Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center

Adventures Unlimited Outdoor Center has operated in the Blackwater River State Forest since 1978, when it started, according to the outfitter’s own account, with little more than two canoes strapped to the roof of a 1972 Oldsmobile Cutlass. That modest beginning grew into a full outdoor resort built around the original Tomahawk Landing property, purchased the same year, and the operation began adding cabins to its lineup as early as 1982. Today the center sits at 8974 Tomahawk Landing Road in Milton, tucked into the state forest along Coldwater Creek, a spring-fed tributary known for cool, clear water that stays comfortable even in the height of a Panhandle summer.

The heart of the business is still the water. Guests paddle Coldwater Creek by canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard, or float it on a tube, with trip options built for a lazy afternoon or, for the more adventurous, an overnight canoe camping trip that puts paddlers on the creek from dusk until the next day’s takeout. Beyond the water, Adventures Unlimited runs a zipline canopy tour that includes a run stretching 900 feet across the river, along with a challenge course suited to groups looking for a team-building outing rather than a straightforward paddle. The combination of water sports and aerial adventure makes it one of the more varied outdoor operators in Santa Rosa County, appealing equally to families on a day trip and larger groups booking a weekend retreat.

Lodging rounds out the experience. Visitors can choose furnished cabins, more rustic primitive cabins for those who want to rough it a little, rooms in the property’s converted Schoolhouse Inn, or standard campground sites for tents and RVs. Group facilities are also available for reunions, church retreats, corporate outings, and weddings, a reflection of how much the property has grown since its two-canoe origins. The center stays open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas, though from November through February it closes on Wednesdays, and overnight guests already on the property during those closures are still accommodated. Visitors planning an off-season trip should call ahead to confirm hours before making the drive.

Adventures Unlimited also welcomes dogs, a detail that matters to travelers who do not want to leave a pet behind. Dogs are allowed on river trips for a ten dollar fee and can stay in designated pet-friendly cabins for fifty dollars per pet, provided they remain collared and leashed throughout the visit. The outfitter recommends canoes over kayaks or paddleboards as the most comfortable and stable option for a dog riding along on the water.

Reservations can be made online or by calling (850) 623-6197, and full payment is required at the time of booking. Trips requested within 48 hours of arrival require a phone call rather than an online booking, so last-minute visitors should plan to speak with staff directly. Given the property’s long run in the Blackwater River State Forest, an area sometimes called the canoe capital of Florida for its concentration of paddling outfitters, Adventures Unlimited remains one of the most complete basecamps in the region for anyone wanting to combine a night in a cabin with a full day on Coldwater Creek.