Discovering Canton

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Cultural offerings abound in the Canton area. Downtown Canton houses the Cultural Center for the Arts, which includes the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the Canton Civic Opera, the Canton Museum of Art, the Canton Ballet and the Players Guild of Canton. Located at 1001 Market Ave. N., the Cultural Center is one of the few centralized complexes in the nation, which houses all of an area's major art disciplines.

Throughout the year, the historical Canton Palace Theater offers live shows, films and concerts. Established in 1926 as a vaudeville movie house, the Palace provides an atmospheric experience for any performance. The theater's ceiling is a starry sky with clouds that realistically float around.

For those who enjoy browsing or buying, there is no shortage of places to shop in the Canton region. Westfield Shoppingtown Belden Village, located just off I-77, features several department stores and over 1200 specialty shops. The mall is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

While in the Belden Village area, visitors can choose from a wide assortment of restaurants to appease their appetites. Whether you're in the mood to listen to Jimmy Buffet at Cheeseburger in Paradise, sit back and enjoy a quiet meal under Roman ruin deco at Bravo eatery or watch your food being cooked on a hibachi grill at Fuji Japanese Restaurant, the Belden area offers it all.

For more shopping within a few miles of the mall, visit The Strip, a one-mile long stretch of stores located just off I-77 and Portage Road in North Canton. The strip includes stores such as Border's, Old Navy and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

The Strip also offers many dining choices, such as Carrabba's Italian Grill, Don Pablo's and Longhorn Steakhouse. Other snack options located on The Strip include Starbucks, Coldstone Creamery and Einstein Bagels.

Another unique shopping opportunity awaits about 25 minutes northeast of Canton at the Hartville MarketPlace and Flea Market, located at 1289 Edison St. N.W. in Hartville. The giant indoor and outdoor flea market features hundreds of craft, food, collector and specialty vendors. The MarketPlace is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. After visiting the flea market, enjoy a home-cooked meal at the Hartville Kitchen, a local favorite located in front of the MarketPlace.

For the more adventuresome Canton visitors, several recreational facilities are available within the Canton area. Grand Slam USA, located at 5656 Dressler Road NW, offers basketball courts, volleyball courts, batting cages, video games and miniature golf. The facility is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.

Canton is also home to Laser Quest, an indoor interactive laser tag facility. Located at 4712 Everhard Road NW in Canton, Laser Quest offers an 8,000 square foot playing field with black lights, fog, music, towers and a maze.

A trip to Canton wouldn't be complete without a stop at Taggart's, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor located at 1401 Fulton Road N.W., a mile south of the Hall of Fame. Owner Ernie Schott looks forward to regular appearances from Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt, who brings new enshrinees to the restaurant when the Hall of Fame comes to town. Hunt makes sure to treat enshrinees to Taggart's famous Bittner, made with homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate and topped with pecans, whipped cream and a cherry. The restaurant also provides a full menu, which includes soups, salads and sandwiches.

The Canton area offers several choices when it comes to lodging. Hotels are available in the Belden Village area, downtown Canton and North Canton areas. Several lodging options are also available in neighboring Massillon and Alliance communities.

For resources to use in planning a trip to the city, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Canton Stark County Visitor's Bureau offer helpful tools and comprehensive information. View lists of restaurants, hotels, recreational activities and sightseeing opportunities at www.cantonstarkcvb.com and www.cantonchamber.org, or call (800) 533-4302.