Suggested Itineraries - Historic Milton

Historic Milton Itinerary
For those of you who love to get lost in history, you absolutely must shed your beach shoes for a day and walk in the shoes of a local historian. This place is rich with history... but it's up to you to investigate. You'll probably want to set your sight on Historic Milton.

To start your day, I would explore either the L & N Train Depot or the Arcadia Mill Site. Let me tell you just a tad about each. Then, you decide what's for you.

Experience #1:
If you love trains, visit the L & N Depot, which once served as the "nerve center" of Milton. It was here that families reunited, telegrams were sent, Christmas packages arrived, and soldiers waved good-bye to home and loved ones, sometimes for the last time.

Be right there when the train comes by, hop on the stationary caboose and box cars, and be sure to check out the West Florida Railroad Museum, which houses memorabilia ranging from conductor hats and dispatches to tickets and model trains. The Depot is open on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment for tours (850.623.3645).

Experience #2:
If trains aren't your cup or tea or you're in the mood for another historical adventure, then fly along with me to the Arcadia Mill Site, the site of the first and largest Early American Industrial complex in Florida. Once a booming water-powered sawmill and later a bucket factory, textile mill, and silk cocoonery, the 34-acre park offers tourists a unique historical and cultural glance of Santa Rosa County in Northwest Florida.

There's a museum, a large interpretive kiosk with several exhibits, a replica sawmill, and numerous hiking trails and boardwalks that showcase the archaeological features of the site and the pristine nature environment along Pond Creek. It's interesting, cool, and beautiful wrapped together.

Lunch:
Okay, by noon, your head should be filled with knowledge. Take a break. Zip up to the downtown district (Milton) and enjoy a bite to eat at the Main Street Cafe. This will put you in the perfect location to spend the rest of your day.

Afternoon:
After lunch, grab a walking tour brochure on your way out the door or simply design your own historic experience. Either way, check out these highlights:

The Museum of Local History: Situated on the bottom floor of the historic Imogene Theatre, the Museum of Local History features an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts. You'll see items ranging from an early electrical hair-curling machine, which visitors often mistake for a torture device) to displays of antique toys to industrial artifacts. To catch this historical destination, you'll have to plan your visit for mid-week as the Museum is open only on Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free. Private tours with a minimum of 10 people ($2/each) are available by calling 850.626.9830.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church: You wanted history... here it is. This Church to behold was built in the Carpenter Gothic style in 1877. Now, that's a long-time ago. This is just one of those places it's hard for me to describe. You really need to see it yourself. Be sure to have a camera because you'll want to take pictures of its elegant architecture and rich stained glass windows.

Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Plaza
This Memorial is dedicated to the veterans of the United States of America. To me, Randy the Butterfly, this is one of the most special places in Northwest Florida. Maybe that's because butterflies are a symbol of freedom, and, well, we all owe our freedom to the veterans before us.

The Memorial is breath-taking and surrounded by a Walk of Honor, which contains 24,000 bricks that will contain the name, rank, and years of service of a service member or Veteran. If you would like to honor someone who has served our country, you can buy a brick at www.santarosa.fl.gov/vetplaza/brickbuy.php.

Something unique I love about the Memorial Plaza is that it also has a memorial honoring all war dogs who have sacrificed a safe home, a game of fetch, or a long walk with its owner to bravely assist American soldiers on the battlefields. Maybe being an animal myself (well, close enough), this gives me an added warm and fuzzy.

The Memorial Plaza is on Willing Street near Riverwalk Park.

Blackwater Riverwalk Park
There's no better place to recap your day than to wind down at the Gazebo at the Blackwater Riverwalk Park. Have a seat, reflect, and "take off" your historical walking shoes. It's been quite a day. Relax and reap in it.