Canton, the home of Big Butt(e) Mountain and Skinny Dip Falls
Surrounded by the Big Butte Mountains, Canton is a small riverside town in North Carolina's western mountains, with its tongue lodged firmly in cheek. The region was the setting for the novel Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, which was made into a major motion picture starring Nicole Kidman. Book a Canton vacation rental and be moments from the Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs close to the country town. Don't miss a trip to Looking Glass Rock to splash around in the popular swimming hole, Skinny Dip Falls, where clothing is not optional!
Canton is a real gem in the Blue Ridge Parkway
There are several Canton attractions worth visiting in and around town. Get your bearings on this mountain town at the Canton Area Historical Museum. It has a fascinating collection of artifacts found in the Canton region, including World War I and World War II memorabilia, and a large collection of photographs of Canton in the 19th and 20th centuries. If you want a more hands-on experience, head to the Old Pressley Sapphire Mine and spend the day digging for some buried sparkly treasure.
Fancy fly fishing for beginners?
One of the most popular pastimes in Canton is freshwater fishing. The Pigeon River runs right through the town and offers some of the area's best scenic trails. There are plenty of benches to relax on along the 1.5-mile walk, or bring along a fishing rod and try your hand at fly fishing in the wild, trout-filled river. Bring the day's catch back to your Canton vacation rental, and cook up a storm on the barbecue.
Big Butt(e) Mountains don't lie
Canton and western North Carolina has a mild climate all year round. It sees around 200 days of sunshine each year, and over a 100 days of rain. The most popular season to visit is summer, when the mercury reaches a balmy 80°F, and the mountains are busy with visitors. There's a wider choice of Canton vacation rentals in the shoulder seasons May and June, and September and October, when the area is quieter. Winter can see temperatures drop as low as 20°F.
Wild thing, you make my heart sing
The Blue Ridge Parkway is often called "America's Favorite Drive." Its 469-mile length connects the Great Smoky Mountains to the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, passing Canton along the way. Many people come to gaze up at Looking Glass Rock, a 3,900ft monolith popular with the rock climbing crew. The mountains are home to a wide variety of resident wildlife, including American black bears, wild turkeys, and mountain lions, while beavers are making a comeback to the area.
Traveling to and around Canton
The nearest airport is in Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), located 18.2 mi (29.3 km) from the city center.