Monday, May 31, 2010

Canton 411, Food & Lodging


First Monday Trade Days, no doubt it's very near and dear to my heart!  My goal is to make it near and dear to yours!  If you've never been, this post is just for you!  It's not as big as Round Top, but it is where a lot of Round Top vendors hunt and it takes place every month on the weekend before the First Monday of the month.

It began in 1850 and is touted as one of the largest flea markets in the country!  Did you know that?  Canton is a small quiet town situated between Tyler and Dallas with an estimated population of 3,500, except during First Monday weekend when as many as 250,000 people can converge on the small town!  I tell people that during Spring and Fall, you have to see it to believe it!

I get so many emails with questions about First Monday, where to stay, where to eat, so I thought I'd share some information that might be helpful.

Places to stay:

Canton has several Hotels from which to choose, but they typically book up early during peak months. You can find some of them listed here.

If you prefer to stay in a Bed & Breakfast in Canton, check here.  More B&Bs can be found in a section of Canton called "The Mountain".  This area used to be filled with vendors, but it has quickly become a haven for more Bed & Breakfasts, you can see a list of those here.
 
There are also tons of RV Parks if that's more your cup of tea.  Click here for a list of those.  I will share that Mill Creek is among the nicest, but the rates are higher.

One note when viewing the lists, be sure to check the city where the lodging is located, some are located in other towns such as Terrell, Forney, Wills Point, Sulpher Springs.  Not a thing in the world wrong with these towns except that some are as far as 45 minutes away.  It's nice to have accomodations near when you're shopping a place this large!
Places to eat during the day, gosh, where do I begin.  While you're shopping on the grounds, you will find some wonderful places to eat.  There's a great food court in the Arbors that offers a little bit of everything, burgers, crepes, salads, BBQ, just about anything!  But, there are endless other places to eat it just depends on what area your shopping when the hunger hits.  One of my favorites, although it's quite a walk from our booth, is Texas Best.  It's near the Civic Center and has some of the best burgers I've ever tasted, the mushroom swiss burger is to die for!

Places to eat at night, they are endless and you can find restaurants at almost every turn.  You can find a list here, but the list is not inclusive of all the restaurants, in fact one of our favorites is not even on it.  But, it's still a great resource.  A few of our very favorites are:

Val's Italian Restaurant is located at 116 S. Capitol Street (right on the town square) (903) 567-3388
Easley Cattle Co located 610 Hwy 243, (903) 567-0320 (just 1/2 mile out of town, you will love it!)
Chen's Chinese Buffet located at 400 E. Highway 243, Suite 15, (903) 567-6888

Note:  Canton is a dry city but Papadale's Grill & Cantina does serve beer and margarita's.

Food and lodging are an important part of your trip, but let's face it, the most important part is the shopping! 

So beginning this show, I will feature some of the Canton vendors every month so you can better see all that's available here!!  We have some fantastic talent, check back later this week to see!

The saying here is, "If you can't find it at First Monday in Canton, it doesn't exist!" 


15 comments:

Mrs T said...

drat I missed it again!
I plan to go and remember late on Sunday night if I remember at all.

Someday I will make it! Just not sure it will be in July or August ;)

Anonymous said...

What a cool aerial shot of the grounds - geesh, no wonder we get so tired walking all of that (who am I kidding... HALF of that!!) Great post!

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Great aireal...
Wow, would I love to attend this every month!!!
xoxo~Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Debbie said...

Well, doesn't this sound fun!
My parents always dreamed of being flea market/antique mall vagabonds in their empty nest years, but those years were cut too short. Maybe the husband and I should pick up where they left off.

Sure wish that were close to me!

molly said...

What a helpful lists for CAnton goers!! I am sending my sister in law and 2 nieces your way on Saturday = first on their list is Lauriannas Of Course!! Hope you have a great weekend selling!

Cindy said...

Well I finally get to make a trip home to Canton on a First Monday weekend..Yeah!!It's just during the hottest part of the summer..lol
Dad is having surgery..and I need to come up and take care of him.

When I was little..First Monday was on the square and surrounding streets.
All animals and vegetables were in "Dog town"
I know for a fact there is a 5 yr wait or longer for any kind of food or drink vendor spot. I kinda of miss the way it use to be..tent after tent..on the ground spread out on tarps and quilts!!
I know it is much nicer with the pavillions..but the digger in me likes the outside areas!!lol

Thanks for talking about my hometown.

Cindy from Rick-Rack and Gingham

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello LaurieAnna, What a WONDERFUL place to visit! Oh I'd be in 7th Heaven there I'll tell you...I'd have a hard time figuring out what to take home with me but I'm sure I'd manage just fine. Thank you for sharing this with us...maybe one day my sister in law and I will take a trip there for a 'girls weekend'! Take care...Maura :)

sweetpea said...

Hi LaurieAnna! This is definitely on the bucket list for me. Sounds like too much fun.

Hugs,

Shelley

Jennifer said...

I love it! I tell people here about Canton and they all want to come. 15 hours to come shopping is a drive, but it's one of my favorite places in the world!!!

Sueann said...

Wow! Sounds so exciting and definitely a place to visit. Great photos too!
Thanks for all the links.
Hugs
SueAnn

Elsie said...

Laurie I have been shopping Canton
for about 30years and that has always been the moto. To answer you
on that I say "Ain't it the truth".
Just about the time you think you
have seen it all....NOT..something
new is there. I miss everything
being on the ground. I don't like
all the new pavillions. I would
rather have it like it used to be.
It was more fun back then.Great post. Makes me want to go junkin'.:O)

Unknown said...

Thanks for the info! I'll check it out!!

Prior said...

I checked out a cool book, written by a 17 year old boy at the time, He is an older man now, but it had cool old pictures and history.

Tracy said...

Great post! My husband took me to Canton last year for my bday (we live in Alabama), it was the best bday present ever. Can't wait to go back!

Anonymous said...

I just returned from Canton today and I visited Ethels in Pavillion 6000 and I had the mushroom swiss burger at Texas Best. That burger was to die for and have you had a piece of their chocolate pie?...yummy! I do have a raging headache and nausea because it was 99 degrees at Canton today and I think I overexerted myself but other than that I had a super time!Thanks for your recommendations Laurie!