sarasota Bayfront. Obama's SUV seen here was travelling through Sarasota on the way to the private residence on the bay. The Sarasota stop was the second of three Florida stops for the First Lady, sandwiched between Tampa in the morning and West Palm Beach in the afternoon. (Photo: January 26, 2012)

Photo of the Day: Wildcat

2012-01-25T19:56:00.000-05:00

The Wildcat is one of eleven roller coasters at Hersheypark in Central Pennsylvania. Located in the Midway America portion of the park, it was built based on the parks original rollercoast by the same name that was popular in the park from 1923-1945. The new Wildcat opened in 1996 and features an 85 foot drop that helps the coaster reach speeds of 50 miles per hour. (Photo: August 29, 2005)

Wal-Mart Corporate Jet

2012-01-24T20:14:00.001-05:00

A private jet owned by Wal-Mart departs Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. The corporate jet is a Learjet 45, a business jet manufactured by Bombardier Aerospace and costs around $11.5 million. (Photo: December 20, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Ellis Island

2012-01-23T16:00:00.000-05:00

Ellis Island was the gateway for many of immigrants who sought a new life in America. Opened in 1900, Ellis Island served as the entry point for over 12 million immigrants. (Photo: August 28, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Netherlands Inn and Spa

2012-01-22T16:00:00.000-05:00

Nestled in the heart of Amish Country, the Netherlands Inn and Spa is a quaint little hotel located in Strasburg. The rooms are furnished with handcrafted furniture, providing a local touch. (Photo: August 28, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Indianapolis Colts Gulfstream

2012-01-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay's private jet departs Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on Friday afternoon. The jet's visit to the Suncoast sparks interest amongst Colts fans as they are currently in the market for a new head coach.(Photo: January 20, 2012)

Photo of the Day: NYPD Museum

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-05:00

A retro NYPD blue patrol car sits outside the First Precinct in lower Manhattan. The historic first precinct is the home to the NYPD Museum. The museum houses over 160 years of police history within its walls. (Photo: August 27, 2005)

Photo of the Day: New York Brownstones

2012-01-19T19:33:00.000-05:00

A row of brownstone homes line a residential street in New York City. Brownstone is a sandstone that was popular building block in early NYC history. Many of the popular residential neighborhoods are lined with rows of brownstone homes. (Photo: August 28, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Incredible Hulk

2012-01-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

The big green Incredible Hulk towers over the entrance to Madame Tussauds NYC. The life-like wax figure is one of hundreds realistic figures located inside the Times Square museum. (Photo: August 25, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Jet Blue

2012-01-17T16:00:00.000-05:00

A Jet Blue Airbus departs from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Jet Blue operates a fleet of 169 aircraft comprised of Airbus A320 and Embraer 190. Each aircraft has a unique name and one of several distinct tail patterns. The jet seen here is named "Blues Just Want To Have Fun" and features the "Barcode" tail scheme. (Photo: December 13, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Martin Luther King Jr

2012-01-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

The nation takes time to honor Dr Martin Luther King Jr today. Dr King's impact on the civil rights movement, helped shape the country into equality. At Madame Tussauds DC, you can see a life-like wax statue of Dr. King in a re-creation of the famous "I Have A Dream" speech on the National Mall. (Photo: February 15, 2009)

Aircraft Photography

2012-01-16T11:00:00.000-05:00

As many of you that follow the site may have already noticed, there has been an increase in aircraft related photos on the website. This is response to my newest hobby, aircraft photography.

I was introduced to aircraft photography thanks to the excellent photos by a friend of mine, Craig Landefeld. (you can view his photos on his Facebook page “Gate to Gate”) Since then, I have been hooked.Aircraft photography is much different then my normal photos. It is challenging and the results are rewarding. I liken it to collecting baseball cards, while you know that what you have bought, you never know what’s inside the pack or what special edition card may be awaiting you inside the foil wrapper. Aircraft photography is the same way, the flight schedule may show an AirTran Boeing 717-200 landing at 10:00 but what you will not know is whether or not it will be a standard jet or a special livery jet such as the Ravens One. And don’t forget about the flights that don’t make the flight schedule such as military training missions by the US Coast Guard or US Air Force. Much like a collection of baseball cards, the gallery of aircraft photos take on a collection of their own as I try to get as many different airline, aircraft types and different liveries.

To showcase these photos, I will be posting an article and gallery for each airport I visit. I will also spotlight an aircraft photo each Tuesday as part of the Photo of the Day feature. Sometime in the future, I will do an article on my favorite spotting locations and show you where these photos have been taken.

I am still a beginner in the process, but I am enjoying it every step of the way. With each trip to the airport, I am getting better at it and the collection of photos continues to grow. The aircraft photography is just another chance for me to combine my love of photography with my fascination of flight.

You can click on the photo above to view my aircraft photo gallery.

Photo of the Day: Gulf Islands

2012-01-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

The Gulf Islands dot the coast as our flight to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport comes to an end. The turquoise waters of the gulf gave way to the beaches of the Suncoast. This photo was taken during the final moments of our flight into SRQ, on approach to Runway 14 from the northwest. (Photo: August 31, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department.

2012-01-14T15:55:00.000-05:00

The lime green trucks of the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department have been protected the Nokomis community since 1950. The volunteers of the department staff two fire stations 24/7 and provide fire suppression service and EMS assistance to the residents of Nokomis, Laurel, Osprey and Casey Key. The NVFD also operates a fire academy that not only trains their personnel but is a training ground for many of the firefighters that are with the surrounding fire departments. (Photo: September 24, 2005)

Photo of the Day: SheiKra

2012-01-13T17:08:00.000-05:00

Get ready to for the plunge as you take flight on SheiKra at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. Built to resemble a bird of prey stalking its victim, SheiKra feature a 90 degree 200-foot drop to get you started. (Photo: July 24, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Ferris Wheel at Cypress Gardens

2012-01-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

Soaring high in the sky, the ferris wheel offers riders a birds eye view of Cypress Gardens. Opened in 1936, Cypress Gardens was Florida's first theme park. The park served as both a botanical gardens and an adventure park. They were forced to close their gates in 2009. The park was later purchased and reopened as Legoland Florida in 2011. (Photo: July 4, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Tower of Terror

2012-01-11T18:12:00.001-05:00

Step into the Twilight Zone at Disney's Hollywood Studios. As you enter the lobby of the 1930's hotel, it doesn't take long to realize something has gone terribly wrong. The hotel's occupants mysteriously vanished. A bolt of lighting makes the room go dark, then a TV comes on and begins to tell the story of the eerie hotel. Hope aboard the only working elevator and hang on for the ride of your life. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror drops the elevator in random sequence down the thirteen story elevator shaft. The computer randomly generates the drop so no two rides are the same. (Photo: April 9, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Falcons One

2012-01-10T16:34:00.000-05:00

AirTran's Falcons One makes an arrival at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Falcons One is one of twelve special livery jets in the AirTran Fleet. (Photo: January 10, 2012)

Photo of the Day: Port Orleans French Quarter Pool

2012-01-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

Take a break from the heat in the sparkling waters for the poll at Disney’s Port Orleans-French Quarter resort. The pool features a sea serpent water slide and fountains to help keep you cool. (Photo: April 9, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Ravens One

2012-01-08T16:38:00.000-05:00

AirTran's "Ravens One" taxis for departure at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. "Ravens One" is one of several special edition paint schemes operated by AirTran to highlight the airline's partnerships. (Photo: January 6, 2012)

Photo of the Day: Giraffe at Animal Kingdom

2012-01-07T16:00:00.001-05:00

A giraffe stands tall on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The ride takes a group of riders into the safari where they can see African animals such as giraffes, antelopes, lions, elephants and more in a habitat that makes you feel like you are in the heart of an Africa. (April 9, 2005)

Epcot World Showcase – Morocco Pavilion

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Not a detail was spared in creating the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot’s World Showcase. One of the newer pavilions in the showcase, the culture of Morocco comes to life in Central Florida.

Opened in 1984, it was the first expansion country to the World Showcase. The pavilion is the only one to be sponsored by the representing country. King Hassan II even sent artists to Walt Disney World to assist in the design of the pavilion.

The pavilion is designed to resemble a typical Moroccan city. It features a Minaret, a replica of the Bab Boujeloud gate and many more native Moroccan structures.

If you are looking to try authentic Moroccan food, the following restaraunts are found in the Morocco Pavilion:

Restaurant Marrakesh is a full service restaurant feature typical Moroccan food and belly dancers for entertainment.
Tangerine Café is a counter service restaurant with Moroccan sandwiches and light fare.

The pavilion also features several shops that sell authentic Moroccan items. The shops include:

Casablanca Carpets: rugs
Jewels of the Sahara: jewelry
Medina Arts: ceramics
Souk-al-Magreb: cultural items.
Tangier Traders: jewelry and Moroccan clothing.
The Brass Bazaar: fountains, plates and other collectibles.

The Morocco Pavilion also features a few entertainment options as well. You can take a free 45 minute “Treasures of Morocco” tour, tour the Gallery of Arts and History, tour the Fez House or rock out to the sound of Mo’ Rockin. This is also a good place to meet Aladdin and Jasmine.

While the Morocco Pavilion does not feature a major ride attraction, it makes up the difference with the detailed cultural representation of Moroccan life.

Click on the photo above to view pictures of the Morocco pavilion.

Epcot Day Trip

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-05:00

Lake Buena Vista, Florida: Today we hitched a ride with my dad and sister to Walt Disney World. The two of them have gotten into the pin trading hobby and they were on their way to pick up a newly released Alice in Wonderland pin as well as to travel the park in search of pins to trade.

