You CAN Find it in Canton, Texas

First Monday Canton Trade Days

Are you looking for a family getaway unlike any other?  How about take the family on a scavenger hunt for treasures big or small in Canton, Texas? The Thursday-Sunday preceding the first Monday of the month is "Canton Weekend".  Canton, Texas turns from a quiet East Texas town with a population of 3,500 to a bustling 250,000 to 400,000 visitors each month. During "Canton Weekend" you can find anything from unique backpacks for your children to an antique window from a 100+ year old church and everything in between.  There are over 7,000 vendors spread out over 400 acres in both indoor & outdoor locations. Whatever you are looking for, you CAN find it in Canton, Texas without breaking the budget!

Where is Canton, Texas?
Canton, Texas is located in east Texas about 60 miles east of Dallas on I-20 or 37 miles west of Tyler on Texas Highway 64.

Where is the nearest major airport to Canton, Texas?
The nearest major airport is Tyler Pounds Field airport approximately 31 miles from Canton, Texas. Tyler Pounds Field has two airlines servicing the airport - American Eagle Airlines which connects to DFW Airport in Dallas, Texas & United Airlines that connects to Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Texas.

What is there to do in Canton, Texas for fun?

• First Monday Trade Days - Your family could spend the day or weekend exploring the thousands of vendors at First Monday Trade Days. Don't have a lot of money to spend? Have a scavenger hunt for the most unique item for sale & take a photo of the item. Or you could pick a category such as paintings and have a photo scavenger hunt for the prettiest, most unique, most representative of the state of Texas or whatever!  Your options are limitless. Once everyone has selected their item, the family then votes on the best one. The person with the best one gets to choose which restaurant or vendor the family eats at that night. If you visit during Christmas each family member could draw names & buy a Canton Christmas gift for that person in the family to be opened Christmas Eve.  The indoor pavilions have new items such as purses, clothes, furniture, etc. If you are looking for an American Pickers experience you will want to visit the old section and avoid the pavilions. When you go you will want to bring a wagon or rent one for all your "finds" so you don't have to carry your purchases around all day. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Cost: $5.00 parking fee - not bad for a day of family fun!

Splash Kingdom Water Park

• Splash Kingdom Water Park - Splash Kingdom is open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 11 AM to 6 PM Sunday-Thursday & 11 AM to 7 PM Friday & Saturday. This family-friendly water park is a great way to spend a day. Cost: $23.95 for 42" & over, $18.95  for under 42", military & over 65 years old is $18.95, under 2 years old is FREE, after 4 PM is $14.44 per person as of July 2015.

• Yesterland Farm - Yesterland Farm is opened weekends September through December check website for exact dates. Yesterland Farm is fun for families with children aged 8 & under. Yesterland Farm is more than just a farm, it is also an amusement park with rides for small children. They do themed events such as fall pumpkin searches and Christmas cut down your own tree and see Santa Claus.  Cost varies visit website for more information but the cost is anywhere from $12.95 per person to $39.95 per person as of Fall 2015 with an extra fee for the rides of $2.00 per person.

Map of Yesterland Farm

Where can I stay in Canton, Texas?

I-20 RV Park

• Camping - If you would like to be close to First Monday Trade Days then you should stay at the First Monday RV Park that is within walking distance of Trade Days.  The cost is $30 per night with a minimum of 3 nights.  Reservations are taken the first Tuesday after first Monday trade days. Another RV park option include Mill Creek Ranch Resort that offers campsites ($37-$52 during non Trade Days, during Trade Days the cost is 25% more) or cabins ($136-$188 during non Trade Days, during Trade Days the cost is 25% more). Canton I-20 RV Park is another great option with rates at $35 per night.  Canton I-20 RV Park gets great reviews for their friendly staff and location. 

• Hotels -  The hotel that is highest rated on Trip Advisor is Best Western Canton, Texas. This hotel is located near Splash Kingdom & First Monday Trade Days. Nightly rates range from $120 - $199 per night. 

