A Rundown of Florida's Themed Coasts

Image courtesy of Neil Mewes via Unsplash

How 10 of Florida’s Coasts Got Their Name 

From amusement parks to beaches, Florida has been known for its tourist attractions since before the second World War. Each of Florida’s 10 coasts attract thousands of locals and tourists each year, and each coast is known for its unique features, allowing them to be remembered by their creative nicknames. 

1- Emerald Coast 

The Emerald Coast spans from Panama City to Pensacola, and this coast got its name because of the vibrant blue-green water in this part of Florida. Sediment from the Mississippi River gets dumped into the Gulf of Mexico, creating clear water with an emerald tint caused by the sun’s reflection on microscopic algae. 

2- Lee Island Coast 

The Lee Island Coast stretches along Lee County in southwest Florida, which is how it got its name. Naples, Fort Myers, Sanibel, Marco Island, and Captiva’s beaches are all part of the Lee Island Coast. 

3- Space Coast 

Image courtesy of Laurenz Heymann via Unsplash

Florida’s Space Coast includes Brevard County and major cities like Titusville, Cocoa, Merritt Island, Melbourne, and Palm Bay. The Space Coast got its name because it is home to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral, which was where American space flight began. 

4- Gold Coast 

West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami make up Florida’s Gold Coast. Southeast Florida got its nickname for the “golden” real estate opportunities throughout Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. 

5- First Coast 

St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Orange Park, and Fernandina Beach were the first discovered and colonized areas of Florida, giving this coast the nickname of First Coast. Travel south of St. Augustine to Daytona Beach and you’ll find the Surf Coast of Florida. 

6- Cultural Coast 

South of St. Petersburg near Sarasota you’ll find the Cultural Coast. The Cultural Coast is known for its popular artists and musicians, and also includes some of the Sunshine State’s most notable beaches like Anna Maria Island and Siesta Key. 

7- Sun Coast 

St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bradenton, and Clearwater create the Sun Coast, known for its almost year-round clear weather. This region of Florida gets the state’s most days of sun per year. 

8- Nature Coast 

Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties are known as the Nature Coast. Also known as the Big Bend of Florida, the Nature Coast is home to several state parks full of springs, oak trees, exotic flowers, and protected species. 

9- Forgotten Coast 

Florida’s Forgotten Coast includes cities like Apalachicola, Port St. Joe, and Carrabelle. This is a relatively quiet part of Florida, and is rumored to have gotten its name because it doesn't see many tourists and was actually forgotten. 

10- Treasure Coast 

Florida’s south Atlantic coast, which includes Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin counties, is nicknamed the Treasure Coast. This coast got its name from the gold, silver, and jewelry that was lost here during a hurricane in 1715. 

Timoti’s Seafood Shak

Visiting the First Coast? Stop by Timoti’s Seafood Shak to enjoy wild-caught seafood favorites everyone will love!