Navigating the COVID-19 Nature Coast State of Emergency
What should one do in the Nature Coast State of Emergency? With nearly every public facility, event, and meeting being closed through the end of… Read More
Author Archives: Diane Bedard
Diane Bedard's Articles
Manatee Adventure by ‘Yak is Fabulous!
Kayak-based manatee experience adventures can start about 8:30 am – and even be scheduled throughout the day at Hunter Springs Kayaks in Crystal River… Read More
Art in the Park celebrates Creativity for all Ages March 14-15
The Hernando County Fine Arts Council invites you to the 36th Annual Art in the Park event on Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15 from 10… Read More
Discovering The White Heron Tea & Gifts
Walking up Grand Avenue, I am always entranced by the historic buildings in downtown New Port Richey. Across the street from the Richey Theater in… Read More
Keeping the Nature Coast Beautiful
Have you ever been driving along, listening to your favorite song in pure joy and then had the mood crashed by trash? Litter is a… Read More
Preserving the History of Rosewood
On February 5, 2020, Lizzie Robinson Jenkins will speak about Preserving the History of Rosewood at the Valerie Theatre Cultural Center in downtown Inverness. This… Read More
The Insider’s Guide to 2020 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 25 in… Read More
Have a Blast at the 40th Annual Brooksville Raid
The Hernando Historical Museum Association, Inc. and North Pinellas County Scout Sertoma Club, Inc. are presenting the 40th Annual Brooksville Raid Re-enactment, Jan. 18-19, 2020… Read More
Nature Coast Thanks-giving
It is good to sit down and write about what makes life so worth living regularly. This time of year, I tend to get caught… Read More
Fall-o-Ween 2019 on the Nature Coast
The humidity is waning, and the temperature is dropping. It’s time for pumpkins, scarecrows, and outdoor celebrations. Then there is Halloween, a uniquely American… Read More
Paddlers Costume Parade Oct. 26 to help a Great Cause
The City of Crystal River and Hunter Springs Kayaks have partnered to bring a new event to downtown Crystal River. In conjunction with the… Read More
Crystal River Preserve State Park Boat Tours Resume
The 24-passenger vessel, Monroe, resumed normal operations from Crystal River State Park on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. Its boat tours on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays… Read More
Nature Coast Butterfly Season is Back
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
How the Withlacoochee Forest Came to Be – part 1
This article is based on and derived from Sid Taylor, Florida Forester and Historian Have you ever noticed a sign stating “Welcome to the Withlacoochee… Read More
Improving Lives with The Arc Nature Coast
In 1973, a small group of Hernando County residents sought a better way to care for the Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled citizens of the area. Read More
Rescued Bear Cub to Live in Homosassa
The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Wildlife State Park is part of a cooperative effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and state-wide bear rehabilitation facilities. Read More
You need to Experience a Homosassa Shore Lunch
A Delicious Tradition of the Homosassa Guides Association “Members of the Homosassa Guides Association have been doing shore lunches since the 1940s at least,” says… Read More
Cruising Hernando Beach in Style
Rosa and Randy are lifetime boaters who grew up on the Weeki Wachee river. They look like they are in their fifties or so, and… Read More
Stand Up Paddleboard Adventure
I enjoy water adventures. The all-inclusive guided tours with Hunter Springs Kayaks given… Read More
Join us in Celebrating the 4th throughout the Nature Coast
In 1870, the U.S. Congress made Independence Day an unpaid holiday for federal employees, and in 1938, Congress changed Independence Day to a paid federal… Read More
When is Adoption a Viable Option?
This article strays from our usual light-hearted format to a more serious subject, adoption as a viable option in an unplanned pregnancy. NatureCoaster.com has… Read More
Discovering Anclote Island’s Delights
Anclote Key State Preserve is steeped in history. French and Spanish pirates used Anclote Key to launch raids in 1682, according to researchers. There are… Read More
Discover Ozello: the Nature Coast Keys
Ozello (or as the locals pronounce it Ozelluh) can be found between Crystal River and Homosassa by turning onto Highway 494 from U.S. 19. This… Read More
Scalloping: Florida Adventure of a Lifetime
This is the five year anniversary of NatureCoaster.com. In honor of the event, we will be running two weeks of our most popular stories, beginning… Read More
Hiking the Chinsegut Hill Trail: Here’s what we Found
It was a beautiful day in May, sunny and a bit humid (but this is Florida and that’s how we roll). After a delicious lunch… Read More
Taming the Neff Lake Monster at the Spring Lake Memorial Classic May 25
In 2007, the idea to hold a foot race and fun run/walk in the beautiful area surrounding The Arc Nature Coast’s Neff Lake Campus was… Read More
Becoming a Magical Weeki Wachee Mermaid takes Determination and Style
Cheyenne Bragg is a real mermaid. It’s not only her job, but it is also the fulfillment of her childhood dream. “When I was a… Read More
Discover the History of Florida’s Nature Coast
“A string of counties studded with emerald-like gulf waters, deep springs and rivers, stretching along the same Florida coast” is how world-famous naturalist John Muir… Read More
2019 Nature Coast Blueberry Season is On: Get out and Pick
2019 is a great year for blueberry you pick adventures! I picked my first 3.7 pounds of the 2019 Nature Coast blueberry season Tuesday in… Read More
Helping Veterans and Homeless Dogs
With a national suicide rate for American Veterans of twenty per day, and twenty-two daily for vets with PTSD, there needs to be an intervention. Read More