Azalea House B&B

• Bed & Breakfasts - Canton, Texas has over 30 bed & breakfasts from which to choose. Trip Advisor rates Azalea House B&B as number one. Azalea House is near Canton Trade Days but far enough away to escape the crowds. Azalea House has a pool with hot tub & slide, billards, fire pit for s'mores, and so much more! You must call & check rates if you are interested in staying at Azalea House as the nightly rates are not posted on the website.

Where is good place to grab a bite to eat in Canton, Texas?

• Dairy Palace claims to be "world renowned since 1984". This family owned restaurant serves up breakfast 24/7 as well as some tasty burgers, sandwiches, & Mexican food. All for a price that will not break the budget!

Dairy Palace

• Ole' West Bean & Burger  serves down-home cooking and has a fabulous salad bar to boot! If you are looking for comfort food or a really good salad bar visit Ole' West Bean & Burger. Cost $10-$20 per entree.

• Jalapeno Tree Mexican Food & Cantina serves Tex-Mex at it's best.  This chain restaurant offers great lunch specials that will not break your budget.  The chips & hot sauce are some of the best ever! This restaurant just opened in April 2015.  Cost $10-$20 per entree.

Arkansas' Castle in the Clouds - Queen Wilhelmina State Park

View of 3 states from Queen Wilhelmina State Park

Did you know Arkansas offers many budget friendly alternatives for the vacationing family? A great choice for the family on a budget is Queen Wilhelmina State Park. At 2,681 feet, Queen Wilhelmina State Park is atop Arkansas' second highest peak. A visit to the "Castle in the Clouds" will bring you one with nature while not breaking the budget. This beautiful state park in western Arkansas offers visitors 460 acres to explore and enjoy in the Ouachita Mountains. The beauty of this park can be enjoyed any season of the year. Start your journey down the Talimena Scenic Byway at Queen Wilhelmina State Park, you will not be disappointed!

What kind of accommodations are available at Queen Wilhelmina State Park?

Queen Wilhelmina Lodge

The Queen Wilhelmina Lodge atop Rich Mountain is brand new. Two years of renovations are complete as of July 2015. This beautiful lodge has 40 completely renovated guest rooms ranging from two queens to a king suite with spa & fireplace. Rates are a reasonable $95-$165 per night. 

If you prefer to camp, Queen Wilhelmina State Park offers 41 campsites that range from tent sites to full hookup campsites. The restroom facilities are clean and newly renovated. The views from the campsite are amazing. Rates range from $12-$25 per night. Discounts are available for those who are over 62 and for U.S. citizens who have written proof of being 100% disabled. 

Skyline Cafe Mena, Arkansas

Where can I eat at Queen Wilhelmina State Park?
In the lodge you will find a restaurant that serves southern cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If you do not want to eat every meal at the restaurant at the lodge, you can drive 12 miles to the town of Mena, Arkansas. Mena offers a variety of restaurants from top rated Skyline Cafe that serves breakfast and lunch with rollerskating waitresses to fast food restaurants like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, & Subway. 


What is there to do at Queen Wilhelmina State Park?

• Mountain Glory Station is a miniature train located at the park entrance.  Mountain Glory trains take you around the park.  It is opened Memorial Day - Labor Day Tuesday-Sunday and closed on Monday. 
• Hiking. Queen Wilhelmina State Park offers hiking options ranging from easy to strenuous. Part of the 225 mile Ouachita Trail runs through the park. 
• Interpretive programs led by park rangers will provide learning opportunities about the history and native species of the area.  Interpretive programs are free.
• Relax and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. 
• Go for a scenic drive. The Talimena National Scenic Byway is not to be missed. It is a 54 mile scenic drive between Mena, Arkansas & just north of Talihina, Oklahoma. You will find several scenic overlooks & historic sites along your journey. Don't forget to charge your camera before you leave! 

Talimena National Scenic Byway

  

Disney World 2015

We just returned from our fourth trip to Disney World where we stayed for 7 nights & 8 days. In total we were gone 11 days as we drove to Disney World & spent a day in Pensacola, Florida on the way home.  We stayed on Disney property at Port Orleans Riverside, a moderate resort, because we enjoy the amenities offered including a boat ride to Downtown Disney. We spent 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, & 4 days at Magic Kingdom. Below are some of my tips from my most recent trip.

