Moving to the Big Bend and Nature Coast: what to know

Weather

Cool winters with frost on the coldest nights, and hot, humid, stormy summers. Tallahassee averages about 59 inches of rain a year, more than most of Florida.¹¹

Storms and hazards

• Storm surge on a shallow, low-lying coast. Idalia came ashore at Keaton Beach on August 30, 2023, as a Category 3 with record surge; Helene came ashore near Perry on September 26, 2024, with 140 mph winds, the strongest hurricane to hit the Big Bend since records began in 1900, with flooding over 16 feet in places. Cedar Key was badly damaged by both.^6,7,8
• Inland, hurricanes bring wind, falling trees and long outages in a heavily wooded region.^6,7
• Winter freezes: protect pipes, pets and plants.⁹

See every hurricane near the Big Bend and Nature Coast since 1851, mapped

Who it suits

Our judgment, from the facts in the full profile.

• State workers, students and university staff
• People who want four mild seasons and rolling, wooded country
• Anglers, paddlers and divers: springs, rivers and flats
• Buyers who want quiet coastal towns without condo towers

A few things to see

• The Florida Capitol tower in Tallahassee¹
• Wakulla Springs State Park: glass-bottom boats, manatees and the 1930s lodge⁴
• Apalachicola's historic waterfront and the John Gorrie Museum^3,10

Only in Florida

Crystal River's Kings Bay can hold more than 400 manatees in winter, and it's the only place in the U.S. where people can legally get in the water with them.⁵

Visitor information

The official, non-commercial places to ask about things to do, events and local services.^11,12 Many tourism offices also offer a free visitor guide.

County tourism offices

• Franklin County: Florida's Forgotten Coast (Franklin County)
• Leon County: Visit Tallahassee
• Wakulla County: Visit Wakulla
• Levy County: Visit Levy (Levy County Visitors Bureau)
• Citrus County: Discover Crystal River (Citrus County)

State-certified visitor information centers

• Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center, 17 Ave E, Apalachicola
• Franklin County Tourist Development Council - Eastpoint Visitor Center, 731 Highway 98, Eastpoint
• Florida Welcome Center (I-75), 4 miles north of Jennings on I-75 South, Jennings
• Florida Welcome Center (Capitol), Plaza Level, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe St, Tallahassee
• Visit Tallahassee Visitor Information Center, 918 Railroad Ave., Tallahassee
• Wakulla County Tourist Development Council Visitor Information Center, 1493 Coastal Highway, Panacea
• Levy County Visitors Bureau Visitor Information Center, 310 School Street, Bronson
• Discover Crystal River Visitor Information Center, 915 N Suncoast Blvd, Crystal River

Towns in the Big Bend and Nature Coast

Free basics for each of the 46 places with 1,000 or more people: home value, rent and the nearest ER.

Andrews · Apalachicola · Beverly Hills · Black Diamond · Bradfordville · Bristol · Bronson · Carrabelle · Chattahoochee · Chiefland · Citrus Hills · Citrus Springs · Crawfordville · Cross City · Crystal River · East Bronson · Eastpoint · Floral City · Greenville · Gretna · Havana · Hernando · Homosassa · Homosassa Springs · Inglis · Inverness · Inverness Highlands North · Inverness Highlands South · Jasper · Jennings · Lecanto · Live Oak · Madison · Manatee Road · Mayo · Midway · Monticello · Perry · Pine Ridge CDP (Citrus County) · Quincy · St. George Island · Sugarmill Woods · Tallahassee · Williston · Williston Highlands · Woodville

Other regions: Southwest Florida · Tampa Bay · Central Florida · Heartland · North Central Florida · Northeast Florida · Space Coast and Daytona · Southeast Florida · Florida Keys · Panhandle