title: Nature Coast
text: # 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
  