Nov 10, 2017

Airboating in the Florida Everglades

The mangrove jungles and tropical wetlands that make up the Florida Everglades are an incredible natural wonder that are best explored up close and on the water. In visualizing a few iconic Florida scenes for my travel photography series, the idea of airboating through the Everglades in search of alligators was an experience that I knew I had to make happen.

Airboat Florida Everglades City



I chartered an airboat out of Everglades City on the western side of Everglades National Park. While there are a number of airboat tour operators to choose from in the area, I opted for a private airboat charter to somewhat customize the exploration (and because I wanted to guarantee that we'd have enough time to find alligators in the wild). 

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City
I can't fully express just how much fun it all was. From racing through long corridors in the mangroves to drifting in the open water, the airboat ride alone was a rush. The very first bit of wildlife we spotted was a small pod of dolphins feeding. They popped up right next to the airboat and continued to swim around us for about 15 minutes.


We then ventured further into the Everglades in search of alligators. We had been looking for about an hour without any luck, but with a lot of alligator-looking logs pointed out. Then it finally happened. Off in the distance the captain had spotted something. We inched closer and there it was, my very first alligator sighting in the wild. We were no more than 3 or 4 feet away, and as I snapped my pictures and soaked up that moment, in my head I was thrilled to finally be crossing this amazing airboating adventure off of my bucket list. MORE HERE


Alligator Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City
Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City



Airboat Florida Everglades City
Airboat Florida Everglades City



Airboat Florida Everglades City



Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Tour Florida Everglades City
Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City
Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City



Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City

Airboat Florida Everglades City


Airboat Florida Everglades City
Airboat Florida Everglades City

Nov 8, 2017

Bowers Mansion in Washoe County, Nevada

Constructed in 1863, the Bowers Mansion in Washoe County, Nevada was once home to Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife Eilley Orrum Bowers. They earned their fortune through mining gold and silver ore, and became the first millionaires in the Nevada Territory. 

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

The Bowers Mansion, which is located between Reno and Carson City, is especially notable because of Nevada's storied mining history. Many stately homes began construction following the Comstock Lode mining boom which began in the late 1850s. Today the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is owned and operated by the Washoe County Parks Department. Tours and events are regularly hosted here throughout the summer and autumn months. 

I happened to arrive just following a massive snowstorm. The site was obviously closed for the season, but I still did some wandering. To give you an idea of how deep some of the snow was, I walked out to the fountain in the yard and the snow was nearly up to my waist.  

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter
Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter


Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter
Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter
Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter
Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter


Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter



Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter

Bowers Mansion Nevada Winter