Thanksgiving Thoughts
Gratitude – noun, the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Thanksgiving is always a time to remember what… Read More
Author Archives: Diane Bedard
Diane Bedard's Articles
Cooking Cracker Cane Syrup
Sugar cane is a tropical perennial grass that has three main varieties – chewing, crystal and syrup. In Central Florida, the sugar cane crop is… Read More
Discovering the Halls River by Kayak during Save our Waters Week
Driving up US 19 past the Wildlife Park, I could not imagine what the “Halls River Experience” with Hunter Springs Kayaks was going to… Read More
Florida Outdoor Writers Association explores the Adventure Coast
Wednesday, September 12, professional outdoor writers from throughout Florida came to the Adventure Coast for our annual conference. We came to experience the best of… Read More
Nature Coast Butterfly Season is On
Butterfly season is upon us! I absolutely love September’s fluttering wings, with pairs of dancing Lepidoptera all around. Butterflies are very common on Florida’s Nature… Read More
Why Jay B. Starkey Jr. is being Honored with Pasco EDC’s 2018 Leadership Award
Starkey’s leadership through education, land preservation and music will last for generations in Florida’s Nature Coast The Pasco EDC Leadership Award celebrates a person in… Read More
Building Historic Chinsegut Hill’s Family
Chinsegut Hill, Manor House Museum and Retreat is a magnificent venue, featuring rich history, impressive architecture and natural beauty. The land was originally claimed by… Read More
Palmwood Builders: Three Generations Building the Nature Coast’s Wow Factor
There are many builders throughout the Nature Coast and subdivisions appear to be on the rise again. Did you know that more than 1,000 people… Read More
Clear Bottom Kayak Excursion to Three Sisters Springs
A couple of weeks ago, Pat Manfredo and I were invited to join the team at Hunter Springs Kayaks for a photo shoot with their… Read More
Crystal River Day Tripping: The Coastal Heritage Museum
A recent exploration of the Coastal Heritage Museum in Crystal River’s historic section was overdue. I have long admired the rock construction building located at… Read More
Back in the Trees at TreeUmph! feels Great!
Several weeks ago, I wrote that I had joined TreeUmph! of Brooksville as an annual pass holder and was going to use the obstacle courses… Read More
Exploring Nature Coast Springs
There is nothing like hopping into a 72-degree spring on a hot, humid day to cool the body and soothe the soul. Florida is graced… Read More
Exploding East Pasco: the Good, the Bad and the Opportunity
The Central Pasco Association of Realtors (CPAR) conducted a tour of central and east Pasco County entitled Tour de Change on June 7, emphasizing major… Read More
Nature Coast 2018 Summer Camps
Summer camp was traditionally an overnight camp with hiking, canoes and campfires led by camp counselors. While there are 7,000 overnight camps in the U.S.,… Read More
Getting Fit with TreeUmph of Brooksville!
Not all of our readers know, but I started NatureCoaster.com when I was an invalid, recovering from a life-changing incident. My body had been pretty… Read More
Bramble Creek Farm: UPick Blackberries Grown with Love
Pulling up to the wide farm gate on Hayman Road, anticipation of the sweet, yet slightly tart flavor of fresh, juicy blackberries has a grip… Read More
Crystal River
Crystal River is situated around Kings Bay, which is spring-fed by a cluster of more than 30 springs, designated as a first-magnitude system. Because the… Read More
Quick Trips: The Rainbow River and the Ocala Hilton Experience
— This is the first of our occasional articles about quick trips from Florida’s Nature Coast. —- Last year I went to Ocala… Read More
Blueberry Season is On: Pick yourself Happy
I picked my first two pounds of the 2018 Nature Coast blueberry season Wednesday. I ate half of a pound on the way home from… Read More
The Bellamy Brothers Let their Love Flow out of the Honky Tonk Ranch
Biography Release & Reality Show Premier – Will they Tell All? Have you ever wondered how David and Howard Bellamy, collectively known as The Bellamy… Read More
Florida Wildlife Corridor features the Nature Coast in Short Film
Lindsay Cross, Executive Director for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, met with Diane Bedard, Publisher of NatureCoaster.com, at Oysters restaurant in Crystal River in August… Read More
Florida Wildlife Corridor features the Nature Coast in Short Film
Lindsay Cross, Executive Director for the Florida Wildlife Corridor, met with Diane Bedard, Publisher of NatureCoaster.com, at Oysters restaurant in Crystal River in August… Read More
Florida Loquat Festival returns to New Port Richey March 24
Have you ever wondered what a loquat is? We know about kumquats, the small citrus fruit that is both sweet and tart and has its… Read More
Award-winning NJoy Spirits offers Craft Distillery Tours in the Woods of Weeki Wachee
NJoy Spirits is a boutique craft distiller of award-winning Wild Buck rye whiskey and Mermaid rum on Florida’s Nature Coast. The company is owned by… Read More
David and Howard Bellamy: Original NatureCoasters
Originally published September, 2014 on NatureCoaster.com The Bellamy Brothers, David and Howard, were born in Pasco County, Florida. Although the Bellamy Brothers have toured in… Read More
Touring West Pasco’s Historic Stilt Houses
On a recent visit to Port Richey, I enjoyed a charter up the Pithlachascotee River (called the “Cotee” by locals) from Sims Park in downtown… Read More
Delightful Family Fun Jan. 27 at the 2018 Kumquat Festival
Kumquats are fun to eat and the word kumquat is fun to say, so it stands to reason that the Kumquat Festival January 27 in… Read More
Have a Blast at the 38th Annual Brooksville Raid
The Hernando Historical Museum Association, Inc. and North Pinellas County Scout Sertoma Club, Inc. are presenting the 38th Annual Brooksville Raid Re-enactment, Jan. 20-21, 2018… Read More
Withlacoochee State Forest: Outstanding Outdoor Recreation
The Withlacoochee State Forest is the third largest state forest in Florida spanning 164,073 acres divided into several distinct tracts of land throughout Florida’s Nature… Read More
Shop Small for Big Returns on Florida’s Nature Coast
Thanksgiving is upon us. What a blessing it is to live in the paradise of Florida’s Nature Coast during the fall season. While we do… Read More