Florida's Nature Coast

By Chelle Koster Walton

Based on our much larger guide to Tampa Bay & Florida's West Cost, this zeroes in on Crystal River, Inverness, Homosassa, Withlacoochee State Forest, Brooksville, Weeki Wachee. This easy-to-use book is packed with practical information and enticing facts

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hunter Publishing
• Release date: Nov 2, 2009
• ISBN: 9781588438393

Book preview

Florida's Nature Coast

Homosassa, Withlacoochie State Forest & Weekie Wachie

4 th Edition

Chelle Koster Walton

HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC.

www.hunterpublishing.com

IN CANADA:

Ulysses Travel Publications

4176 Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2W 2M5

tel.  [phone] ext. 2232 / fax [phone]

IN THE UK & EUROPE:

Roundhouse Group

Millstone, Limers Lane, Northam

Devon EX39 2RG, England

tel.  [phone] / fax [phone]

© Chelle Koster Walton

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This guide focuses on recreational activities. As all such activities contain elements of risk, the publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim responsibility for any injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume, and hereby disclaim, liability for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident or any other cause.

About the Author

Chelle Koster Walton began her greatest life adventure when she moved to Sanibel Island sight unseen in 1981. She’s never looked back, except to wonder why she didn’t move sooner. From her favorite island, the author travels around Florida and the Caribbean researching guidebooks, of which she has published eight, and writing articles for Family Fun, National Geographic Traveler, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, Endless Vacation, The Miami Herald, and other print and electronic media. Walton is co-founder of www.guide bookwriters.com and a member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

How To Use This Book

This book divides the West Coast into seven sections. It begins in the north with Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties, a region dubbed the Nature Coast. It then continues southward with St. Petersburg & Clear­water. The chapter encompasses Tarpon Springs, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and the adjacent barrier island chain.

Tampa, as metropolitan core of the West Coast, has its own chapter; then we move south to Bradenton & Sarasota, with their islands and out­lying towns.

The little-known Charlotte Harbor area has one chapter. Then we cover Lee County, promoted as The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.

Collier County, one of Florida’s largest, includes its main town and governmental seat, Naples, as well as Marco Island, Ten Thousand Islands, Everglades City, the western half of the Florida Everglades, and its surrounding parks and preserves.

Each chapter begins with a brief overall history and information that will make finding your way around easier. Then it is divided by cities or areas within the sub-region, their adventure opportunities, sights, restaurants, hotels, and other attractions. Sprinkled amid the hard facts, you’ll find budget tips, author recommendations, family-friendly choices, quirky Florida terms, and weekend adventure itineraries. Throughout, places that come highly recommended by the author are indicated by a star:

Introduction

The History of Adventure

The First Visitors

The 1800s

The 1900s to the Present

The People & Culture

The First Settlers

The Population Boom

Natural Makeup

Marine Life

Mangrove Estuaries

Flora & Fauna

Guidelines for Wildlife Preservation

Everglades National Park

Wildlife & Forest Preserves

Marine Preserves

State Parks & Historic Sites

Practical Information

Transportation

By Air

By Car

On The Water

Weather/What to Pack

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

On Water

Boating

Other Watersports

On Foot

On Wheels

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Cuisine

Nightlife

The Nature Coast

Transportation

Information

Festivals & Events

Crystal River

Getting Here

Information

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

Shopping

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Inverness

Getting Here

Information

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Homosassa Area

Getting Here

Information

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Withlacoochee State Forest

Getting Here

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

Where to Stay

Brooksville

Getting Here

Information

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

Shopping

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Weeki Wachee

Getting Here

Sights & Attractions

Adventures

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Appendix

Recommended Reading

Environment

Watersports

Land Sports

Where to Stay & Eat

History

Fiction/Literature

Introduction

For the purposes of this guide, the West Coast of Florida describes a slice of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico beginning in the quiet rural setting of Citrus County, north of the Tampa Bay area, and ending in the south at Naples and the utter wilderness of the Everglades. It encompasses the coastal portions of Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hills­borough, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties. This region is cohesive in its types of vegetation and climate, yet it is infinitely diverse in culture and disposition.

The History of Adventure

If you’re looking for adventure, you’re in the right place. West Coast Florida, as one of the nation’s final frontiers, claims a history and heritage of rugged outdoorsmanship.

While the rest of the nation was busily traveling along paved roads and buying their supplies from general stores, in the farthest corners of Florida’s Gulf Coast – down Naples way and in the Florida Everglades – folks were still trading with the natives for victuals and dredging enough land out of the swamps to build the Tamiami Trail. The West Coast of Florida was considered a wild, exotic place then, a place for safaris and catching giant