R.J.'s Travels

R.J.'s Travels Come with me as I share my adventures with you! You never know what you'll find off the beaten path.

Dylan and I made some wild new friends over the weekend. I can't wait to share our Memorial Day adventures with y'all so...
05/25/2026

Dylan and I made some wild new friends over the weekend. I can't wait to share our Memorial Day adventures with y'all soon! Happy Travels, y'all!

Castle Otttis is a unique work of art that can be found along Vilano Beach. It is a landscape sculpture based on old Iri...
05/15/2026

Castle Otttis is a unique work of art that can be found along Vilano Beach. It is a landscape sculpture based on old Irish abbeys. Castle Otttis was built from 1984-1988 by Otttis Sadler and Rusty Ickes. The sculpture was designed as a spiritual tribute and this can be seen in the interior of the castle. With winding staircases, an altar, a pulpit, a bishop's chair, pews, and a meditation room, the castle held nondenominational Christian services for a time. Tours of the castle are by appointment only. My best friend and I were excited to explore this masterpiece. We spent the day in St. Augustine and eagerly awaited our tour of this remarkable artistic installation. I felt like I was transported to another time and another place. I hope y'all enjoy this peek at a truly one of a kind creation. Happy Travels, y'all!

Last Saturday's Floridiana Festival was spectacular! Thank you so much to and for hosting this wonderful event! Thank ...
05/13/2026

Last Saturday's Floridiana Festival was spectacular! Thank you so much to and for hosting this wonderful event! Thank you to everyone who took part and who came out! Family and friends old and new! It was wonderful to meet so many people who share a love of our state's wonders! To everyone who brought home a book, postcard, or print, I hope you enjoy and I hope it captures the spirit of exploration and conservation. And to all the amazing people who took part ! My heart is full! I can't wait to see y'all again out there! And to everyone who just started following me along on my travels, thank you so much. I hope y'all enjoy. Happy Travels, y'all!

Come see me at ! We are celebrating the 2026 Floridiana Festival with ! I have postcards, prints, and copies of Authenti...
05/09/2026

Come see me at ! We are celebrating the 2026 Floridiana Festival with ! I have postcards, prints, and copies of Authentic Reflections of Old Florida availablefor a last minute Mother's Day gift or a gift for yourself (you deserve it) . We will be here from 12-6pm. Bring your family and friends, check out local vendors and non profits, and have a great time! Happy Travels, y'all!

As the drought in Florida continues, the Santa Fe River is now low enough to reveal one of the last remnants of the ghos...
05/05/2026

As the drought in Florida continues, the Santa Fe River is now low enough to reveal one of the last remnants of the ghost town of Leno. O'Leno State Park was once the site of the town Keno. Settled in the 1860s, it was named after a gambling game, but was renamed Leno in 1876 order to qualify for a post office. The town operated near the Santa Fe River and had a couple of mills, a cotton gin, a hotel, and a few stores. After railroads bypassed the town, it faded away in the 1890s. The area became a popular spot for riverside picnics before being developed as one of Florida's first State Parks by the CCC in the 1930s. What you see here are the remnants of one of the river mill's dams. I briefly mentioned this back in January, but after recently seeing so many people talk about it, I had to go back and see what it looked like now. I hiked in my work clothes and managed to snap these shots of the mill ruins and the park. This is a rare chance to see a typically obscured piece of Old Florida history. Whilst it is a sight to behold, I hope and pray that we receive more rain and that this drought will end. Our already vulnerable rivers, springs, wetlands, and more so desperately need it. Happy Travels, y'all!

When I hear Old Florida, I think of the untouched natural beauty of the Sunshine State. A vibrant array of many differen...
04/28/2026

When I hear Old Florida, I think of the untouched natural beauty of the Sunshine State. A vibrant array of many different ecosystems. Each one as unique as it is a marvel to behold. Located outside of Sarasota, Myakka River State Park is a classic Old Florida gem. In fact, it is one of the first 8 original Florida State Parks created in part by the Civillian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Prairies, wetlands, wild hammocks, and more comprise part of one of Florida's oldest and largest State Parks. The scenic Myakka River flows through this slice of paradise. One of the most popular features is the Canopy Walkway. This lookout stands tall over the park affording visitors unparalleled views of the park's various ecosystems from above. Watching the sunrise over the hammock of the park is a truly enchanting experience. Early birds have the chance to grab a permit to hike the Deep Hole preserve. Only 30 permits are given out daily on a first come first serve basis, so try to show up well before the park opens. The 5 mile round trip hike takes you through the dry prairie of the preserve before stopping at Deep Hole. This sinkhole in the Myakka River attracts hundreds of alligators. If you can't grab a permit, there are plenty more opportunities to spot the wildlife in this park. As always, remember to recreate responsibly. Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints is a good motto to live by. Doing so keeps these wild places wild. You can even volunteer at the park or consider joining the park's friends group for other opportunities to support Myakka River. Have you visited Myakka River before? Where are some of your favorite wild places to explore? How do you recreate responsibly? I'd love to hear from y'all! Happy Travels, y'all!

