The Nature Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Florida.  It is made up of the Big Bend (Florida) area of the western coast and includes Citrus, Dixie, Hernando, Jefferson County, Pasco County, Levy County, Taylor County, and Wakulla County counties. This area of Florida is southern culturally, with the Deep South culture reaching to Levy County with the lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and sometimes Citrus county) often considered part of the Tampa Bay Metropolian Area. Pasco County is sometimes considered part of the Sun Coast.

The history of the Nature Coast
The history of the name "The Nature Coast" goes back to 1991 as part of a marketing campaign to attract vacationing people to the nine county area, the name "Nature Coast" caught on quickly and describes the area previously known as the "Big Bend" of Florida.
St. Petersburg Times article, St. Petersburg Times - Feb 23, 1994

Wildlife and nature
Common activities in this area are hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching, and nature hiking. 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 Nature Coast is also 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 .
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
May-Stringer House
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
Bald Point State Park
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

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)

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

Geography of Florida