After checking the crowd calendar through Touring Plans, we decided on Epcot. They were forecasted to be the best park to visit with the lowest crowd level of all four parks. As we arrived on Disney property, we were greeted with thousands of people on the roads. There were people everywhere as far as the eye can see, so I was really starting to second guess the crowd forecast.

Turns out it is Disney Marathon weekend and this morning was the Half-Marathon. The thousands of people we saw were involved with the marathon and not going to the park. I was instantly relieved and as we pulled into the parking lot, it was surprisingly empty at the park. We arrived just 15 minutes before park opening and we secured a second row parking spot.

We entered the park and headed towards Test Track. But our journey was cut short by the marathon. The final leg of the marathon takes the runners through Epcot park and the runners had the right of way. So the park patrons were stuck in the middle of the park, waiting for breaks between the runners to be sent across the path and on to the attractions.

It took us about 15-20 minutes to finally get our chance to cross the path to continue our travels through the park. But once we did, we pretty much had the east side of Future World to ourselves. We took advantage of that to ride Test Track five times in a row before moving on.

We then ventured over to the other side of Future World. Because of the marathon, we had to take the long way around, accessing the west side of Future World through World Showcase rather then the direct route through the Innovations plaza.

We then headed over to the Seas pavilion to ride the Finding Nemo ride. We took advantage of the light crowd to ride Nemo. I really enjoy the aquarium and sea life of the pavilion, but the usually long lines are not worth the wait in my opinion. I liked the ride better when it was the Sea Base Alpha, the Nemo theme is quite tacky but the kids like it so it a win.

From there we headed over to the Land Pavilion. We skipped Soarin since its line had already reached 50 minutes. I like Soarin but my wife is afraid of heights so it’s not fair to her for use to wait that long for a ride she doesn’t like, I can do without it. We rode Living with the Land instead. The smell of the strawberries in the greenhouse made me hungry for strawberries.

We stopped for a snack at the snack cart outside the Imagination Pavilion. We all had soft pretzels for a snack. Soft is a relative term as they were anything but soft. I do not recommend getting a pretzel from here. It was not very good, save your snack for the funnel cake stand at the American Pavilion.

Then we headed into the Imagination Pavilion. We started by watching Captain EO. This was something we have skipped on previous trips, so we thought we might as well try it out today. It is an old attraction from the mid 80’s that has been reopened by Disney. It features Michael Jackson in a 3-D musical adventure. While it is quite outdated by today’s technology, it is amazing for its time. After Captain EO, we went downstairs to ride Journey into Imagination, the playful journey through the five senses with Figment.

It was then time to start our journey around the world through the World Showcase. We started in Mexico and worked our way around the lagoon. We made stops in Mexico to ride the Grand Fiesta Tour, in Norway to ride Maelstrom and in the American Pavilion to watch the American Adventure with various pin trading stops along the way.

Today we decided to stop and watch the American Adventure. It has been several years since we watched it. It’s not because it’s a bad show but I am more of a rides person and less of a show person. But the American Adventure is one of my favorites. It tells the story of our nation using Audio Animatronics to recreate vital parts of American History. It is a great show for history nerds like me.

The day quickly got away from us and we abandoned our original plan of park hopping to Hollywood Studios using the back entrance at the International Gateway. So instead we headed to the exit and quick ride of Spaceship Earth before we left the park. Once we left the park, we took a quick lap on the Monorail before hopping in the car to leave Disney.

Before hitting the highway, we stopped for dinner at Golden Corral. It has been a very long time since I have been at a Golden Corral. The food hit the spot and with very full stomachs, we embarked on the three hour ride home.Today turned out to be a great day for enjoying the parks.

The weather was perfect and the crowd wasn’t that bad. It started out rough with the marathon, however that wasn’t too bad. It sucked waiting to get across, but once we did we had that part of the park almost to ourselves for a while.

I am hoping to get back up to Disney again before our passes expire at the end of the month. I have not yet decided whether or not we will be renewing them. 2012 is going to be a big year for Walt Disney World with the opening of the first phase of the Fantasyland expansion along with the opening of the Art of Animation resort. So I am not totally sure if we will renew or change our passes out for Busch Gardens/Sea World or Universal Orlando for 2012.

Check out the slideshow below for photos from today’s trip.

Photo of the Day: Canada Pavilion

2012-01-06T16:00:00.001-05:00

The lush gardens of Canada have been dropped right into the heart of central Florida at the World Showcase Pavilion inside Epcot. The Canada Pavilion recreates many of Canada’s landmarks including the Rocky Mountains, Victoria Gardens, French Canadian shops, Hotel du Canada and more. (Photo: February 26, 2005)

Photo of the Day: All-Star Music Resort

2012-01-05T16:00:00.001-05:00

Generations of music come to life at Disney’s All-Star Music Resort. The value resort located in the Animal Kindomg section of Walt Disney World features larger then life icons representing different types of music. Pictured here is the Broadway portion of the resort. (Photo: February 25, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

2012-01-04T16:00:00.002-05:00

Hang on to your hats and glasses and hop aboard the train and embark on the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness. Big Thunder Mountain has been entertaining riders since 1980 as one of the Magic Kingdom’s three mountains. (Photo: February 6, 2005)

Photo of the Day: US Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry

2012-01-03T16:00:00.002-05:00

A Coast Guard HC-144 is performing training maneuvers at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. This HC-144 is based out of the US Coast Guard’s Miami Air Base. The HC-144 is a medium range aircraft used by the Coast Guard in search and rescue operations. (Photo: December 20, 2011)

Shuttle America

2012-01-03T12:09:00.000-05:00

Indianapolis Indiana: Shuttle American is a regional airline that serves as connection service for Delta and United Airlines. Based in Indianapolis, Shuttle America is part of the Republic Airways group.

The airline was founded in 1995 as a local carrier service, offering low cost flights between Hartford and Buffalo. The airline grew as a regional carrier, offering low rates to popular business destinations in the northeast. During this time, they were flying over 3,000 passengers a day without a major airline partnership.

Like most smaller airlines, Shuttle America fell into bankruptcy following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. After filing bankruptcy, they were purchased by Wexford Holdings. After the purchase by Wexford, Shuttle American began a codeshare agreement with US Airways and later United Airlines. Shuttle America was purchased again in 2005, this time by Republic Airways. They later began a codeshare partnership with Delta.

Today, Shuttle America remains a codeshare partner with United Airlines and Delta Airlines. They operate a fleet of 70 aircraft. The fleet is comprised of the Embraer 170 and 175 aircraft. These 70 aircraft provide service to over 40 destinations in the United States and Canada.

Shuttle America operates four hub airports. Under the United Airlines partnership, Shuttle America uses Washington-Dulles International Airport, Denver International Airport and Chicago-O’Hare International Airport as hubs. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the lone hub for the Delta Connections operations.

Click on the photo above to view pictures of Shuttle America aircraft.

Southwest Florida International Airport

2012-01-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Fort Myers, Florida: Just east of I-75 in Fort Myers is the gateway to Southwest Florida. Southwest Florida International Airport is a modern airport that welcomes over 7 ½ million travelers through its gates on a yearly basis. The airport accommodates over 200 flights a day through the United States, Canada, Demark and Germany.

The airport was designed by the Lee County Port Authority to help alleviate the traffic to nearby Page Field. Ground was broken on the new Regional Southwest Airport in 1980. The airport was completed in 1983 with Delta Air Lines operating the inaugural flight. The airport was later renamed to the current name of Southwest Florida International Airport in 1993.

By the end of the 1980’s, the airport had exceeded its designed capacity and needed to expand. The answer was the Midfield Terminal Complex. Completed in 2006, it allowed the airport to expand to 28 gates located amongst three concourses with the option to expand to 65 gates in the future. The expansion allows the airport to adequately serve its 7 ½ million annual passengers.

Southwest Florida International Airport is one of the busiest single runway airports in the country. They operate over 200 flights a day from just a single runway. Runway 6/24 us a 12,000 foot long asphalt runway. Much of the airports traffic is commercial while general aviation regularly uses nearby Page Field.

The airport is home to eighteen airlines. Together these airlines service over 40 non-stop destinations. As of January 2012, here are the airlines operating out of Southwest Florida International Airport and the destinations they serve:

Air Berlin (Düsseldorf)
Air Canada (Montréal, Toronto)
AirTran Airways (Atlanta, Baltimore, Bloomington-Normal, Boston, Buffalo, Canton-Akron, Chicago-Midway, Columbus, Flint, Grand Rapids, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Rochester, Washington DC-National)
American Airlines (Chicago-O’Hare, Dallas-Fort Worth)
American Eagle (Miami)
Cape Air (Key West)
ComeFly (Aalborg)
Continental Airlines (Cleveland, Houston-Intercontinental, New York-Newark)
Delta Air Line (Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit-Metro, Memphis, Minneapolis, Delta-LaGuardia)
Frontier Airlines (Denver, Kansas City, Milwaukee)
Jet Blue (Boston, Buffalo, New York-JFK, New York-Newark, White Plains)
Southwest Airlines (Baltimore, Chicago-Midway, Long Island-Islip, Nashville, Orlando, Philadelphia, St. Louis)
Spirit Airlines (Atlantic City, Chicago-O’Hare, Detroit-Metro)
Sun Country (Minneapolis )
United Airlines (Chicago-O’Hare)
USA 3000 Airlines (Chicago-O’Hare, Cincinnati, Cleveland, St. Louis)
US Airways (Charlotte, Philadelphia, Washington DC-National)
West Jet (Toronto)

In addition to the commercial passenger service, the airport also serves for cargo service through FedEx and UPS.

