WAKULLA COUNTY, FL — When people think of Wakulla County, they think of nature and the coastlines, and that is exactly what draws visitors to the area. Wakulla County's natural beauty and resources drive tourism to the county, supporting the local economy and creating an eco-based industry.
WATCH THE FULL REPORT BELOW:
ABC 27's Serena Davanzo went ON THE ROAD to learn more about what neighbors can expect when visiting this area of the Forgotten Coast and why it is important to help promote tourism for the county.
The county is made up of over 70% protected forest lands and 85% natural coastlines. This environment brings in a variety of adventurers, including hikers, kayakers, and birders.
"We have beautiful springs with crystal clear water. You have lighthouses. You have beautiful migrating birds that come through in the fall. You have old Florida. And what Florida really started people coming to it originally, which is the beauty that is nature," Cypress Rudloe, a member of the Wakulla County Tourism Development Council, said.
Wakulla has a variety of sights to see from the land, including the Apalachicola National Forest, the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, and Wakulla Springs State Park. By sea, visitors can explore Dickerson Bay, Ochlockonee Bay, Mashes Sands Beach, Shell Point Beach, and Wakulla Beach.
"Wakulla teaches people to love nature," Rudloe said.
The Wakulla County Tourism Development Council says people coming to visit supports the local economy. Rudloe says Wakulla County is one of the leading tourist destinations for natural North Florida experiences.
"They're going to come over, they're going to visit the aquarium, they're going to look at great seafood, and they're going to be like 'that, fish looks tasty. I'm going to go over to this restaurant, eat some grouper,' and then they're spending their they're bringing revenue in that creates jobs, that creates an industry, and it's an industry that is an eco-based tourism industry," Rudloe said.
While some may call the area a sportsman's paradise, the sights can be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
"And you know, if you got your family and you want to take your 9-year-old boy out on a fishing trip, there's a guy that can take you, and maybe your wife doesn't want to go, she can go spend the day at Wakulla springs and go on a boat tour and see manatees. So these are huge assets that we have here. So it's a no brainer to see tourism in Wakulla," Rudloe said.
This story has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.
Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.