• Saving Money by using Disney gift cards to pay for hotel, food, drink, & souvenirs. Sam's Club sells Disney gift cards for a $7.12 discount. To put it differently you can purchase $150 worth of Disney gift cards for $142.88, saving you $7.12 (you get three $50 gift cards per package). I know what you are thinking, only $7.12, that's not worth my time. But think about it like this, IF your trip costs you $3,300 and you used the discounted gift cards to purchase the hotel, food, drinks, etc. you would need 22 packs of gift cards.  If you save $7.12 PER PACK of gift cards that comes to a savings of $156.64. My dinner at Ohana Restaurant was paid for with my savings with a little money left over! If you are wondering HOW you can pay for your Disney World package using gift cards, let me tell you. You have to call the Disney resort phone number 407-939-1936 and speak to a cast member.  You will then have to give the cast member each gift card number from the back of the card.  A trick I learned once I was using the cards on the trip is that the gray scratch off on the back of the gift card is actually a STICKER, just peel it off and things will go much faster for you. I also used the discounted gift cards to purchase food, drink, & souvenirs while I was at Disney World.  I used the gift cards for restaurants at theme parks, Disney water parks, Disney resort hotels, and Downtown Disney.  Yes, all of the restaurants & stores at Downtown Disney will take the Disney gift card. I also used the Disney gift card at the Disney Character Outlet Store located on Vineland Avenue. It would have been easier to just link my credit card number to my MagicBand and use it to pay for everything, but I was on a budget and needed to save money where I could.

Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue - Featuring all you can eat 

served family style meal including fried chicken, ribs,

mashed potatoes, corn, beans, salad, cornbread, 

& the BEST strawberry shortcake you ever tasted! 

All while enjoying some down home fun entertainment.

• Meal plan or no meal plan? That is the question... When we went to Disney World in 2013 we decided to take the Disney Dining Plan whereby we received 1 counter service meal including entree, drink, & dessert, 1 sit down meal including entree, drink, & dessert, and 2 snacks per night of our stay. After we got home from our trip we felt as though we ate ALL THE TIME. Needless to say it was too much food for us. When it came time to book our trip this year, we debated should we get the meal plan or not.  The cost for the meal plan for 3 adults aged 10+ would have been $1281 above the cost of our package. We decided to try the discounted gift cards and see what the difference in cost would be.  Keep in mind that during our 7 night stay we ate dinner one time each at Boatwrights (cost $75), Ohana (cost $140), 50s Diner (cost $53), Raglan Road (cost $68), & Hoop Dee Doo Dinner & Show ($177). Note: If you are on the Disney Dining Plan Hoop Dee Doo will cost you 2 meal credits. As you can see we did not eat all counter service meals, although we did eat some counter service meals, usually one per day.  The total cost for all of our meals including counter service restaurants, sit down restaurants, milk for breakfast in our room, and snacks was $821.90. That was a savings of $460 and we ate plenty of good food! In my opinion, unless you eat A LOT of food you will save money if you do NOT get the Disney Dining Plan.

• Download the My Disney Experience App for your smart phone. We used My Disney Experience everyday to see the wait times for rides & change FastPass+ reservations. This app will also have your reservations for restaurants, etc.  Disney World has fantastic free WiFi available at all of the theme parks and hotels.  Accessing My Disney Experience will be a breeze with the WiFi available.  

You can choose from a wide range
of colors for your MagicBand.