My friend .ranger.val shared this. has this online feature where you can see your name spelled out with Earth's feature...
04/23/2026

My friend .ranger.val shared this. has this online feature where you can see your name spelled out with Earth's features. This "Your Name In Landsat" interactive feature is pretty cool! Check it out! I'd love to see how yours turn out! Happy Travels, y'all!

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/landsat/outreach/your-name-in-landsat/?fbclid=IwdGRjcARXImFjbGNrBFciWWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmE-nkOXHwg7TDxGteb0xfqpdaiRu-WN9PfqHU9Em-YT8OHG19HseDMINmul_aem_yp-shccLymHRXAvlsroOrQ

Where are these lovely gems located? I'll tell you. A wonderful place called Earth. Full of beauty and wonders of all ki...
04/22/2026

Where are these lovely gems located? I'll tell you. A wonderful place called Earth. Full of beauty and wonders of all kinds just like the people and critters who call it home. Happy Earth Day, y'all! Let's do our part in keeping our planet the beautiful wonderful strange marvel that it is. For us and our wild neighbors. How do we do that? Here are my top three suggestions.

1. Recreate Responsibly: You may have heard the saying "Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints"? Pictures make the best souvenirs (ask me how I know). You can capture the memories whilst leaving the marvels undisturbed. If you brought anything with you, take it back with you. Need to dispose of something? Keep it contained until you can find the appropriate bin.

2. Volunteer: My favorite! Check out local groups or create your own! You can participate in clean-ups, join a friends group for your favorite park, and be a part of something special with your community. You can even donate to these groups. One of my favorites is

3. Advocate: Mother Nature needs a voice. You can be that voice. Educate yourself and others on sustainable habits and the importance of defending the environment. Support businesses that focus on sustainability. Follow groups that advocate for the environment. are a few of my favorites.

The smallest steps can make a big difference. There is so much out there to appreciate, explore, and behold. Let's keep that magic going for ourselves, our wild friends, and future generations. Let's make every day Earth Day. Happy Travels, y'all!

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for making last week's book signing a dream come true. I am so grateful to ...
04/13/2026

I wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for making last week's book signing a dream come true. I am so grateful to for believing in me and my art and for giving me space to share that with everyone. Every purchase at the gift shop helps the park as well, which has been rewarding as someone who deeply loves our parks. Washington Oaks Gardens is where I took one of my first photos during my travels. That photo inspired me to try out photography. When you see my work there, it's there because of that park and the people who make it an amazing place for all to enjoy. I also want to thank everyone who stopped by and everyone who has followed me along on my travels. If you're new here, welcome! I hope my travels and work inspire you to be curious and respectful of our wonderful world. As a kid, I wanted to become an author. I never knew I would be traveling, photographing, and writing. I know little me would be tickled to know what he'd be doing in the future. And a thank you to my family and friends who have encouraged me to follow my dreams from the very beginning. And a huge thank you to my partner who embarks on quite a few of these adventures with me and who continually supports me even when I feel down in the dumps. Thank y'all for letting me get a little sentimental, today. I am so grateful for everything and everyone in this journey. I can't wait to see where we go next. Happy Travels, y'all!

This weekend's adventures took me and Dylan to two stunning Florida State Parks. Our first stop was River Rise. Dylan ha...
04/13/2026

This weekend's adventures took me and Dylan to two stunning Florida State Parks. Our first stop was River Rise. Dylan had been eager to check out River Rise and I of course was happy to show him around. We arrived just as the park opened for the morning. We hiked the 1.5 mile trail to see the place where the Santa Fe River resurfaces after sinking underground in O'Leno. I brought my crystal ball with me for the first time in a while, and I was pleased with how those photos turned out. We then ventured to Troy Spring. This was another park that I had been meaning to take Dylan to. With the recent droughts, the water was low enough for us to walk over to the shipwreck Madison; a Civil War era steamboat. Troy Spring is located near the ghost towns of Troy and New Troy. Troy was the original county seat of Lafayette county and was located near the Suwannee River. My best guess is that Troy Spring might have acted as a steamboat landing for the town's commerce. After the Civil War ended, the courthouse burned during a riot, and New Troy was established a few miles nearby. Lightning (or fire in this case) struck twice and the new courthouse was lost in another fire. Mayo became the new county seat of Lafayette and Troy vanished. In closing, I want to encourage y'all to go out there and support the parks, explore the world around you, and learn something new about the place you call home. Visit the parks, join a volunteer group, and do your part in keeping this beautiful world of ours a wonderful place to live. Which picture is your favorite? Have you visited these parks? Share your memories in the comments! Happy Travels, y'all!

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