The Southwest Florida International Airport has won numerous awards over the past few years including being ranked the second airport in the nation with under 10 million annual passengers by JD Power. It has also been rated the commercial airport of the year by the Florida Department of Transportation.

With close proximity to beaches and attraction combined with the variety of airlines and destinations, it is easy to see why Southwest Florida International Airport is the airport of choice for more then 7 million passengers each year.

Click on the photo to view my Southwest Florida International Airport photo gallery.

Photo of the Day: Sarasota Sheriff’s Office

2012-01-02T16:00:00.002-05:00

A green and white patrol car patrols the streets, protecting and serving the citizens of Sarasota County. The Sarasota Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated Sarasota County. Their range of services include; patrol, K-9, traffic/DUI enforcement, Animal Services, Aviation, Marine Patrol, Bomb Squad, SWAT team and much more. (Photo: July 30, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Rhino at Busch Gardens

2012-01-01T16:00:00.001-05:00

A large rhino stands alongside the railroad tracks at Busch Gardens Tampa. The Serengeti Plain at Busch Gardens drops the wildlife of Africa right into the middle of the City of Tampa. Hop aboard the Serengeti Express for a trip into the plain and see rhinos, giraffes, zebras, gazelles and more. (Photo: January 2, 2005)

Photo of the Day: First Baptist Church Sarasota

2011-12-31T16:00:00.001-05:00

The large steeple of First Baptist Church rises high amongst the quaint shops of Main Street in downtown Sarasota. The congregation was founded in 1902 with the current church being built in 1920. (Photo: January 1, 2005)

Photo of the Day: Venice Little Theater

2011-12-30T16:00:00.001-05:00

Tucked away behind the shops of the island of Venice sits the Venice Little Theater. The community theater opened in 1950 and boasts a full schedule of shows that will entertain the whole family. (Photo: December 20, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Englewood Fire District

2011-12-29T16:00:00.001-05:00

Engine 71 of the Englewood Fire District is seen here on the scene of a vehicle fire in their district. The Englewood Fire District is a fire department on the west coast of Florida that serves south Sarasota and west Charlotte County. They provide fire suppression and first responder service out of six stations. (Photo: July 9, 2004)

Xtra Airways

2011-12-29T14:00:00.000-05:00

Boise, Idaho: For over twenty years, Xtra Airways has served its customers with both charter and commercial flight services. Their small fleet serves the Eastern and Central United States and goes “Beyond what is expected”.

The airline was founded in 1987 as Casino Express Airlines to provide charter service to the Nevada casinos. In 2005, the company changed names to their current name Xtra Airways following a partnership with XL Airways UK. That partnership continued until 2008 when XL UK ended operations. By then, Xtra was an independent airline and was able to continue operations unaffected.

The Xtra Airways headquarters is located in Boise, Idaho. They currently operate a fleet of four active aircraft and one seasonal aircraft. The four primary aircraft are Boeing 737-400 series. The seasonal aircraft is a Boeing 737-800 series. The aircraft are based at Charlotte County Airport, Myrtle Beach International Airport, Miami International Airport and San Antonio International Airport. These aircraft are available for charter service and operate commercial routes through a partnership with Direct Air.

Click on the photo above to view my Xtra Airways photo gallery.

Air Wisconsin Airlines Corporation

2011-12-29T09:58:00.000-05:00

Appleton, Wisconsin: Air Wisconsin is a regional airline that provides flight service for US Airways and ground services for United Express. They provide service to over six million passengers in seventy destinations throughout the United States and Canada.

Founded in 1965, Air Wisconsin is the pioneer in the regional airline service and code sharing. They first entered a code share agreement with United Airlines followed by mergers with Mississippi Valley Airlines in 1985 and Aspen Airways in 1991 to make them the largest regional airline in the United States. Today Air Wisconsin provides code share/flight services to US Airways while maintaining ground services for United Express at Dulles International Airport and 22 airports nationwide.

The Air Wisconsin fleet is comprised of 71 Canadair CRJ-200 jets flying under the US Airways Express brand. The CRJ-200 can accommodate 50 passengers. They fly to 70 destinations in North America with hubs based at Philadelphia International Airport and Reagan National Airport.

Click on the photo above to view my Air Wisconsin photo gallery.

Photo of the Day: Historic Sarasota High School

2011-12-28T16:00:00.001-05:00

Although classes are no longer held in the historic Sarasota High building, the history of the building lives on. Built in 1926, it is the oldest school building in Sarasota. Classes were held here until the late 1990’s. Today it is being renovated to house the Sarasota Museum of Art. (Photo: December 12, 2004)

Photo of the Day: 400th E-Jet

2011-12-27T16:00:00.001-05:00

The 400th E-Jet is seen on departure from Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Embraer rolled its historic 400th E-Jet off the assembly line in June of 2008. The E-175 ordered by Republic Airlines and flies as a US Airways Express partner. Republic Airlines features the largest fleet of E-Jets with 110 in their fleet alone. (Photo: December 20, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Sea Lion at Sea World Orlando

2011-12-26T16:00:00.001-05:00

A California Sea Lion sits on a rock at the Pacific Point Preserve portion of Sea World Orlando. Here guests can purchase fresh fish to feed the seals and sea lions in the exhibit. (Photo: August 28, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Christmas at Epcot

2011-12-25T16:00:00.001-05:00

A large Christmas Tree with larger then life presents sits on display at Epcot. Holidays at Epcot's World Showcase is a great place to see how each country celebrates the holidays. (Photo: November 17, 2007)

Photo of the Day: Christmas at Grace

2011-12-24T16:00:00.001-05:00

Grace Baptist Church in Sarasota presents Christmas at Grace, their dazzling display of over 1 million lights. Onlookers watch in amazement as the lights dance to classical Christmas Music. (Photo: December 13, 2011)

Vision Airlines

2011-12-23T21:20:00.003-05:00

Suwanee, Georgia: Vision Airlines is commercial/charter airline that operates primarily in the southern United States. Based out of Louisville International Airport, Vision services sixteen destinations in the United States and the Bahamas.

Vision Airlines was founded in 1994 and focused primarily on chartered flights and tours. They provided white water rafting and Grand Canyon charters as well as aerial tours of sites like the Hoover Dam and Monument Valley. In 2011, Vision expanded into the commercial market by adding commercial passenger routes in the Southern United States.

The Vision fleet is comprised sixteen active aircraft and ten reserve aircraft. The fleet includes a Boeing 737-300, two Boeing 737-400, two Boeing 767-200, eleven Dornier 228, four Dornier 328 and two Dornier 328JET. The Boeings are used for their commercial passenger service while the Dorniers are for their tour operations.

Vision’s only hub is located at Louisville International Airport. They also use Northwest Florida Regional Airport and Grand Bahama International Airport as focus cities. Their tour packages are based from North Las Vegas Airport.

Click on the photo above to view photos of Vision Airlines.

Photo of the Day: Fort Desoto Park

2011-12-23T16:00:00.002-05:00

Just a few canons remain of what was once a critical coastal fort in the Tampa Bay. Fort Desoto was positioned at the mouth of Tampa Bay and was an active post until closed by the military in 1922. Weather and neglect took a toll on much of the fort's structures although several canons and some of the battery walls still remain. Today there are historical markers that tell the story of the fort. In addition to the history of the fort, Fort Desoto Park boasts on of the nation's best beaches. (Photo: June 27, 2004)

Charlotte County Airport

2011-12-23T10:10:00.000-05:00

Punta Gorda, Florida: Located in Eastern Charlotte County, the Charlotte County Airport is the gateway to Charlotte County. The hometown airport is home primarily home to general aviation traffic but has seen a steady increase in commercial traffic over the past few years.

The airport operates three active runways. Runway 4/22 is the longest runway on the property and is used as the primary runway for commercial traffic. Runway 15/33 is the primary runway for general aviation. Runway 9/27 is the shortest runway at the airport. These three runways saw 74,854 flights in 2010 according to an FAA report.

The airport began its life in the 1940’s as the Punta Gorda Army Air Field. The base was home to a fleet of P-40 Warhawks, P-51 Mustangs and C-45 and C-47 transports. The base was a training center for combat field ops during World War II. During the height of its war efforts, over 1,000 soldiers were assigned to the base.

When the war was over, the military decommissioned the base and turned over the property and structures to Charlotte County. The airport was reverted to a general aviation facility and became under the control of the Charlotte County Airport Authority.

Several commercial flights started to call upon Charlotte County Airport in the late 2000’s. Skybus Airlines and DayJet provided flights to the airport in 2007. There airlines were later replaced with Direct Air and Allegiant Air in 2008. Vision Airlines joined the mix in 2011. Xtra Airways and Miami Air International have also started to fly into Charlotte County Airport.

The airport is also home to several aviation schools, an aircraft restoration company, a full-service restaurant, car rental agencies, a wing of the Civil Air Patrol and a full Industrial Park. The airport also hosts the Florida International Air Show, an annual air show featuring great aerial acts like the Blue Angels.

Click on the photo above for more pictures from the Charlotte County Airport.

Allegiant Air

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000-05:00

Las Vegas, Nevada: Connecting cities that do not have regular commercial service is a model that has proven successful for Allegiant Air. They help ease the commute by flying directly into popular warm weather destinations that are otherwise neglected by the larger airlines all without compromising the convenience of flying in a large jet.

Allegiant Air began offering flights in 1999. Their original operations were based in Fresno. The early years were rough for Allegiant as they were forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2000.

The bankruptcy forced Allegiant to change their business model to focus on providing service to smaller airports that were not served by large airlines. The change in focus combined with a contract to charter casino trips for Harrah’s led to Allegiant coming out of bankruptcy in 2002.