• MagicBands are really cool! If you are staying at a Disney World resort or you are an annual pass holder you will receive a MagicBand for each member of your family included in your package cost. If you are not staying at a Disney resort or are an annual pass holder, you can still get MagicBands to use while at the theme parks, you just have to pay $12.95 for them online or at select retail locations. I really liked the MagicBand - once we got them all working. Our MagicBands worked without fail to enter the theme parks.  However, they would not open our hotel door at Port Orleans Riverside the first time we tried. Unfortunately we discovered this at 11:00 PM on the night we checked in. Tired we went back to the front desk and the cast member "fixed" the bands.  Long story short, she only "fixed" mine and my son's band.  My husband's band required a second trip back to the front desk to fix the problem. Once they were all fixed we really enjoyed tapping our wrists to use our FastPass+ selections (remember once you are in the theme park, you can use anyone's MagicBand to access a Fastpass+ reservation - they do not make you give a finger print to use the FastPass+ at a ride), get our room door to open, or gain entrance to a theme park. An additional benefit was we could have tied our credit card to the MagicBand and we could have tapped to purchase food, drinks, & souvenirs, meaning no wallet necessary. We opted to use Disney gift cards to purchase our food, drinks, & souvenirs because you could purchase them at a discounted rate at Sam's Club. See above for how much money I saved using gift cards from Sam's Club. One problem I saw with the MagicBand for FastPass+ was about 3 times I saw people arguing with the cast member because they "supposedly" had a FastPass+ but it was not showing up in the system and thereby denying them entrance. I think they were just trying to sneak on the ride without having to wait in line... There is no fix for dishonesty I suppose...

You have 1 hour to redeem your
 FastPass + reservation. Example redeem
between 9:00 - 10:00 AM. 

• FastPass+ - Maybe it is because I am a planner, but I really like the FastPass+ system Disney World began using in 2014. I booked my Fastpass+ 60 days before my scheduled arrival date.  I then used My Disney Experience computer and app based version to track my reservations & change them as needed. I no longer had to worry about IF I was going to get a FastPass for my favorite ride. We did not wait more than 10 minutes for any ride and the theme parks were very busy. As much as I like FastPass+, I would like to see Disney make a few changes to the system however. For starters I do NOT like the tier system Disney has for Epcot & Hollywood Studios FastPass+ - just make them like Magic Kingdom & Animal Kingdom. Another change I would like to see would be for Disney to allow you to use My Disney Experience to get the FastPass+ choices after the initial 3 selections are used up. It could be a benefit for Disney Resort hotel guests. Finally I would like to be able to select the same ride multiple times for my initial 3 FastPass+ selections.  For example, I would have ridden Seven Dwarfs Mine Train three times in one day instead of Seven Dwarfs & then 2 other rides. I tried to get a FastPass+ to Seven Dwarfs after I used my initial 3, but guess what?  There were none available and standby times for this ride averaged 80 minutes. Since we don't like waiting in lines, we only got to ride Seven Dwarfs once on this trip. Even with the suggested changes I still believe FastPass+ is better than the old FastPass system. 

• Take Disney transportation to Downtown Disney & expect renovations in the theme parks. Disney World is undergoing A LOT of construction! To some extent, every theme park & Downtown Disney is experiencing construction.  Magic Kingdom has walls up on Main Street & around the castle making for a less than desirable photo.  At Magic Kingdom, Disney did attempt to make the walls blend in to the background but it does not look the same. Epcot is renovating the Norwegian ride so that it is "Frozen" themed. Innovations West at Epcot is permanently closed. Hollywood Studios has many areas, such as Back Lot Tour & American Idol Experience, shut down permanently. Animal Kingdom has walls up in Asia, Africa, & Discovery Island.  The walls at Animal Kingdom do not attempt to blend into the background, making them less appealing. You cannot get to some parts of Discovery Island due to construction. Downtown Disney is perhaps the biggest mess of them all. Downtown Disney has been under construction since 2013 with completion expected in 2016. New shops & restaurants have been added and will continue to be added. I suggest you take Disney transportation to Downtown Disney instead of trying to drive and park.

2015 Review of Port Orleans Riverside

Port Orleans Riverside was enjoyable but we did have some problems... 

Entrance to Port Orleans Riverside

Let me  begin by saying we have stayed at Port Orleans Riverside one previous time and Port Orleans French Quarter two previous times.  We choose the Port Orleans moderate resorts because we like the landscaping, amenities, & having the boat ride to Downtown Disney available.

Resort area Port Orleans Riverside

So what are the pros & cons of staying at Port Orleans Riverside?

