__Milton__is in the Florida Panhandle.
Milton was founded in 1844 under the Florida Territorial Acts of 1844. Milton is the county seat of Santa Rosa county, and prides itself on its large variety of outdoor activities. Downtown sits on the banks of the Blackwater River, and the vista of early 1900s buildings overlooking the water is the iconic image of the town. Canoeing, kayaking, and innertubing are available on the rivers just north of town, beaches are located to the south, and a local rails-to-trails project has created an impressive, 14-mile (22-km) bike path beginning in downtown Milton.
A massive fire destroyed large parts of downtown on January 6, 2009. This fire destroyed the historic Imogene Theater and the Mudd Pitt coffee shop, among other buildings.
Only a small portion of downtown Milton is pedestrian-friendly, and there is no public transportation available here. A majority of the city must be traveled by car, since walking along the busy Highway 90 is dangerous. Car rentals are available from Enterprise Rent-a-Car, on Highway 90 about 5 minutes west of city limits.
Adventures Unlimited, 8974 Tomahawk Landing Road. Hours vary, opens 8AM. A popular local company that helps plan and prepare outdoor excursions, mostly within the limits of Blackwater River State Forest. They are most well known for their canoe and kayak trips, which can accommodate trips on the Blackwater River, Juniper Creek, or Coldwater Creek, and may last a few hours, or up to four days. In addition, they offer lodging, camping, outdoorsman courses, and can accommodate large groups. Varies, starting at $25/person
Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site, 5709 Mill Pond Ln, +1 850 626-3084, mbeck@uwf.edu. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. In the early 1800s, a group of men purchased a plot of land a few miles from Milton, dammed Pond Creek to create a retaining pond, and built two sawmills in order to process the timber being harvested from the north parts of the county. The industrial site was later expanded, adding a highly-productive textile factory, a log flume to take the logs to the Blackwater River, and later, adding a railroad for transport. The mill was abandoned in 1855, and was forgotten until a local historian rediscovered it; the site is now administered by the University of West Florida's Archaeology Institute. A small museum showcases artifacts found by local archaeology students, and a handicap-accessible boardwalk showcases the dams and flumes. Call ahead to schedule a tour.
Blackwater Heritage State Trail, +1 850 983-5338. This popular 10-mile-long (16-km) paved trail begins one mile south of downtown Milton and includes the 2-mile-long Military Trail terminating at NAS Whiting Field. The paved trail is open to cyclists, walkers, joggers, and is handicap accessible; an unpaved equestrian trail runs parallel to the trail for a shorter distance. The Blackwater Heritage Trail is meticulously maintained by the Florida Park Service, with mile markers, benches, and restroom stops scattered along the length of the trail. The first mile of the trail travels through the old neighborhoods of Milton, and cyclists should be cautious when crossing roads; traffic through the city can be busy. The remaining 6 miles (10 km) of the trail are rural, with few roads or homes, wooden bridges spanning winding streams, and an even, level grade for easy travel. Users of the trail should bring plenty of water since there are no sites to refill.
Blackwater River State Forest, 30.7329°, -86.8747°, +1 850-957-5700, archert@doacs.state.fl.us. About 20 miles (32 km) north of Milton, the Blackwater River State Forest offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Camping, birdwatching, hiking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, cycling, horse riding, and hunting are all available within the of park land. $2 admittance to some areas
Coldwater Creek Paddling Trail. Coldwater Creek is a small tributary of the Blackwater River; the two meet about three miles northeast of downtown Milton. The creek is designated part of Florida's state system of trails, and is an alternative to canoeing the Blackwater. The trail begins in Munson, at the intersection with Hwy 4, and ends 18 miles later at the SR 191 Bridge (Munson Rd), though you can continue another two miles to the Blackwater River and land at Downtown Milton instead, just north of the Hwy 90 bridge. During dry spells, this creek can get very low, and you may need to wade to get your canoe past some sandbars. Conversely, the creek floods easily after heavy rains.
Blue Basket Farms, 8655 Highway 89, +1 850 623-0652. Open June through mid-July: daily 7AM-6PM. One of the last remaining 'U-Pick' farms in Milton is also one of the most popular. During blueberry season, Lundy sells his berries at a dollar a pound, as long as you're willing to pick the berries yourself. Come early in the season; hungry birds and locals often pick the best berries for themselves.
Blackwater River State Park, 7720 Deaton Bridge Rd, Holt (Fifteen miles northeast of Milton, near Harold, off U.S. 90), 30.7069°, -86.8781°, +1 850 983-5363. A favorite destination for canoeists and kayakers, Blackwater River offers opportunities for a variety of outdoor recreation. The river is one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the nation. The park has such amenities as birding, boating, canoeing, fishing, hiking, kayaking, picnicking areas, swimming, tubing, wildlife viewing and full camping facilities. The main picnicking area has covered picnicking pavilions, restrooms, and a spacious parking lot. Bring your tubes and enjoy a leisurely float down the river to the Deaton Bridge. It is a short 1 mile hike back to the parking lot to retrieve your vehicle. Very kid friendly park with a variety of areas for swimming.
Panhandle Butterfly House, 4966 Henry Street, 30.6156°, -87.0367°, +1 850-623-3868. The largest butterfly house in Northwest Florida, open between late spring and early fall. Entry is free, donations are recommended. free 2023-01-02
Most businesses in Milton are nationally recognized chains. A few locally owned businesses are noted below.
Due to the limited amenities in Milton, most visitors choose to sleep in nearby Pensacola. If you want to stay closer to Milton, or the outdoor amenities near the Blackwater River, your options are below.
Like all of Florida, Milton is susceptible to hurricanes. Due to Blackwater River and Coldwater Creek running through town, the city is highly susceptible to flooding during a storm, especially in the downtown area. Listen to radio or TV news reports, and if the area where you are is told to evacuate, do so immediately. When evacuating from Milton, head north. The official hurricane evacuation route is Hwy 87, and is marked with blue and white hurricane evacuation route signs. Since this road can get very congested during an evacuation, you can also use Chumuckla Hwy (SR 197) or Munson Hwy (SR 191), but these roads are not marked with evacuation route signs, so make sure you have a map. If you can't evacuate, and believe you're in an unsafe area, make your way to a hurricane shelter. Hurricane shelters are designed to be nearly indestructible, and have cots, food, and water. The first shelter to open is at the Milton Community Center, 5629 Byrom St; if needed, secondary shelters open at S.S. Dixon Intermediate School, 5540 Education Dr, and at Avalon Middle School, 5445 King Arthur's Way.
Just west of Milton is Air Products-Taminco, a fertilizer company, which works with chemicals that could be dangerous to the surrounding community. In the event of a chemical spill at the plant, loudspeakers around the community will blare a siren, followed by a voice giving directions on what to do. These sirens will also activate in the unlikely event of a tornado. The sirens are tested on the first Sunday of every month, at 2:15PM.
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