Since then, the airline has expanded considerably. They now have now expanded into seven base cities that provide service to 70 destinations in the United States. They also provide charter service into Canada and Mexico as well.

Allegiant has a fleet of 52 active aircraft. 51 of them are various models in the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series. The other aircraft is a Boeing 757-200.

The change in business model has proven extremely successful for Allegiant. They were one of only two domestic airlines to report a profit during the oil crisis of 2008. They have also been recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best Small Companies and by Fortune 100 as one of the fasted growing companies.

Click on the photo above for pictures of Allegiant Air.

Photo of the Day: Lorikeet

2011-12-22T16:00:00.001-05:00

A colorful Lorikeet sits on a branch inside the Lory Landing at Busch Gardens Tampa. Here you can enter the free flight aviary and feed the lorikeets with a cup of nectar. (Photo: June 27, 2004)

Mesa Airlines

2011-12-22T08:36:00.000-05:00

Phoenix, Arizona: Mesa Airlines is a regional airline that serves as a code share partner for US Airways Express and United Airlines Express while also operating go! Mokulele, an airline that services island hopping in Hawaii. The airline operates over 600 flights daily to 120 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Mesa Airlines was formed in 1982 as a scheduled service route between Farmington and Albuquerque. The airline grew through its first ten years, earning a code share agreement with Midwest Express and United Airlines while acquiring Aspen Airways and Air Midwest. The airline continued to grow throughout the 90’s with additional code share agreements with US Airways and America West while acquire additional airlines along the way.

Following 9/11, the airline restructured to adapt to the changing travel climate. They reduced budget by eliminating aircraft that were unprofitable and focusing more on code share agreements. This restructuring led to them earning the Regional Airline of the Year award by Air Transport World. They also began flying code share flights for Delta Airlines as well as successful inter-island Hawaii service known as go! Mokulele.

Mesa operates a fleet of 113 aircraft. The fleet includes Bombardier CRJ100/200, Bombardier CRJ700, Bombardier CRJ900 and Bombardier Dash 8-200. Together these aircraft provide over 600 flights a day, servicing 120 locations in North America. Their headquarters in located in Phoenix with hubs located at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Chicago-O’Hare International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport.

Click on the photo above to view my Mesa Airlines photo gallery.

Photo of the Day: Boca Grande Lighthouse

2011-12-21T16:00:00.001-05:00

The Boca Grande Lighthouse has been guiding ships into Charlotte Harbor since 1890. Located on the southern tip of Gasparilla Island, it is one of two lighthouse that help guide ships into the harbor. (Photo: June 26, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Delta Airlines MD-88

2011-12-20T16:00:00.001-05:00

Delta Flight 963 prepares for flight at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The McDonnell-Douglas MD-88 would deliver us home on the final leg of our 2004 Mid-Atlantic vacation. The MD-88 is Delta's primary jet for the Sarasota-Bradenton to Atlanta run. (Photo: May 1, 2004)

Sand Wars

2011-12-19T17:32:00.004-05:00

Sarasota, Florida: A production crew from the Travel Channel made a visit to the Word’s Best Beach, Siesta Beach, to film a new reality show. Sand Wars puts the creative skills of the competitors to the test as they race the clock and each other.

The pairs of sculptures do battle against their opponents as they race the clock to finish their masterpiece before time runs out. Once time has expired, the audience gets the opportunity to vote for their favorite. The team with the lowest number of votes is eliminated and has a front row seat while a Hollywood pyrotechnics team explodes their sculpture and reduces it to a pile of sand. Each round, the stakes get higher and the challenge gets tougher with the winner walking away with $10,000.

Sand Wars is scheduled to premier on the Travel Channel in 2012.

Click on the photo above to see pictures from the filming of Sand Wars.

Photo of the Day: Hershey's Chocolate Factory

2011-12-19T16:00:00.001-05:00

The home of the Great American Chocolate Bar, Hershey's Chocolate Factory has been producing that favorite candy bar since 1903. The factory located in the heart of downtown Hershey, fills the streets of downtown with the rich aroma of chocolate. Public tours of the factory are no longer offered but a trip to nearby Hershey's Chocolate World will give you an inside look at how that American favorite is made. (Photo: May 1, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Ocean City Boardwalk

2011-12-18T16:00:00.001-05:00

The Ocean City Boardwalk has been a vacation hot spot for over a hundred years. The concept of the Boardwalk began by hotel owners in 1902. They created wooden walkway for their guests. This temporary walkway was rolled up during high ride to keep from getting damaged. It was later replaced with a five block permanent boardwalk in 1910 which was later extended to the present 2 1/2 mile long boardwalk following storm in 1962. Today the boardwalk is home to storefronts, restaurants, carnival games, amusement rides and museums. The entertainment at the Boardwalk has led to it being a popular East Coast vacation spot. (Photo: April 30, 2004)

Photo of the Day: The Old Guard

2011-12-17T15:14:00.002-05:00

A member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment performs a wreath presentation ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. The regiment known as "The Old Guard" stands guard over the tomb 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of weather. Serving in the regiment is one of the highest honors in the Army, with only a handful of soldiers being awarded the Tomb of the Unknown Solder Guard Identification Badge. The badge is the second rarest award issued in the US Army. (Photo: April 29, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

2011-12-16T21:02:00.002-05:00

Built to honor the legacy of the United States longest serving president, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington DC pays tribute to one of the countries most influential leaders. The outdoor memorial features four outdoor rooms, one for each of the four terms Roosevelt spent as president. The memorial is filled with statues, waterfalls and quotes from the inspirational leader. (Photo: April 29, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Delaware Breakwater East End Light

2011-12-14T18:21:00.003-05:00

The Delaware Breakwater East End Light sits on a breakwater near Cape Henlopen, Delaware. It was constructed as part of a safe haven project initiated by President John Quincy Adams. The Atlantic Coast from Virginia to New Jersey provided no safe harbors for large ships during storms. So a breakwater was added to protect the Delaware Bay, giving the ships a harbor of refuge. The 49 foot lighthouse was built in 1884 to help guide ships to the safe waters of the Delaware Bay. (Photo: April 28, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Radio City Music Hall

2011-12-13T15:31:00.000-05:00

The Showplace of the Nation, Radio City Music Hall has entertained the world since its opening in 1932. Numerous concerts, movie premieres, award shows and even a basketball game have taken placed within the venue. One of the most notable residents continue to be the Rockettes, a holiday favorite since 1933. Radio City Music Hall was declared a NYC Landmark by the City of New York in 1978. (Photo: April 27, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Ships of the Jamestown Settlement

2011-12-12T17:32:00.003-05:00

The Susan Constant, Godspeed, and the Discovery are docked along the James River as part of the Jamestown Settlement historic park. These three ships are replicas of the three ships that help bring settlers to the new colony of Jamestown in the Virginia Colony. The Jamestown Settlement is a living history museum that tells the story of the settlement which includes a Powhatan Village and Fort James. (Photo: April 24, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Horse Drawn Carriage at Colonial Williamsburg

2011-12-11T19:20:00.002-05:00

Step back in time to the day when the British Crown was in control and a revolution was building. A trip to Colonial Williamsburg is like a time machine, transporting you back to the American Revolution. Travel the streets in a horse drawn carriage and envision what life was like during these times. (Photo: April 25, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Lancaster County

2011-12-10T19:04:00.002-05:00

The rolling farm fields of Lancaster County, heart of Amish Country. Here, the fertile fields stretch as far as the eye can see. Generations of farmers have made a living off farms like these by growing crops and raising livestock. (Photo: April 23, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Colts One by AirTran

2011-12-09T21:11:00.000-05:00

"Colts One" a Boeing 717 operated by AirTran is seen on arrival to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Dedicated in 2009, Colts One is one of several special edition paint schemes on AirTran aircraft. AirTran operates a fleet of 140 jets that service 70 destinations throughout the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. (Photo: December 9, 2011)

Photo of the Day: White Tail Deer

2011-12-08T20:36:00.003-05:00

A white tail deer looks up from the tall grass of the Pinelands Reserve. Pinelands Reserve is a 6,151 acres reserve in Central Sarasota County. The reserve was purchased as a buffer zone for the Central County landfill. Today the reserve is home to various species of wildlife including deer, tortoises, bald eagles, hawks and many more. (Photo: December 8, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Budweiser Clydesdale

2011-12-07T19:44:00.003-05:00

The Clydesdale has been the long standing image of Budweiser. Clydesdale are a breed of draught horses from Scotland. Budweiser first started using the Clydesdale following the Prohibition era and they quickly became the image of the company. The Clydesdale pictured here is one of the many that you can see at the Clydesdale Hamlet at Busch Gardens Tampa. (Photo: March 20, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Men in Black Aliens Attack

2011-12-06T19:34:00.005-05:00

Here come the Men in Black. Hop aboard your vehicle, grab your S4 Alienator guns and head to the streets of New York to shoot as many aliens as you can. Housed in a building designed to resemble the Expo at the World's Fair, The Men in Black: Aliens Attack ride opened at Universal Studios in 2000. The ride is based on the 1997 film Men in Black featuring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. (Photo: September 21, 2003)

Photo of the Day: Titanic the Experience

2011-12-05T19:03:00.002-05:00

The grandest ship of her time, the RMS Titanic was the largest and most luxurious ocean liner in the early 1900's. The Titanic set forth on her maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, 1912 with 2,240 passengers onboard. On the way to New York, the voyage took a tragic turn as the ship struck an iceberg and sank 400 miles south of Newfoundland. 1,514 people lost their lives that night due to the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. The photo here is a re-creation of a first class suite at Titanic The Experience in Orlando. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

Myakka Islands Point

2011-12-04T20:02:00.000-05:00

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 butterflies. We started the longer trail but turned around a few hundred yards into the hike as the mosquitoes became intolerable. We will return to finish the hike once the weather turns colder and kills off the remainder of the mosquitoes.