Building 18 is a good location.

Everything Good About Port Orleans Riverside - Port Orleans Riverside has a great pool area in Ol' Man Island.  We also enjoyed the FREE smores each night. My son enjoyed playing a few video games in the Medicine Show Arcade. Yee Haw Bob does a great family friendly live show a few nights per week. There is a different movie on the lawn each night at sunset, but we did not get to see it. The boat ride to Downtown Disney was pleasant as always. You can also go on carriage rides, rent bicycles, & rent boats for an additional fee at Port Orleans Riverside. If you are assigned a building close to everything you will enjoy it - we enjoyed our building assignment this year. (Building 18) The cast members were friendly and helpful. The landscaping is beautiful! At the theme parks Riverside does not share a bus with French Quarter.

Riverside Food Court

Lobby Area Port Orleans Riverside

Now for the not so good...

A corner room is good! (IF it is cleaned.)

Last time we visited Port Orleans Riverside we were in Building 24 and were a minimum of 15 minutes walking to the food court and Ol' Man Island.  After that trip we learned to request a building closer to "everything". I read online and saw that for the rooms that did not have an upgrade charge you should request building 16 or 17.  I requested building 16 or 17 when I booked my room 6 months before leaving and I confirmed it 1 week before my scheduled arrival.  We arrived early to check in to our room (11 AM) but I went to the front desk and once again made my request. I was told my room was not ready yet but they would text me as soon as it was available.  The cast member also told me I was to be in building 18 based on what she could see on the computer. She said it was actually a better building than the one I requested. I left, excited about getting a building that would not be too far from everything. I received a text message from Disney Destinations around 4 PM telling me there was a problem with sending me an assigned room and that I needed to contact front desk.  I was at Disney Quest in Downtown Disney so I called. I spoke with 3 people before they finally told me my room assignment, no one could ever figure out why I received the text message I received. We arrived back to our room at 11 PM after a long day.  Our MagicBands would NOT unlock our door.  We then had to walk to the front desk to get that fixed. Long story short it took a total of 2 trips to the front desk to get all of our MagicBands to unlock the door.  At 11:30 PM we got into our room to find a mess! The room had not been vacuumed or swept. At the conclusion of my stay the room had not been swept or vacuumed. In addition, there was a straw on the floor under the bathroom sink that was there when we arrived. There was also a white substance on the floor under the sink that needed to be mopped. The table in the room had a white substance looking like old milk on it when we arrived. The wall on the left of the toilet had a brown spot that looked like chewing tobacco that was spit on the wall. It was there when we arrived and it was still there when we departed. When we arrived the toilet had a 2" wide yellow streak going down the front that I had to clean. Because it was so late at night I just cleaned what I could and stayed in the room. We ate at Boatwrights Dining which is a Cajun themed restaurant at Riverside. The food was bland and downright tasteless.  FYI I don't add salt to my food at restaurants but at Boatwrights I had to. The trundle bed is uncomfortable and anyone taller than 48" 

should not attempt to sleep comfortably on it. My 11 year old son found the bed to be far too short for him.

Trundle bed - not for those taller than 48"

So what do I think about staying at Riverside again?  

We have never experienced such lack of cleanliness at a Disney resort like we experienced this year. Maybe this was a one time occurrence... However, I think we will stay at French Quarter next time. Because Riverside & French Quarter are sister resorts, you can enjoy the amenities at each resort. That is my plan for next time. UPDATE: After completing the survey Disney sent after my stay, I was contacted by a representative from Disney. He apologized for the problems I experienced and offered me two free nights stay at a moderate resort of my choice when I visit Disney World again. I add this to my blog as evidence that Disney really does know a thing or two about hospitality.  Will I go back? - OF COURSE! 

