Florida has more coastline than any other U.S. state, with the exception of Alaska, so it’s easy to see why different regions of the Sunshine State have their own unique nicknames.
These names were mainly coined for tourism and marketing purposes, but they do help to differentiate the geographies and personalities of each Florida region. Do you know all of them?
Winding our way around the state …
First Coast
The northeast part of Florida is called the “First Coast.” Its nickname pays homage to St. Augustine being the first permanent European settlement of the United States in 1565.
Fun Coast
Florida’s “Fun Coast” is the unofficial term for the region encompassing Daytona Beach and surrounding coastal areas. Even the area code for the region “386” spells “FUN” on a keypad.
Space Coast
Moving down on the Atlantic Coast, we come to the “Space Coast.” This one is considered rather obvious since it is home to Cape Canaveral. Its home county requested, and was given, the area code “321” — Blast Off!
Treasure Coast
Just below the Space Coast is the “Treasure Coast,” encompassing the towns of Port St. Lucie and Vero Beach. A Spanish treasure fleet wrecked in a destructive hurricane there in 1715. This area was nicknamed in 1961 when the treasure was found and recovered.
Gold Coast
Southeast Florida, including Miami-Dade and Broward Counties, is called the “Gold Coast.” This nickname was chosen in the early 1980s when the real estate value and cost of living increased dramatically.
Paradise Coast
Circling over to the Gulf side of the state, “Paradise Coast” — just south of Sanibel Island — brings you to Naples, Marco Island, western areas of the Everglades and the beautiful Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Lee Island Coast
With some 50 miles of beaches, wildlife preserves and award-winning state parks, the “Lee Island Coast” draws boaters and beachcombers alike to the myriad barrier islands that dot our coastline. The Lee Island Coast includes Sanibel and Captiva Islands, along with Fort Myers Beach to our south and Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island to our north, as well as Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero and Bonita Springs.
Cultural Coast
The region surrounding Sarasota is known as the “Cultural Coast.” As the nickname applies, this area oozes with cultural attractions in addition to their own beautiful coastline.
Sun Coast
The Tampa Bay area is referred to as the “Sun Coast,” as their tourism folks say this area receives the most sunshine in Florida (somewhat debatable as parts of Miami, the Panhandle and even Fort Myers actually get a slightly higher percentage of sunlight per year).
Nature Coast
Next to the north is the “Nature Coast,” stretching into the Big Bend area of the state. This area is known to be much less developed than Florida’s other coasts, and is characterized by its gorgeous rivers, springs, and forested areas.
Forgotten Coast
From the Big Bend area west, including Apalachicola, has been dubbed the “Forgotten Coast,” as it’s the last remaining stretch of unspoiled, pristine Gulf Coast beaches.
Emerald Coast
Lastly, the very tip of the Panhandle is called the “Emerald Coast,” named after the color of the surrounding water alongside the beautiful beaches than span from Panama City to Pensacola.