Click on the photo above to see pictures from our hike at Myakka Islands Point.

Photo of the Day: Planet Hollywood

2011-12-04T12:40:00.004-05:00

Straight from Hollywood, the shrimp boat named Jenny sits in a lagoon outside the Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney. Jenny was used during the filming of the Academy Award winning movie Forrest Gump. The 1994 movie staring Tom Hanks follows the life of Forrest Gump during the late 20th century. Today the shrimp boat used by Forrest is on display as one of the many movie props on display at Planet Hollywood. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

2011 Venice Christmas Boat Parade

2011-12-03T18:00:00.000-05:00

Venice, Florida: A crisp December night led the way to a great night of holiday festivities for the annual Venice Christmas Boat Parade. Thousands of spectators lined the banks of the waterway to watch the lighted boats travel the parade route.

The parade of boats begins at the southern end of Casey Key and travels south through the Intercoastal Waterway until reaching the Venice Airport.

Forty seven vessels participated in the 23rd annual event with awards given in five categories; Best in Show, Best Under 30’, Best 31’-39’, Best 40’ or larger and Best Commercial entry.

The Venice Christmas Boat Parade takes place annually on the first Saturday in December. The event got started in 1989 and has grown since. The proceeds from the parade go towards youth activities and scholarships.

Click on the photo above to see pictures from the 2011 Venice Christmas Boat Parade.

Photo of the Day: Universal Orlando

2011-12-03T14:35:00.002-05:00

Universal Orlando is an theme park resort in Central Florida. Opened in 1990, Universal Orlando has grown to two theme park, three resort hotels and an entertainment complex featuring shops, dining, clubs and a movie theater. The resorts hosts many special events and concerts through-out the year and is home to the Blue Man Group. Universal Orlando is the second largest theme park resort in Florida and the largest in the Universal family. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

Photo of the Day: Hard Rock Hotel

2011-12-02T19:54:00.003-05:00

Party like a rock star at the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal Orlando. Marvel at the rock and roll memorabilia that adorn the walls throughout the hotel. The sound of rock music can be heard throughout the hotel, even underwater in the swimming pool. (Photo: September 20, 2003)

Photo of the Day: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

2011-12-01T19:49:00.003-05:00

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Hop onboard a colorful fish and watch the storybook come to life. The ride at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando take the story to a whole to level as riders listen to the words of the song to avoid getting wet. (Photo: July 18, 2003)

Photo of the Day: Python

2011-11-29T18:26:00.003-05:00

The former Python roller coaster at Busch Gardens in Tampa was the first inversion coaster in Florida. The coaster featured two corkscrews and reached 50 miles per hour. It was built in 1976 and thrilled guests until it was closed in 2006 to make way for the Jungala expansion to Busch Gardens. (Photo: March 20, 2004)

Photo of the Day: Republic Airlines

2011-11-28T20:29:00.002-05:00

An Embraer 175 operated by Republic Airlines departs Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. Republic Airlines is a regional airline based out of Indianapolis that operates service for US Airways Express (pictured here) and Frontier Airlines. They operate a fleet of 85 aircraft that call upon almost a hundred airports in the United States and Canada. (November 21, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Little Blue Heron at Fort Mose State Park

2011-11-27T18:38:00.002-05:00

A little blue heron sits on the boardwalk at Fort Mose State Park. The park lies just north of downtown St. Augustine and features a 1/4 mile linear boardwalk trail. The 49 acre park is on the Great Florida Birding Trail and is home to resident and migratory birds. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church

2011-11-26T21:21:00.002-05:00

When railroad tycoon Henry Flagler lost his daughter Jennie Louise in 1889, he ordered a church be built in her honor. The Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church was constructed in less then one year. The magnificent church features marble floors and a colossal organ with pipes ranging from the size of a pinky to as large as two adult males. The church is now the final resting place for Flagler and his family. The Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church is included on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Model Land Company Historic District. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Bridge of Lions

2011-11-25T16:06:00.004-05:00

A giant marble lion statue stands guard at the base of the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida. The lions are copies of the Medici lions statues found in Florence, Italy. They were gifts to the city by Dr. Andrew Anderson. The Bridge of Lions was built in 1927 to link St. Augustine with Anastasia Island. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Photo of the Day: St. Augustine Lighthouse

2011-11-22T16:00:00.000-05:00

At 165 feet above sea level, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is the tallest structure in St. Augustine. Built in 1874, it was the second lighthouse in St. Augustine replacing the earlier structure that was threatened by erosion. The lens at the top of the lighthouse consist of 370 hand-cut prisms that work to sign a beacon of light over the Atlantic to help navigate ships through the seas. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Alcazar Hotel

2011-11-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

One of prestigious hotels of the Flagler era, the Alcazar hotel was one of the first poured concrete buildings in the city and home to the largest indoor swimming pool in the world. Built in 1887, it operated as a posh hotel until 1932. In 1946, publisher Otto Lightner purchased the building to house his various collections and in 1948 opened the Lightner Museum. The building is also home to the City of St. Augustine City Hall and is a popular site for weddings. (November 12, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Castillo de San Marcos

2011-11-20T16:00:00.001-05:00

Built by the Spanish in 1672, the Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. During its history, the fort operated under four separate commands; Spanish, British, United States and Confederate States. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Photo of the Day: City Gates

2011-11-19T16:00:00.000-05:00

From many years, these old City Gates were the only way to enter the walled city of St. Augustine. The gates worked in conjunction with a draw bridge to help secure the city. The bridge would open in the morning and close at sunset, leaving any deserted villagers to fend for themselves on the outside until sunrise the next day. (Photo: November 12, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Warden Castle

2011-11-18T16:00:00.000-05:00

Built in 1887 as a winter homer to William Warden, Warden Castle is the current home to Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. The castle was the private residence of the Warden’s through the 1930’s. In 1941 it was remodeled as a hotel and even had an apartment for writer Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. In 1950, the estate of Robert Ripley purchased the castle and opened the first Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Ancient City Baptist Church

2011-11-17T20:23:00.003-05:00

The Ancient City Baptist Church was constructed with the help of Henry Flagler. After Flagler helped to build the neighboring Methodist Church, the Baptists reached out to him to help build their church. Flagler agreed but under three conditions: 1) The congregation had to match his $10,000 funds. 2) The church had to be completed in two years. 3) They could build the largest bell tower it the city, but it could never house a bell. The congregation met all three of the conditions and the church was completed in 1895. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Ponce De Leon Hotel

2011-11-16T20:23:00.001-05:00

Built by Henry Flagler in 1885, the Ponce De Leon Hotel was a luxurious hotel in St. Augustine, Florida. The hotel hosted many famous guests throughout the years. The building would later be used as a World War II Training Center and became a part of Flagler College in 1968. (Photo: November 11, 2011)

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum

2011-11-13T09:00:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: A beacon of light on the rough seas of the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Augustine Lighthouse has helped ships navigate these waters for over 130 years. Over the years, the lighthouse has withstood wars, storms and tragedy while still shining its light on the horizon, guiding ships to safety.

Lighthouses in St. Augustine have been in existence way before today’s lighthouse was built. Early accounts show that there was a beacon of light to guide ships during the piracy days of the late 1500’s. The first formal reference to a lighthouse was during British occupation of the city in the late 1700’s.

The first lighthouse was built by the Spanish in 1737. Using coquina from a quarry on the island, they built a lighthouse tower. The tower served as the St. Augustine Lighthouse until it fell victim to the sea in 1880, crashing into the water.

The current lighthouse was built in 1874. At 165 feet in height, it was the largest structure in the region. Its first order Fresnel lens can be seen for over 20 miles. Until electricity reached the station in 1936, it was the job of the keeper to make sure the light remained lit via oil. The keeper kept a constant watch on the lighthouse until it became automated in 1955.

After the lighthouse became automated, the site slowly deteriorated. A fire severly damaged the keeper’s house and a vandal shot out 19 of the prisms of the lens. But a group of locals sought to restore the lighthouse to its original glory.

The efforts by the group has given us a wonderfully restored lighthouse and grounds which today operates as the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. Here you can take a self-guided 20 stop tour of the lighthouse, keeper’s house, museum and more. The tour includes a look back into the history of the tower, St. Augustine’s maritime history and much more. The highlight of the tour is the 219 step climb to the top of the tower and the sweeping views of the city from the observation deck.

The museum also hosts a paranormal tour of the facility in the evening. The Dark of the Moon tour takes guests into the lighthouse at night where you learn of the spirits that still roam the grounds. The lighthouse has appeared on the Sci-Fy TV show Ghosthunters in which they had several paranormal experiences during the filming of the show including a full body apparition.

They grounds of the museum is also home to a NOAA weather station and an archeological research program. The research program known as LAMP works to preserve the maritime history of St. Augustine through research and preservation. They have recovered artifacts from several shipwrecks off the coast of St. Augustine.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

You can tour the lighthouse daily from 9-6. They are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Admission is $9.50 for adults and $7.50 for children and seniors. The Dark of the Moon tour takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday for $25 an adult and $20 for a child with advance reservations required.

Click on the photo above to view pictures from the St. Augustine Lighthouse.

Day Three: St. Augustine Trip

2011-11-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: The sun rose over day three of our trip, our final day in St. Augustine. Since we had a long drive ahead of us and school/work in the morning, it will be a short day in the city.

