FLORIDA PLACES AND DESTINATIONS - MILTON

Milton Florida

Milton in Santa Rosa County is known officially as the "Canoe Capitol of Florida".

Established in 1825 as a trading post on the Blackwater River, Milton's rich history is matched only by its small-town charm. Among the oldest cities in Florida, Milton's name is likely a derivative of "milltown" representing the leading role the city played in the lumber industry's early days. Today, tourists can learn about Milton’s 19th century-era by visiting Arcadia Mill, which introduced the area to the industrial revolution with a water-powered sawmill, quarry, cotton mill, and textile mill.




Milton's Downtown Historic District includes historical attractions such as the Imogene Theatre and Museum, the L& N Train Museum, the Ollinger-Cobb House, St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Bethune Blackwater Schooner, a well-preserved coastal schooner submerged in the harbor.

Milton is known for its outstanding canoeing and water sports along the Blackwater River. In 1980, the Florida Legislature declared Milton the “Canoe Capitol of Florida.” The city and its surrounding communities offer tourists hundreds of miles of canoe trails on pristine rivers canopied in longleaf pine and hardwood forests. The new Blackwater Heritage Trail, following the route of the old Florida-Alabama Railroad, built in 1900, invite visitors to step back in time with a scenic tour for hikers, joggers and bikers.

Milton’s Riverwalk is also the site of several special events throughout the year. Most notably: the Annual Riverfest Fourth of July Celebration and the Blackwater Festival.

Naval Air Station Whiting Field, and its associated outlying fields, represents the preeminent training facility for all Naval Aviators.



Photo: Visit Florida