Nature Coast

Map of Florida's Nature Coast

The Nature Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Florida. The Nature Coast State Trail is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails. It comprises the inside curve or Big Bend area of the western coast of the state and encompasses Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Jefferson, Pasco, Levy, Taylor, and Wakulla counties. This region of Florida is culturally partially southern, with the Deep South culture extending to Levy County with the lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and sometimes Citrus county) often considered part of the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Area. Pasco County is sometimes considered part of the Sun Coast.

The history of the Nature Coast

The origin of the name "The Nature Coast": Devised in 1991 as part of a marketing campaign to lure vacationers to the nine county area, the name "Nature Coast" caught on quickly and describes the area formally known as the "Big Bend" of Florida. St. Petersburg Times article, St. Petersburg Times - Feb 23, 1994

Wildlife and Nature

Activities common in this area are: hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching, nature hiking and the like. Snorkeling spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Also diving and Manatee tours, predominate in areas such as Crystal River, Homosassa and Homosassa Springs.

The Naturecoast is home to wildlife such as: Deer, wild pigs, roseate spoonbills, alligators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, great blue herons, egrets, turtles and countless others, including at least 19 endangered species.

Additional information and facts about The Nature Coast

The NatureCoast covers 8 different counties and 1 partial county (Dunnellon is a part of Marion County). It encompasses 980,000 acres (4,000 km²). There are also 50 Golf Courses located within these counties

Culture

Citrus

Crystal River Archaeological State Park

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Crystal River Preserve State Park

Hitters Hall of Fame

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Lake Rousseau

Ted Williams Baseball Museum

Withlacoochee State Trail

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Site

Hernando

The Heritage Museum

Weeki Wachee Springs

Nature Coast Botanical Gardens

Jefferson

Letchworth Mounds

Levy

Cedar Key Museum State Park

Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge

Fanning Springs State Park

Manatee Springs State Park

Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park

Goethe State Forest

Devil's Hammock Wildlife Management Area

Marion

Rainbow Springs State Park

Pasco

Pioneer Florida Museum

Taylor

Forest Capital Museum State Park

Wakulla

Bradwell Bay Wilderness

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park

Ochlockonee River State Park

San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park

External links

• http://www.nmia.com/~allwayst/Florida'sNatureCoastSteinhatchee.html
• http://naturecoastcoalition.com/index.htm The Visual Spectrum (Publishers)

References

Robert Painter, Writer & Photographer (1995)

information provided from State Of Florida and department of tourism (2006)

Literature from the Homossassa State Park, brochures and pamphlets (2005-2007)

Citrus County Chamber and Naturecoast Chambers Of Commerce including information and literature provided by: Cedar Key Chamber, Citrus County Chamber, Dixie County Chamber, Dunnellon Area Chamber, Greater Dade City Chamber, Greater Hernando County Chamber, Perry-Taylor Chamber, Wakulla County Chamber Historical Wakulla County Courthouse (records and information), West Pasco Chamber, Citrus County Tourist Development Council, Levy County Development Authority and Economic Development Council, Hernando County Tourist Development Council, Wakulla County, Taylor County, literature and information (2004-2006)