Nature Coast
# Nature Coast

The Nature Coast is an informal, unofficial region of the U.S. state of Florida. The broadest definition of the Nature Coast includes the eight counties that abut the Gulf of Mexico along the Big Bend Coast defined by geologists: from west to east, Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties. (Note that the Big Bend Coast differs from the Big Bend region of Florida.) The name "Nature Coast" was originally devised as part of a marketing campaign to promote tourism in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and parts of Marion and Pasco counties.

Many businesses and organizations incorporate "Nature Coast" in their names, but most of them do not explicitly define the region, or define a smaller region. For instance, the Nature Coast State Trail, which is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails, is located in Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties. The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve includes 800 square miles (2,100 $km^2)$ of coastal water in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties. The Nature Coaster website covers only Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.

This region of Florida is culturally partially southern, with the Deep South culture extending to Levy County. The lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County) are often considered part of the Tampa Bay Area.

Activities common in this area include hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching and nature hiking. Snorkeling spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Diving and manatee tours are available, predominantly in areas such as Crystal River, Homosassa and Homosassa Springs.

The Nature Coast is home to wildlife including deer, wild pigs, roseate spoonbills, alligators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, great blue herons, egrets, turtles and at least 19 endangered species.

There are also 50 golf courses in the area.

## Attractions

### Citrus

    Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, partly in Hernando County
    Crystal River Archaeological State Park
    Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
    Crystal River Preserve State Park
    Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
    Lake Rousseau
    Withlacoochee State Trail
    Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Site

### Hernando

    The Heritage Museum
    Weeki Wachee Springs

### 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

### Marion

    Rainbow Springs State Park
    Silver Springs State Park

### Pasco

    Pioneer Florida Museum and Village
    Starkey Wilderness Preserve
    Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
    Conner Preserve

### 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