We broke down camp, packed up the truck and explored the park a bit before heading out.

Our first stop of the day was at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. From there we climbed the 219 steps to the top of the lighthouse. We were rewarded with a spectacular view of the city and surrounding area from 165 feet in the air.

Once we returned back to the ground, we encountered some of the lighthouse’s famous ghostly appearances. We were the first customers allowed into the lighthouse. My son and I climbed to the top while my wife waited at the base. When we returned to the ground, there was a fresh (wet) shoeless footprint on the tile floor. Just one and so detailed you could see toes, heel and arch. However no-one was in the hall without shoes during the whole time and there was only one. My wife asked the guide if he had seen it or anything like it and he replied it was probably one of the ghosts because the lighthouse is haunted.

After photographing the mysterious footprint, we continued to explore the Keeper’s House where we had another encounter. While my wife and son were in the basement of the Keeper’s House, she heard footsteps creaking on the wood floor above her head. However, we were the only people in the building at the time and I was still on the metal spiral stair case with a clear view of the room above her and there was no one there.

The encounters were enough to spark further interest into the haunted history of St. Augustine so we purchased a few books to learn more about the stories.

When we completed the tour of the grounds, we headed over to the Bridge of Lions to take a walk over the historic bridge and view the city from the bridge. The waterfront of the city looked spectacular from the bridge.

Then we traveled through the city one last time before hitting the highway. But before we left, we stopped by the St. Augustine National Cemetery to pay our respects to the brave men and women who defended our country in honor of Veterans Day.

But then it was time to say good-bye to the Ancient City and hit the highway towards home.

The trip went by too quickly. We had a great time in St. Augustine. We managed to do a lot of stuff in a short time, but we haven’t even scratched the surface of what we would have liked to do. I can guarantee we will be back in the future.

Until then, my wife has plenty of ghost stories to get her ready for her next ghost hunting trip and I have over 1,000 photos to go through and post.

View the slideshow below for pictures from day three of our St. Augustine trip and be sure to check back later for more stories and photos from the trip.

Ripley’s Ghost Train Adventure

2011-11-12T20:00:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Take a trip into the darkness of the third most haunted city in the country onboard Ripley’s Ghost Train Adventure. Board the train and listen to the dark history of the oldest city in the county, while stopping to look for paranormal activity at three haunted locations.

The tour begins at the Warden Castle, home to Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum. Here you are issued an EMF detector and a disposable camera to use on your tour. After a brief introduction and lesson on your equipment, the group boards the train and its off to explore the city.

As you travel the city, the hosts tell you stories of the various haunted establishments in the city. From the ghost that charges the fences of the Tolomato Cemetery to the ghost of a little girl that is found near the city gates, these are just a few of the stories that St. Augustine has to offer.

The first stop of our tour was Castillo de San Marcos. From here, we split into two groups and explored the grounds of the fort. People have reported seeing ghosts of soldiers patrolling the fort, flashes of lights from muskets being fired and Chief Osceola still looking for his head.

Then it was off to the second stop of the tour, the Huguenot Cemetery. The cemetery was the public burying grounds for the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1821. Over 12 people were buried a day here during the height of the epidemic. With so many people dying a tragic death, it’s only appropriate that a few might still be lingering.

The final stop of the tour is the Warden Castle, one of the most haunted places in St. Augustine. Here you may encounter one of the 18 entities that haunt the castle. Hear the chilling details of two women that were murdered prior to a fire in 1944. Or meet the playful ghost with no eyes that likes to play with guests near the carnival exhibit. They are all here waiting for you to come and visit. The castle was intriguing enough to be investigated by the TAPS team during a past episode of Ghosthunters.

The award winning Ghost Train Adventure departs nightly on 90-minute tours of St. Augustine.

Click on the photo above to view photos from our Ghost Train Adventure.

Lightner Museum

2011-11-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: A collection of collections is the best way to describe the Lightner Museum in St. Augustine. On display here are various relics from the 19th century ranging from the usual sculptures and paintings to the unusual Egyptian mummy and shrunken head.

The items on display here are the personal collection of Otto Lightner, a publisher from Chicago. In 1946, he purchased the three story Alcazar Hotel building to house his collection of Victorian antiquities. He opened the musueum two years later and then donated it to the city of St. Augustine.

The tour of the museum begins on the first floor. Several collections line the halls that resemble a Victorian Village. Each storefront of the village leads the way to a new collection. As you finish seeing the collections from the village, it is one to the music room. The music room is filled with mechanical musical instruments from the 1870’s to the 1920’s. Rounding out the first floor is the popular Science and Industry Room. It is here where you will see stuffed game, shells and an Egyptian mummy.

The collection continues to the second floor where you will see various works of art. Here there are elegant cut glass and stained glass on display.

The remaining exhibits are located on the third floor. It is here where you can view priceless paintings and sculptures.

The museum is housed in the historic Alcazar Hotel building. Built in 1887 under the direction of railroad tycoon Henry Flagler, the Alcazar was one of the top hotels in the country. It featured the largest indoor swimming pool in the world. It closed for good in 1932. It was later purchased by Lightner in 1946. The building now houses the Lightner Museum and the St. Augustine City Hall. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

The Lightner Museum is opened daily from 9-5. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (12-18) and free for under 12. Discounts are available for groups, active military and college students.

Click on the photo above to view photos from the Lightner Museum.

Colonial Spanish Quarters

2011-11-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Nestled away on busy St. George Street is the Colonial Spanish Quarters. Here you can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and step back into the 1700’s with the help of historical interpreters. Behind the walls lies a village frozen in time just waiting for you to explore.

Inside the Spanish village, you get to experience what life was like in St. Augustine during the 1740’s. Look inside authentic Spanish homes, watch the blacksmith work in his shop or sit down at the Spanish pub for a conversation. It doesn’t take long to imagine what life was life for the Spanish inhabitants.

Unfortunately, the bad economy forced the City of St. Augustine to close Colonial Spanish Quarters in September of 2011. We did not have the opportunity to explore the village while it was in full operation. However, it was open during our visit to St. Augustine for the Colonial Market.

The Colonial Spanish Quarters is anticipated to remain closed until a private owner steps in to operate the museum.

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

2011-11-12T11:00:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Standing guard over St. Augustine for over 300 years, Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest fort in the United States. The fort has been home to four separate military occupations and now spends its days as a national monument.

When the Spaniards founded the city of St. Augustine in 1565, it quickly went to work building a series of wooden forts to protect the city. However, several pirate attacks demonstrated a weakness in the wooden forts and the Spanish Crown ordered the construction of a masonry fort.

Construction of the fort began in 1672 and lasted until 1695. It was constructed with a mixture of small shells and sand called coquina which was mined from nearby King’s Quarry located at present day Anastasia State Park. The coquina was strong enough to build a long-lasting fort while having enough absorption to allow cannon balls to stick in the wall rather then going straight through.

The fort saw its first battle in 1702 at the hands of English forces. They laid siege on the fort and the city only to have they efforts unsuccessful thanks in part to the strength of the coquina walls of the fort. For nearly two months, the English ships bombarded the fort with cannon fire but it had no effect. The English realized that they would not be able to penetrate the fort and later retreated to nearby Fort Caroline.

It would be nearly forty years before another attempt to take the fort. This time the British Navy entered into Matanzas Bay with a fleet of ships. Like the previous attempt, the cannons had no effect on the fort. But rather then retreat, the ships set up a blockade on the bay, preventing food and supplies from reaching the 1,600 Spaniards in refuge behind the walls of the fort. The tactic was successful; however the British fleet was low on their supplies so they retreated before taking over the fort or city.

Great Britain finally took possession of Castillo de San Marcos in 1763 following the Treaty of Paris. They renamed it Fort St. Mark. It was later used to house prisoners of war during the American Revolutionary War.

The fort later returned back to Spain following the Revolutionary War and Spanish troops returned to the fort. The fort remained in Spanish control until 1819 when Spanish Florida was turned of to the United States with the Adams-Onis Treaty.

The Americans took over the fort in 1819 and renamed it Fort Marion. It was further enhanced to become part of the American coastal defense system. The fort saw action during the Second Seminole War in 1837, mainly as a prison.

The fort changed hands once again in 1861 as Florida seceded from the Union. Confederate troops peacefully overtook the fort and used it to house the St. Augustine militia.

Union forces regained possession of the fort in 1862. Navy fleet entered the harbor to find that confederate forces had already retreated from the town. They were able to retake the fort without firing a shot.

The United States turned the fort back into a prison for Native Americans. It functioned in this capacity until 1900 when it was removed from active duty.

In 1924, it was declared a National Monument and was later turned over to the National Park Service. The fort reverted back to its original Spanish name Castillo de San Marcos and would later be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Today the 2 ½ acre park plays hosts to thousands of visitor’s each day. You can tour the fort on a self-guided tour or follow on of the many ranger guided tours. On select days, they demonstrate how the cannons were fired or witness a reenactment from certain eras of the forts history.

The park is currently operated by the National Park Service. Admission to the fort is $6 for adults and children 15 or under are free. NPS passes are accepted for admission to the fort. Limited parking is available on-site for $1.50 per hour or at the nearby city parking garage for $10 a day.

Click on the photo above for photos from Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum

2011-11-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Avast, me hearties! Climb aboard for a pirate adventure at the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum. Step back into the days when pirates ruled the seven seas and see learn a little about life as a pirate.

The journey begins in Port Royal. Take a walk down the streets in the heart of pirate county, browsing at the shops along the way. Here you can see some of the weapons, navigational aids, maps and even medical treatment that was available during the time of the pirates.

