CINCO DE MAYO WEEK!
Cooking demonstration, Kentucky Derby party, and Cinco de Mayo celebration, starting May 2nd at Splash – bookings available now!
Milton, Florida local guide
Welcome to historic Milton, Florida!
Milton is home to some of the friendliest people in the world, and the perfect destination for your next Florida RV camping trip. This laid back community is surrounded by a rural setting of secluded forests, pristine waterways and gently rolling farmland. The city of Milton offers abundant opportunities for recreation and entertainment – the perfect location for SPLASH!
Milton is a vibrant, progressive city, balancing small town charm and modern urban life. We honor our rich, cultural heritage and close relationship with the military with a large number of historic landmarks and attractions including Riverwalk Park, Gill-Bass Park, Veteran’s Memorial Plaza and Historic Bagdad Village. Our community has several organizations who focus on the betterment of its community, plus numerous festivals and performances throughout the year.
- Blackwater Heritage Tour
- Riverwalk Arts Festival
- July 4th Riverfest
- Beaches to Woodlands Tour
- Indian Days Celebration
- Mardi Gras Parade
- Milton Christmas Parade
- Santa Rosa County Fair
- St. Rose of Lima Fall Festival
Best restaurants in Milton, Florida
The Cutting Board
5701 US-90, Milton, FL 32583 – (850) 564-1442 – Website
Family Restaurant. Seafood, burgers, steaks, pastas, stuffed potatoes and more! Kids eat free every Saturday (2 kids per 1 adult).
Masons
5153 Dogwood Dr, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 564-0113 – Yelp
Fresh local vegetables daily. Soups made from scratch! Awesome deserts also homemade!
Blackwater Bistro
5147 Elmira St, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 623-1105 – Website
Historic spot for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Cosse's Place
5365 Stewart St, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 626-2655 – Website
New Orleans-style restaurant. Po’boys, muffaletta, baked macaroni, frog legs, gumbo, bbq shrimp, alligator, turtle soup and stuffed crab.
Ace's Restaurant
6583 Caroline St, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 623-3611 – Yelp
Southern country cooking.
Gator's Seafood Restaurant
4030 Farrington Rd, Milton, FL 32583 – (850) 623-2661 – Yelp
Fresh, authentic seafood. A real hidden gem of Milton!
McKinely's Sandwich Shop
5262 Stewart St, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 983-0303 – Website
Located in the heart of Milton, McKinely’s Sandwich Shop offers delicious lunchtime fare made with premium, wholesome ingredients.
Boomerang Pizza
5227 Willing St, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 564-1465 – Yelp
Stop in and enjoy some made from scratch, NY style pizza in a retro 40’s 50’s style dining room.
Things to do in Milton!
Arcadia Mill Tours
5709 Mill Pond Ln, Milton, FL 32583 – (850) 626-3084
Tours of historical landmarks, buildings, and outdoor trails of Milton.
Milton Riverwalk
Boating, picnicking, biking, hiking, and more. Enjoy a peaceful walk along the river!
Fast Eddies Fun Center
505 W Michigan Ave, Pensacola, FL 32505 – (850) 433-7735 – Website
Features 4 go-kart tracks, large indoor game room with snack bar, mini-golf and the ultimate water balloon game – Water Wars.
West Florida Railroad Museum
5003 Henry St, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 623-3645 – Website
The Museum occupies the L&N Milton combination freight and passenger depot that was built in 1907-09 on the site of the original 1882 P&A depot.
Santa Rosa County Veterans Memorial Park
5191 Willing St, Ste C, Milton, FL 32570 – (850) 626-7292 – Website
This Memorial is dedicated to the veterans of the United States of America – America’s heroes of centuries past and freedom’s defenders of days to come.
Navarre Beach
A popular vacation destination, Navarre Beach is only a short distance from Splash, giving our RV camping guests perfect access to the fun and pristine beaches of Navarre.
Guests of Splash are only a short drive away from Navarre Beach, a family-friendly destination that is always growing with new and exciting things to do. Some of Florida’s most desirable beaches are located in Navarre, and feature a wide array of dining, shopping, and charter fishing options.
