Miami Dade Countryfest and Rodeo Show is held every year at The Ronald Reagan Equestrian Center at Tropical Park in Miami, Florida. It was 1st established in 2015 as the Miami International Agriculture, Horse and Cattle Livestock Show. It is a free event for all ages with many family friendly attractions. Cattle exhibition, petting zoo, live entertainment, vendors, rides and kid’s zone, as well as food trucks and refreshments on site.

It seems hard to believe that Florida actually served as the original birthplace of the American cowboy. Long before cowboys served as symbols of the American West, Seminole Indians from this area, along with Spanish colonists and American settlers known as “Crackers” herded cattle in Florida. One of the last untouched pieces of wilderness left in Florida lies on 1,700 acres overlooking the scenic west bank of the Kissimmee River.

Bal Harbor Pier is a hidden treasure in North Miami Beach. The Pier sits across from Haulover inlet. It is made of a cement half moon with no fencing and cradled by beautiful man placed rocks to protect it from surf erosion. Many pedestrians, bikers and joggers visit the pier daily. The waters are crystal clear and the beaches are sandy white. The mouth of the inlet opens onto the Atlantic coast and is frequently used by fishing and recreational motor vehicles. Sit back and watch the boats go by, enjoy the seas’ wildlife or bring a good book to relax with. It is quite a site to see!

Listed in the US National Register of Historic Places and Landmarks is this piece of Miami’s history that is well worth a dedicated visit. This majestic place is the former estate of businessman James Deering McCormick. The early 20th century estate includes extensive Italian Renaissance gardens, native woodland landscape and historic village outbuildings compound. The architecture is Mediterranean Revival with Baroque elements. It sits on 43 acres with spectacular views of Biscayne Bay. Visitors may see 34,000 sq ft of the Mainhouse. Both the Villa and Gardens were built between 1914-1923 at a cost of $15 million.

The Circle B Bar Reserve, (named after the cattle ranch that once occupied the wetlands) encompasses 1,267 acres of protected lands in Polk County Florida. The preserve has been designated as a “Great Florida Birding Trail”, a program of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It is well known for its excellent birdwatching, wildlife viewing and educational opportunities, as well as its interactive displays about plants, animals and ecosystems. Circle B Bar contains 3.5 miles (5.6 km)s of unpaved hiking/biking trails.

The "Palm Warbler" is a very small warbler measuring a mere 4 to 5 inches. The female, is grey with yellow and the male is jet black with darker yellow, sometimes orange-red patches on wings and tail. Their song is a series of musical notes and the call is a soft chip. These tiny birds are acrobatic, extremely quick, jumping around from trees, to ground and back, even upside down. It took over 100 shots to capture their beauty.

Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the 10th largest natural freshwater lake entirely contained within the 50 states of the United States, It is second only to Lake Michigan within the 48 contiguous states. The lake extends 730 square miles with an average depth of 9 feet and surrounded in many areas with Indian Grass. It is extremely shallow for a lake of this magnitude and is called “Florida’s Inland Sea” because it is too large to see across making it feel like an ocean.

The Biltmore Hotel is a historical, luxury hotel in Coral Gables, FL. It was built in 1926 by John McEntee Bowman and George Merrick. The tower is inspired by the Giralda, the medieval tower of the cathedral of Seville. When completed in 1926, the Biltmore became the tallest building in Florida at 315 feet holding the record as Florida's tallest building until 1928 when the Dade County Courthouse took its place.

Brightline is a privately run inter-city train between Miami and West Palm Beach, Florida. A "state of the art facility" with Mary Mary, new in-station bar, the first autonomous convenience store of its kind in Florida. A store where you buy and don't have to see a cashier to pay, just walk out... The station is very clean, pleasant and offers extraordinary service.

Blowing Rocks Preserve is a highly recommended place to visit in the East coast of Florida. It is a breathtaking experience to see how the waves spray bursts of water through the erosion holes that have formed overtime. The spray can reach heights as much as 40-50 feet. It is a peaceful beach environment with a natural artistic flair.

The Town is well known for its peaceful demeanor, beautiful little-known beaches and old world charm. Manasota Key is a peninsula 11 miles long that was transformed into a barrier island by the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. It consists mainly of the community of Englewood Beach and it is connected to the mainland by Beach Road, which crosses Lemon Bay into Englewood.

The City of Ormond Beach became popular after the Civil War and Florida started to experience a tourism boom from many wealthy seeking relief away from northern winters. In 1886 the St Johns and Halifax railway began, and the first bridge across the Halifax River was built in 1887.

Nearly 500 years ago the 1st Spanish Explorers sailed past this Island and gave it its name “Deep Bay”. The white sandy beaches are surrounded by crystal clear waters from the Atlantic on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other. At night, away from city lights, you can see The Milky Way resting on a background of stars that appear so close one can almost reach and touch.

It’s amazing to just sit back and observe nature. The dragonfly, kept lifting off the coral rock and quickly landing again. Almost like a test pilot trying out a copter. Did this at least 100 times while I was there.

During a short trip I found a picturesque Hallmark Town. Well worth the visit. The City of DeLand was officially incorporated in 1882, and became the county seat of Volusia County in 1887. It was the first city in Florida to have electricity. The City's Seal is decorated with the emblem of "Faith, Hope and Charity," namely a cross, an anchor and a heart.

For as long as I can remember I have been in love with photography. I’m sure you can relate. Life gets in the way, your creativity gets placed on hold, career, marriage, kids and then some. Finally, one day you find yourself with extra time and you decide why not “Escape from Reality”.