While in Port Royal, don’t forget to stop at Rogue’s Tavern. It is here where you can witness how pirates spent their free time; drinking, playing games and of course, fighting. This is also where you can learn about some of the most notorious pirates through interactive computers.

When you’re done playing around in the tavern, its time to hit the seas onboard the ship. The pirate ship is broken down into several interactive zones including the Main Deck, Gun Deck, Captain’s Cabin and Below Deck. There is plenty to see and do on the ship including hoisting the flags, steering the ship, firing a canon and much more.

The Captain’s Cabin has a few special treats. It is here where you can see an original Jolly Roger flag. It is one of only two remaining Jolly Roger flags in existence.

Below Ceck is also a treat not to be missed. Enter the room, if you dare, and immerse yourself in a 3-D audio adventure. But beware of Blackbeard, he just might be there waiting for you.

Once you have finished exploring the ship, its time to step off and learn about the risks that the pirates faced on the Execution Dock. Life as a pirate was very risky. Death was always around the corner whether from other pirates or soldiers on a bounty.

But if you were lucky enough to avoid capture or death, you were rewarded with the riches of treasure. On Shipwreck Island, you can see some of the riches that were awaiting the pirates. You can also view the only known treasure chest in the world, lift a gold bar and touch a 400 year old chest.

After you finish looking at the treasures of Shipwreck Island, the tour heads into the Hollywood Pirates exhibit. Here you can see pirate memorabilia from the silver screen. There are props from Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Goonies and more on display here.

The tour concludes with a stop in the gift shop where you can purchase all kinds of pirate souvenirs and gifts. And if you have the money, you can even purchase authentic treasure.

The museum was founded by Pat Croce in 2005 as the Pirate Soul Museum in Key West. The museum was later closed in August of 2010 to begin a relocation to the oldest city in America, St. Augustine.

Following the move, the museum was renamed the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum and reopened in December of 2010. The new 8,000 plus square foot facility on the St. Augustine bayfront is home to over 800 authentic artifacts.

The experience will continue to grow in the future as the collection of artifacts grows. Croce is currently heading an expedition that is looking to recover shipwrecks from Sir Francis Drake. Only time will tell what riches the expedition will bring, but when it does, you can bet it will be on display here with the other treasures on display.

Click on the photo above to view photos from the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum.

Fort Mose Historic State Park

2011-11-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

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 it being declared a National Historic Landmark and a listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today the park is operated by the Florida Park Service. Ranger guided tours are offered on Saturday mornings.

Click on the photo above for pictures of the Fort Mose Historic State Park.

Day Two: St. Augustine Trip

2011-11-12T00:01:00.006-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Well we made it through the cold night. The lowest I noticed the temp overnight was 40 degrees. That last minute stop at Wal-Mart to grab a heater paid off as it did the trick to keep the tent just warm enough to get through the night. Now if only I wouldn’t had forgotten the air mattresses.

The cold night rewarded us with a spectacular sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. We headed to the boardwalk overlook to watch the sun peak over the horizon and welcome us to a new day of adventures.

Today was going to be a busy day so we began by heading for breakfast. We decided to have breakfast at Wildflower Café on A1A in St. Augustine Beach. They were highly recommended locally so we gave them a try. It was a bit pricey for breakfast but the food was delicious. My wife had a ham and cheese omelet and my son and I had pancakes. The best part of the meal was the bacon, I could have eaten a lot more but we had a town to explore.

After breakfast we headed to Fort Mose Historic State Park on the north end of the city. The park has a short hiking trail and a visitor’s center that depicts the history of the fort. The fort no longer exists but was the site of the first settlement for freed Africans escaping slavery.

When we finished the trail, we headed back into the old city to board the Red Train and continue exploring the city.

Our first stop was Pat Croce’s Pirate Museum. The former owner of the Philadelphia 76ers turned his live long passion of pirates into a fantastic interactive museum along the waterfront. We got to learn about the history of pirates as well as take part in interactive activities such as firing a canon. We even got to touch a 400 year old treasure chest and life a bar of gold. Our son even participated in a treasure hunt during the tour. The highlight of the museum for me was the 3-D sound adventure.

From there, we crossed the street to visit Castillo de San Marcos. Admission to the fort was free for the weekend in honor of Veteran’s Day. The fort has stood in defense of the city since 1672. The fort was built from Coquina which was mined from our campground on Anastasia Island.

We then explored the city on foot for a while, visiting the historic Huguenot Cemetery before passing through the city gates for a stroll down St. George’s Street. We made a stop at the Colonial Spanish Quarter for their Colonial Market. Colonial interpreters performed their trades and sold goods during the day, transporting you back in time to the colonial days. Afterwards we continued our stroll down St. Georges Street before hopping on the train to head to our next attraction.

Our next stop was at the Lightner Museum. Not exactly my cup of tea, but it was interesting to say the least. It was a lot like a giant antique shop, a collection of just about anything. From dolls to china to large game animals, it could all be found here in the collection. There was even an Egyptian mummy. The coolest part of the museum to me was the architecture of the building. It was originally built as the Hotel Alcazar by Henry Flager. As you walk through the grounds and the collections, you can’t help but picture the hotel during its heyday.

We hit a snag on our afternoon after leaving the museum. For some reason, our Red Train never returned to the museum. We waited almost an hour for a train that was supposed to come by every 20 minutes. All while watching it drive by 3 times a block away.

So we decided to hit the town by foot again and head off to a late lunch/early dinner at the Colombia Restaurant. Its amazing how I live less then 30 miles from one in Sarasota but it wasn’t until I travelled over 300 miles to St. Augustine before we tried it. Like everything else in St. Augustine, the building itself was just as much of an attraction. My wife had a Cuban and I had the Shrimp and Rice. The food was delicious and was amazingly cheaper then breakfast. This was the best new restaurant I have tried in a long time, will definitely be back again in the future.

Once we finished eating we walked back to the truck and headed back to the campground to take a break before our ghost tour later in the evening.

We arrived back at Ripley’s Museum for our 8 pm ghost tour and checked in at the desk. We were issued a K-2 meter and a disposable camera, tools for our tour. While we waited, we browsed the photos taken during past tours.

St. Augustine is the third haunted city in America, we were bound to find something. While sitting waiting for the tour to start, the K-2 meter already started jumping so we figured it was going to be a good night.

We were introduced to our hosts and off we went, riding the black train into the dark. We travelled the dark streets of the ancient city, listening to stories of its haunted past while making three stops along the way at Castillo de San Marcos, Huguenot Cemetery and Castle Warden. While the K-2 meter did not act up at all the remainder of the tour, we did catch plenty of orbs on the camera, including some that appeared to move from one frame to another on the camera or disappear altogether.

When the Ghost Train Adventure concluded, we hit the city by foot to do a little more ghost hunting of our own.

Afterwards it was back to the campground to end another great day. When we returned to the campground, we were welcomed by the sound of the John Fogerty concert going on at the St. Augustine Ampitheater. Tomorrow we will tear down camp, visit a few more things before hitting the road for home mid-day.

Check out the slideshow below for pictures from day two and check back later for more photos and stories from the trip.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

2011-11-11T13:40:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Creepy but interesting is the best way to describe the collections found at Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum in downtown St. Augustine. Within the walls of the castle is the rare collection consisting of a shrunken head, trophy mask, mummified cat and many more unusual specimens.

The items are part of the personal collection of cartoonist Robert Ripley. His collection was first seen by the public during the Chicago World’s Fair of 1933. Afterwards, his collection traveled the country for fairs throughout the country. Following his death, the first permanent museum opened in St. Augustine in 1950. The St. Augustine museum is the oldest of the Ripley franchise which has now grown to over 30 museums worldwide.

The exhibits are located on three floors of the castle. As you travel room to room, you will see over 800 exhibits on display. A few of the popular ones include a shrunken head, Egyptian Mummified Cat, Pirates, Peel Car, Largest Erector Set, Odd Animals including a two headed rabbit, Odd People like the world’s tallest, largest, skinniest and much more await you at the museum.

The museum is housed in the historic Warden Castle. The castle itself has an extensive history and is just as much of an attraction as the museum. Built in 1887 at the winter residence of William Warden, it was later turned into a hotel in 1941 and then became the Ripley’s museum in 1950.

In addition to the museum, Ripley’s also operates a sightseeing train and Ghost Train Adventure in St. Augustine.

Click on the photo above to view photos from the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum.

Ripley’s Sightseeing Trains

2011-11-11T12:00:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: All aboard!!! Hop aboard the red train for an entertaining tour of the nation’s oldest city. Ripley’s Sightseeing Train is your ticket to the history that awaits you in St. Augustine.

Established in 1953, the red train is the oldest motorized tour in the city. They operate a continuous loop tour through the ancient city, making a total of 24 stops all with unlimited off/on privileges. Trains run every 20 minutes, allowing you to hop off and enjoy the sites without having to worry about how you will get to your next attraction.

