The Nature Coast of Florida is called a nature lover’s paradise – and for a good reason. Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties are part of the Nature Coast. This charming area offers a lot of wildlife, state parks, and the charm of old Florida. It is the perfect paradise for people who love nature – you can visit some of the country’s best state parks and wildlife populations. It is known for its small towns, each of which has its unique take on “Old Florida” small-town life.
Why Should You Build Your Home in Nature Coast, Florida?
The first thing to do on this list is to choose where you want to live in Florida. Are you the adventurous type who would like to go to the beach anytime? Or would you prefer the peaceful and quiet area of Central Florida? Maybe you want to live somewhere that is near and accessible to a big city like Orlando? Luckily, Florida offers excellent, sunny weather most of the year. Narrow down your options and choose the location that fits your lifestyle and personality.
There are a million reasons why Florida’s Nature Coast is called that. The area has many beautiful and picturesque coastal towns that are great places to explore and be one with nature. It offers a great escape from the hustle and bustle of a busy city – hundreds of miles of peaceful solitude, fewer people, and pure natural beauty. This section lists some of the best places to live in Nature Coast, Florida.
Cedar Key
Cedar Key is a Nature Coast enclave that offers a lovely, old-fashioned feel because it is surrounded by nature from all angles. This town is spread over islands, making fishing and seafood popular and easily accessible. Over the Gulf of Mexico, multistory houses are built on stilts. White sand and calm waves make the beachfront airport spectacular, especially with the orange sunset. Its downtown contains stores, 100-year-old oak trees, a playground, and a white sand shoreline that make it family-friendly. Nature lovers can witness endangered spoonbills at Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge and Cedar Key Museum State Park.
Crystal River
A popular tourist site, Three Sisters Springs, on Nature Coast’s Crystal River, is famed for its West Indian manatees, where you can even interact with them. Winter manatees have a warm, safe location to dwell in the Gulf, and you can observe them on the boardwalk. Enlarging the wetlands offered animals a safe sanctuary – preserving their natural environment and making watching them more pleasant.
Crystal River’s spring-fed water is among the cleanest and most straightforward, hence its name. The city offers year-round kayaking and snorkeling. You can also go to the Crystal River State Archaeological Park. This 61-acre site illustrates the early lives of Florida’s Native Americans, such as stelae, burial mounds, and middens.
Fish Creek
Fish Creek is renowned as a “spring-breakers” community – fine art, entertainment, culinary brilliance, and fascinating culture abound. Its vibrant and thriving downtown boasts lovely storefronts, exciting restaurants, boutique apparel stores, art galleries, specialty businesses, and home décor stores. Beer, wine, music, metalwork, painting, and ceramics are available, and everyone can find something that reflects their tastes.
Hernando Beach
One of the state’s best-kept secrets is Hernando Beach Town – over the years, it has earned its reputation as an out-of-the-way oasis. It is a shrimper’s heaven with easy access to the Gulf of Mexico and Gilligan’s Island. It features a rich history that dates back to the 1950s, which initially was marshes before Charlie Sasser bought the land. Hernando Flats make sailing look like the Caribbean. Although there is technically no “beach” in Hernando beach, some activities you can do include fishing, diving, snorkeling, hiking, biking, canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and watching birds, other animals, and some of the most beautiful sunsets.
Homosassa
Homosassa features multiple Florida’s Gulf Coast state parks near the Big Bend. One example is the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, which contains an underwater observatory. On the other hand, Yulee Sugar Mill State Park tours a Civil War-era sugar mill. Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park has alligators, black bears, red wolves, key deer, flamingos, whooping cranes, and the oldest captive hippopotamus. The village, with beautiful scalloping and traditional springs, offers a “throwback” ambiance that makes you feel like you traveled back.
Horseshoe Beach
Horseshoe Beach is known for being on a peninsula 20 miles from the nearest main road and sticks out into the Gulf. At the end of the peninsula, in a remote area, is a small fishing and boating community with few people. While it may seem like a quiet and peaceful town, it offers many amenities that residents and visitors can enjoy. There is a restaurant, a marina with complete services, a sports area, and a park. At the same time, rocks and walls surround the town beach, making it look like a movie. The park has a place to launch boats, picnic areas, and water views, but there is no beach where you can swim.
Steinhatchee
Steinhatchee is a riverside fishing hamlet with just over a thousand population. This town depends on River and Gulf fishing – it essentially “fuels” the town’s economy. In the shallow Gulf, scallops, stone, and blue crabs abound. In Steinhatchee River, there are many trout and redfish. Artists appreciate this place with its Old Florida and nature vibe. You can bike or walk-through Victorian houses along the river, stay at one of Old Florida’s quaint B&Bs for a quiet weekend, and go fishing, exploring, or riding.
Common Architectural Styles for Your Florida Custom Home
Now that you have chosen where to build your home, the next step is to choose its style. Popular styles in the state tend to look like homes in the same climate, which is suitable for curb appeal and practicality. Custom homes in Florida tend to gravitate towards Mediterranean or ranch-style homes, allowing it to take advantage of the stunning vistas in Nature coast.
Mediterranean Style
The stucco and tiles typical of this style keep your new home cooler, which can make your air conditioner work better in Florida’s sunny weather. It also has low-pitched roofs, arched doorways and windows, iron railings, and fixtures. Its color scheme usually leans toward nature and coastal colors, allowing it to blend seamlessly in the background.
Spanish Style
While this is similar to the Mediterranean style, it leans more toward warm and earthy tones by using terracotta tiles and bright splashes of color as accents. Sometimes, the home features small, narrow balconies outside the windows on the second floor.
Modern Style
The modern style uses natural light as much as possible and comprises thin, clean lines. It uses monochromatic tones that make it look sleek and sophisticated. This style makes rooms feel bright and airy with floor-to-ceiling windows and open floor plans.
Ranch Style
The classic ranch style is famous all over the country, but Florida has many of them because they are easy to get to. Everything in a ranch house is on the main floor, and the garage is at the end. It can also create a panoramic view by using large windows.
You Finally Decided on Your Home’s Location; Now What?
When you’re ready to build your custom home, the next step is to plan, plan, plan. You will need to plan your budget, talk to your builder about the details, and start building your project.
Establish your Budget and Schedule
One of the significant challenges to building your home is how to fit it within your budget and time restrictions. Establish your budget by checking your finances, your wants and needs for the space, and how long it will take to build. Then make a budget that works for you.
Hire a Custom Home Builder
Your custom home builder will work with you to design and build a home that meets your demands and fits your budget. They will be familiar with the style of architecture you want and let you be as involved as much as you want in building your home. Hiring the right one for your needs can make or break your project. Professional custom home builders can provide valuable insights for your project and help you keep within your budget and time constraints.
Start Building Your Dream Home
When you finally have your plans for building a custom home, you and your custom home builder should sit down, talk, and decide on a reasonable time frame. Your builder will keep in touch to let you know if anything changes, and it is essential to keep your expectations open. You and your custom home builder will need to constantly communicate and collaborate to ensure that your ideas and visions are realized.
Key Takeaway
If you finally decide to settle down in Florida’s Nature Coast, you will soon be able to enjoy your new life in the south. Building a custom home takes a lot of planning, but you will end up with a home that is precisely what you want with the help of a professional custom home builder.