Videos from our June 2015 Trip to Disney World

Magic Kingdom

For our 4th trip to Disney World we experienced some new as well as revisited some family favorite attractions and rides. We spent 8 days at Disney World and 1 day at Pensacola Beach, Florida. We drove this year because gas prices made driving MUCH more affordable than flying. We stayed on Disney property at Port Orleans Riverside, a moderate resort, because we enjoy the amenities offered including a boat ride to Downtown Disney. We spent 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, & 4 days at Magic Kingdom.You can see videos for each theme park, hotel, & Downtown Disney by clicking the following links:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom
• Port Orleans Riverside & Downtown Disney

Downtown Disney

Pensacola Beach, Florida 2015

Interstate 10

"Road Trip!!! That's the plan.  Gas prices are very low - let's go on a road trip to Disney World."  I am certain those words must have crossed my lips when we were planning our trip to Disney World back in January. Well, being the budget conscious person that I am, we did opt to drive instead of fly to Disney World. Was it worth the drive?  Did we save money? YES! 

While we were in a hurry to get TO Disney World, we decided to take it slow coming home. On the way home we spent 2 nights in Pensacola Beach, Florida. As we prefer a beach that does not have high rise hotels, or any business for that matter, we chose to spend our day at Gulf Islands National Seashore near Pensacola Beach, Florida.  There were miles & miles of white sandy beaches that were untouched by man! The beaches were as white as snow.  It truly was something to see!

Where did we stay?

Well... since I am budget conscious you probably already know I did not stay ON the beach in a condo. The closer you are to a beach, the HIGHER your lodging prices become. After all I was only there for 1 1/2 days so being on the beach was not a priority. We stayed in a brand new Hampton Inn in Pensacola, Florida at I-10 & Pine Forest Road.  The hotel was clean (my highest priority), quiet (& my room was next to the elevator),nicely appointed, & had THE most comfortable bed I have ever slept on in a hotel. Oh yeah, there was FREE breakfast each morning! I booked the room 6 months before my trip using my points I had accumulated during the year.  My total cost for 2 nights using points & cash was only $111. Now that was a deal!

How far from the beach was your hotel?

The drive to the beach was a pleasant 35 minute drive on a Saturday morning in June. We went around 9 AM so the crowds had not yet headed that direction yet.  There was a $2 toll to get to the island but that toll was well worth the money. Helpful hint that will save you money: DRIVE THE SPEED LIMIT.  There are police officers cruising to give tickets all the way to the beach.

What did you do at Gulf Islands National Seashore?

Gulf Islands National Seashore
Naval Oaks Visitor Center

When we arrived we visited the Gulf Islands National Seashore Naval Live Oaks center.  A ranger led tour started shortly after we arrived.  The ranger took us on a short & easy hike and explained the nature trail to us. After the brief tour we then headed to Fort Pickens located on the far end of the island.  The ranger led program was very informative about the history of all of the forts on the Florida coastline.  I highly recommend touring Fort Pickens with the ranger. After exploring Fort Pickens we headed to the beach.  There was a red flag warning so we did not venture into the Gulf any deeper than our ankles. However, my son had a blast playing in the snow white sand.  The beach was not very crowded so we enjoyed a bit of solitude while our son played. Other things you can do include camping, bicycling, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, or going to more ranger programs at one of the nearby forts. If you are visiting on a Tuesday or Wednesday you might even catch a glimpse of the Blue Angels practicing.  

What is the cost for Gulf Islands National Seashore?

The cost for a single vehicle that carries less than 15 people  is $15 for 1-7 days and is good for all of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. You can find more information about fees at the National Park Service web page.

Where did you eat while at the beach?

Peg Leg Pete's Oyster Bar

We ate lunch/dinner around 3 PM at Peg Leg Pete's Oyster Bar in Pensacola Beach, Florida.  It was about a 6 minute drive from Gulf Islands National Seashore. Peg Leg Pete's Oyster Bar gets great reviews online, but I must say we thought the food was bland.  I guess we should have ordered oysters since it is an oyster bar. However, all 3 of us ordered something different and none of us really liked the food. To top it off we waited 40 minutes at 3 PM on a Saturday afternoon to be seated.  Service was really slow even once we got a table. It must REALLY be packed around 6 PM.  

Our day at the beach was over & it was time to go back to the hotel. We had to get on the road early the next morning & head home.