Still Moving Forward
As I sit in my studio this cool Saturday morning, I look up from my computer screen to see it is snowing, again. I'm ready for winter to be behind us and move on to Spring and warmer weather. How about you? I know it's been several years since we've really had much of a winter at all so, I guess we are due and the farmers will appreciate the moisture in the ground come Spring and Summer. But I for one dislike this cold weather and ready for warmer temps. 70s are perfect!
We have struggled to keep our doors open for a while now. I think many in our small town of Canton have. I see shops closing but read about the new theater coming to town and now the possibility of Jimmy Johns!! Oh Yeah!! Not sure we need a 4th hotel but hey, if it brings more business and people to Canton why not. We may be small, but we are friendly and our small businesses are great when it comes to customer service and connecting with our customers. My favorite part is getting to know my regulars. It's like providing some fun for a friend. We are hoping people outside of our little town limits will begin to see there is more to Canton then you may realize. Yes, we do have several bars, if that's your thing, but we also, soon, will have a whole weekend of stuff to do. People often post on facebook for inexpensive weekend getaways with the kids. Well, we have it right here in town!! Come in Friday night and enjoy a sit down meal and a Mexican Restaurant as a family and spend an evening in one of our hotels and just hang out pool side. Who doesn't love some summer fun in the middle of this winter cold? Sat enjoy a sit down breakfast at American Grille or Elm Street Café, or a quick breakfast at a fast food chain to keep cost down and start right in with a fun filled day. Once our theater is open, you can drop the kids off at the theater for a showing while the adults walk the square, right by the theater, and browse the shops with knick knacks, antiques, crafts, and even fun creative bath bombs and soda soaps etc. Pick the kids up from their movie and enjoy lunch or if they had popcorn and not yet hungry go run around at one of our many parks in town- Wallace, Big Creek, South Park, Anderson Park, Lakeland Park. All have playground equipment for the kids to enjoy. Bring a long some bread and feed the fish and ducks at Lakeland or the fishing poles if warmer weather and enjoy some fishing or rent a paddle boat or canoe. Calm the kids with a couple hours of painting at Create it, draw, paint, fire where they can choose their own piece of pottery ($5-$100) to paint with their own hands and creative styles and make memories as a family creating masterpieces to keep for years. Best part is returning to do more pieces as they get older and seeing their creativity grow and flourish. WE have several restaurants to enjoy as a family. Who doesn't love Pizza? Got Monicals, Pizza Hut, Papa Johns, or take Casey's back to the hotel and enjoy some down time & more swimming or exercising etc. Sunday we have several Churches to choose from that are very welcoming, if that's your thing. If not, sleep in and enjoy waking when your body wants to not when the alarm says and take your time heading home. Try out the trail that is offered through our town from Wallace Park to Lakeland and Big Creek. Could spend the whole afternoon on it. Pack some sandwiches or stop by Jimmy Johns or Subway and grab sandwiches to have a picnic in of the parks as you walk to trail and enjoy the sound of the birds and each others voices and conversations again. All I'm saying is there is enough to do right here in this small town to easily fill a weekend for any family of any age kids and not cost a lot but gain so much with time together and conversations face to face. Make it better with a disconnect rule for the weekend and leave the phones and computers at home for the 2 days!! Don't rule out this small town once known as Forgotonia and remember us the next time you are looking for a quick weekend getaway that is inexpensive but full of possibilities and memory making.
As we work to move forward to keep our doors open, we will be waiting to welcome anyone, local or abroad, into our doors to make creations and memories any time of year!! We have shortened our hours for winter which we are extending thru March. Jan-March we are open Wed, Fri and Sat 9-5, but don't fret, we will be happy to stay late or make a reservation for any time that suits your schedule and we will be open for you. We want your business! Starting April 3 we will be open Tues-Sat 10-6. You are welcome still to make a reservation outside of these time frames, but we welcome walk in at these times. So whether you are looking for a weekend of fun close to home to bust the winter blues or choose to wait for the warmer weather and enjoy being outside more, we hope you will consider coming to Canton and help us small businesses keep our big doors open!!