Boating, Surfing, jet skiing, paddle boarding, fishing, bird watching, exploring scenic trails and walking/jogging are popular among the residents and visitors. It’s no surprise Navarre is often referred to as “Florida’s Best Kept Secret”!
Things to do at Navarre Beach
Navarre Beach Pier
At 1,545 feet long and 30 feet above the water, the Navarre Beach pier offers fun for the whole family! Visitors can rent a fishing pole at the privately operated bait and tackle shop or enjoy the breeze at the outdoor restaurant. Whether you are an experienced angler looking for world-class fishing, it’s your first time to wet a hook, or you want the perfect spot for spectacular views of the sunset, the Navarre Beach Pier is the place to be year-round.
Pensacola Beach
White sands, blue skies, and endless fun await you in Pensacola, just a short drive from Splash!
Pensacola Beach also offers an array of shopping, lodging, restaurants, beach bars and entertainment – all with minimum travel, traffic and cost. The Pensacola Beach Fishing Pier and Observation Post stretches 1,471 feet into the Gulf of Mexico, providing breathtaking views for our RV campers that make the trip.
The Pensacola Beach Boardwalk has shops, eateries and, nearby, the Pensacola Beach Pier stretches into the Gulf of Mexico. Both are on the Pensacola Beach Eco-Trail, which spotlights local wildlife such as sea turtles.
Things to do at Pensacola Beach
The History of Milton, Florida
The City of Milton, the county seat of Santa Rosa County, is located near the center of this western Florida Panhandle county, adjacent to the Blackwater River. The City of Milton is among the oldest cities in Florida, incorporated in 1844 under the Florida Territorial Acts of 1844.
In founding days, the Blackwater River served as the main transportation artery for timber, lumber, brick, naval stores and ship building industries. Milton roots go back to the early 1800s when people began settling along the banks of the river. In its earliest days, the settlement may have been referred to simply as Blackwater.
The origin of the name Milton is uncertain, but was likely a derivation of Milltown, demonstrating the importance of the lumber industry in the area. Legend has it that the area was also referred to by one of its most irritating features: the brambles and briars that once grew along the banks of the river. Hence, in early days Milton was referred to as Scratch Ankle.
The Civil War had a catastrophic effect on progress in the city, being most commercial facilities were destroyed early in the war to prevent their use by Federal troops. Many residents fled to Alabama during the war and many lost their estates.
In the early 1880s, the railroad came to town, bringing a new dimension to the commercial activities of the area. Soon, railroad tracks covered the county, extending deep into the forests north of town as timber related industries flourished. Small towns such as Munson and Belandville began to spring up along the tracks. As virgin forest lands were cleared, farming became a major industry, with cotton and peanuts becoming the staple crops.
The first courthouse in Milton, located on Berryhill Road on the site of the current Berryhill School Administration building, served as the Town Hall. Three devastating fires struck Milton in 1885 and 1892. Each largely destroyed the commercial sections of town. The worst fire of all, in 1909, razed almost every building within two blocks of the river, including the Town Hall. One of the few buildings remaining was the old courthouse. Downtown Milton today reflects the aggressive rebuilding effort that took place in the years following after this fire.
In the early part of the 20th Century, the City of Milton began to provide many of the services and conveniences of larger cities. In 1910, an electrical plant was installed at the edge of town on Berryhill Road. Shortly after, a modern waterworks, with 110-foot tall steel water tower, was erected at the same site. The Milton Fire Department was established in 1914.
Over the next several years infrastructure began as sewer lines were laid, and streets were paved. A bridge was built across the Blackwater River at the foot of Grace Street, replacing the ferry which operated from the end of Berryhill Road for over 70 years.
As World War II approached, the trees were disappearing and the lumber industry began to decline. But war produced the need for Naval Aviators and the U.S. Navy built N.A.S. Whiting Field north of Milton. Over time, Whiting Field, and its associated out lying fields, became the preeminent training facility for Naval Aviators, and a vital part of our community.
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