Here are the stops on the tour as well as some of the nearby major attractions:

Stop One (Old Sugar Mill): Old Sugar Mill
Stop Two (Welcome Center Train Station): Old Jail, Oldest Store Museum, Antique Carousel and Public Library
Stop Three (Parking Garage and Visitor’s Center): St. Augustine Visitor’s Information Center and Playground.
Stop Four (City Gates Train Station): Old Drug Store, Huguenot Cemetery and Tolomato Cemetery.
Stop Five (St. George Street): Oldest Wooden School House, City Gates and hundreds of shops.
Stop Six (Colonial Spanish Quarter): Colonial Spanish Quarter and St. Augustine Pirate Museum.
Stop Seven (Middle of St. George Street): shops and restaurants.
Stop Eight (Flagler Church): Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church, Grace United Methodist Church and Ancient City Baptist Church.
Stop Nine (San Sebastian Winery): San Sebastian Winery tours.
Stop Ten (Whetstone Chocolate Factory): Whetstone factory tours.
Stop Eleven (Villa Zorayda): Villa Zorayda and Flagler College.
Stop Twelve (Lightner Museum): Lightner Museum, City Hall, Flagler College and Casa Monica.
Stop Thirteen (Dow Museum): Dow Museum of Historic Homes.
Stop Fourteen (City Plaza): Government House, Potter’s Wax Museum, Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine and Trinity Parish.
Stop Fifteen (Spanish Military Hospital): Spanish Military Hospital Museum, Ximinex-Fatio House, Father Miguel O’Reilly Museum and Convent and Historic Aviles Street shops.
Stop Sixteen (Oldest House): Oldest House Museum, Old St. Francis Barracks and St. Augustine National Cemetery.
Stop Seventeen (City Marina): harbor tours, Bayfront Mini-Golf and Anastasia Island shuttles.
Stop Eighteen (Castillo de San Marcos): Castillo De San Marcos National Monument.
Stop Nineteen (Ripley’s): Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum.
Stop Twenty (Mission Nombres de Dios): Great Cross of St. Augustine and Mission church.
Stop Twenty-One (Old Senator): Old Senator live oak tree and Magnolia Avenue.
Stop Twenty-Two (Fountain of Youth): Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
Stop Twenty-Three (Old Jail): Old Jail and Oldest Store Museum.
Stop Twenty-Four (Fort Menendez): Fort Menendez at Old Florida Museum.

In addition to the daily sightseeing tours, they also offer specialty tours. These include a black history tour, a Christmas lights tour and the popular Ghost Train Adventure.

Click on the photo above to catch a sample of what you will see onboard the Ripley’s Sightseeing Train.

Anastasia State Park

2011-11-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

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 in downtown St. Augustine. The quarry has since been placed on the National Register of Historic Places in an effort to preserve the history of the quarry and its impact in the early construction of St. Augustine.

The park is operated by the Florida Park Service. It is also designated as a member of the Great Florida Birding Trail and the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail.

Anastasia State Park is located along A1A on Anastasia Island. It is within eyesight of the St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine Alligator Farm and the St. Augustine Amphitheater. It is also just a short drive from all the attractions and history of downtown St. Augustine making it a great camping destination for your next ancient city vacation.

Click on the photo above for pictures from Anastasia State Park.

Ocala National Forest

2011-11-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

Ocala, Florida: At 607 square miles, the Ocala National Forest is the second largest national forest in Florida. Millions of visitors visit the forest each year to enjoy the great outdoors within the forest.

The forest was established in 1908 making it one of the first National Forests east of the Mississippi River.

Stretched out amongst four counties, the forest encompasses 383,000 acres containing over 600 bodies of water. It is home to plenty of wildlife including black bears, alligators, deer foxes and many other animals.

The park is a popular place for hiking, camping, off-roading or just traveling the scenic roads and taking in the beauty of the wilderness. There is a collection of visitor’s center, recreation areas and trails to help visitors enjoy the forest. A few of the popular ones include:

Alexander Springs: first magnitude spring.
Florida Black Bear Scenic Byway: 60 miles of scenic roads.
Juniper Run: top 25 canoe trail.
Juniper Springs: one of the oldest recreation areas featuring camping and hiking.
Lake Delancy West: OHV recreation area.
Lake Dorr Recreation Area: boating and camping area.
Silver Glen Springs: important archaeological site.
Salt Springs: popular spring.
Yearling Trail: used for the filming of the Yearling movie based on the book by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings.

In addition to the public uses of the forest, there is also a portion of the forest that is used as a bombing range for the US Navy. The Pinecastle Bombing Range is a 5,000 acre portion park in which the Navy almost 20,000 bombs each year as training exercises.

The Ocala National Forest is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. Usage fees vary depending upon activities.

Click on the photo above for pictures from the Ocala National Forest.

Day One: St Augustine Trip

2011-11-11T00:01:00.004-05:00

St. Augustine, Florida: Today we embarked on a weekend trip to the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine, Florida for a camping adventure at Anastasia State Park.

We decided to go off the beaten track for our trip. Instead of taking the I-74/I-4/I-95 track that was recommended, we opted to go through Ocala National Forest.

A short drive through the National Forest made it feel like we were no longer in Florida. Rolling hills, trees with fall colors and the brisk cool breeze from the recent cold front made it feel like we were in Tennessee rather then the Florida peninsula. We did not stop within the forest, but it is definitely a place I wouldn't mind visiting in the future.

Once we left the forest, we travelled through the town of Palatka. What a neat little town. The brick buildings and break streets felt like the city was frozen in time in the 50's.

Not much longer and we arrived at our destination, Anastasia State Park. We checked into the campground and began setting up camp.

Once our campsite was set up, we drove into town to begin exploring the city. We drove into town via the Bridge of Lions. The view of the old city was amazing coming over the bridge.

Our first stop inside the city was Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum to board the Red Train. The Red Train will be our tour and transportation throughout the city for the next three days. We took one lap around the city, learning about the city and more importantly, learning where things are for when we tour the city in depth tomorrow.

Once we completed the complete tour, we toured the Ripley's museum. The three story museum housed in an historic mansion contains exhibits of oddity. From two headed sheep to the tallest man in history, it is all here to enjoy.

After we finished the museum, we headed to dinner. We decided to eat at the King's Head British Pub on the north side of town. The pub was about as authentic as you could get without going across the pond. We all add fish and chips which was very good and filling.

From that point, it was back to the campground to sit by the fire. What a mess that turned out to be. The damp firewood combined with the cold wind off the Atlantic lead to no fire. So we headed into the tent, broke out the portable DVD player and watched Shrek instead.

The night is setting out to be an adventure. No fire, the temps have already dropped into the forty's and we are tent camping. But thanks to portable heaters and warm sleeping bags, it feels quite cozy right now.

So with the soothing sounds of the waves crashing on the Atlantic in the background, it's time to crash and get ready for a fun day tomorrow. More touring, pirate museum and much more in store for tomorrow.

View the slideshow below for photos from day one of the trip and be sure to check back later for more photos and stories from the trip.

MacDill Air Fest 2011

2011-11-08T20:08:00.002-05:00

Tampa, Florida: Thousands of spectators flocked to MacDill Air Base to catch a glimpse of military aircraft during the annual MacDill Air Fest. The two day event featured plenty of excitement in the air as well as large then life static displays on the ground.

The event kicked off with gates opening at 8 and a crowd of people making their way through the gates to begin enjoying the festivities. On the tarmac of the base were several planes to view. Visitors got the opportunity to climb aboard many of the large Air Force planes as well as get a closer look at a variety of different planes. The ground display included the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10A Extender, DC-3, C-17 Globemaster, B-52 Stratofortress, T-1 Jayhawk, TC-135 Stratolifter. F-18 as well as many more aircraft.

Then the festivities took the sky with the US Special Operations Command skydiving in with the American Flag during the national anthem. They were followed by the static line jumpers and a KC-135 fly-by before the rest of the aerial activities begun.

Following a brief delay for birds in the air field, the rapid succession of aerial acts began. Plane and plane wowed the crowd. The plans that took center stage overhead included the DC-3, B-25 Mitchell, OV-1 Mohawk, Ed Hamil’s stunt plane, T-28 Trojan, P-51 Mustang, F-15E Strike Eagle, Otto the Helicopter and a fly-by from a B-1 Lancer. The grand finale of the show was a performance by the US Air Force Thunderbirds.

In addition to the action in the air, there were plenty of vendor tents and interactive displays scattered throughout the tarmac and in the hangars.

The event was hosted by the 6th Air Mobility Wing at MacDill Air Force Base. The base is home to the 6th Air Mobility Wing, the 927th Air Refueling Wing, United States Central Command, United States Special Operations Command and a unit of the United States Africa Command. The base was opened in 1941 and has over 15,000 military personnel assigned to the base.

Click on the photo above for pictures from MacDill Air Fest 2011.

Photo of the Day: C-5 Galaxy

2011-11-08T19:33:00.002-05:00

The massive C-5 Galaxy sits on display at the 2011 MacDill Air Fest. At 247 feet in length, the Galaxy is the largest cargo plane in the Air Force fleet. The Galaxy is designed to deliver supplies and equipment to support the military's missions throughout the globe. Because of its massive cargo bay, it can carry up to six Apache helicopters or five Bradley tanks (Photo: November 6, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Flagship Detroit DC-3

2011-11-07T20:16:00.003-05:00

The Flagship Detroit DC-3 sits on the tarmac at MacDill Air Force Base during the 2011 MacDill Air Fest. The Flagship Detroit DC-3 was built for American Airlines in 1937 and was the 21st DC-3 in the American Airline's fleet. It operated as a passenger plane for 10 years before being sold. The plane was later restored to her original glory and is now the oldest flying DC-3 in operation. Check back soon for more pictures of the Flagship Detroit DC-3 and the rest of the planes from the air fest. (Photo: November 6, 2011)

Photo of the Day: Heritage Flight

2011-11-06T20:03:00.003-05:00

Past and present fighter jets fly side by side for a Heritage Flight during the 2011 MacDill Air Fest at Mac Dill Air Force Base in Tampa. Here the P-51 Mustang and the F-15E Strike Eagle fly in tandem to honor the men and women who have served in the US Air Force. Heritage Flight began in 1997 and performs 40-60 flights a year. Check back later for more photos from the 2011 MacDill Air Fest. (Photo: November 6, 2011)