Spread the love!

Franklin, North Carolina: The Best & Fun Things To Do + Places To Visit (That Won’t Make You Want To Leave)

Book nothing except the mine. The Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine and the Old Cardinal Gem Mine both take walk-ups, and both will hand you a bucket and leave you to it. Give the sluice a full morning. The point of gem mining is that the finding is proportional to the sitting, and people who rush it come away with gravel. Everything else in Franklin can be decided over breakfast.

Are you looking for a getaway with something in it? Franklin, North Carolina sits in the Appalachian Mountains and runs a real spread of activities for visitors of all ages. From mining for gems to time in the forest, Franklin gives you back roughly what you put in.

For something you will not do at home, try mining for gems. Franklin is known as the “Gem Capital of the World” and holds several mines where you sift dirt and gravel for your own stones. The Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine and the Rose Creek Mine are the two visitors keep recommending.

For art and culture, Franklin holds up as well. The Scottish Tartans Museum covers the history and development of the kilt in genuine detail. The town also runs several galleries and shops carrying the work of local artists and craftsmen.

Key Takeaways

• Franklin, North Carolina offers a wide variety of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages.
• Mining for gems and exploring the town’s art and culture scene are just a couple of the many things to do in Franklin.
• Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure or a relaxing weekend getaway, Franklin is the perfect destination.

Mining Gems for Fun

Looking for something specific to Franklin, North Carolina? Try gem mining. Franklin is known as the Gem Capital of the World and there are plenty of places to work for precious stones and minerals. Here are the gem mines worth your morning:

Gem Capital of the World

Franklin, North Carolina is known as the Gem Capital of the World, and the name is earned. The ground here is rich in minerals and precious gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, quartz, moonstone and mica. Serious collector or somebody after a day out, gem mining is a genuine use of a day in Franklin.

Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine

The mine to start with in Franklin is the Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine. This family-owned operation has been running for over 50 years, and visitors work for rubies, sapphires and other stones themselves. There are several ways to do it, including sluicing, digging and creeking. A guided tour covers the history of gem mining in the area if you want the background first.

Old Cardinal Gem Mine

The other gem mine in Franklin is the Old Cardinal Gem Mine. This one is known for its quartz crystals alongside rubies and sapphires. Visitors can choose between sluicing, digging and creeking depending on how much work they want to put in. There is a picnic area and a gift shop where you can buy souvenirs and stones.

So what are you waiting for? Head to one of Franklin’s gem mines and put in a proper morning. What you find is roughly proportional to how long you sit there.

Art and Culture in Franklin

Looking for culture in Franklin? These museums cover Scottish history, gemstones and the local record of Macon County, and none of them takes long.

Scottish Tartans Museum

You do not have to be Scottish to get something out of the Scottish Tartans Museum. It covers the history of tartans and what they meant to Scottish culture. You see tartans worn by particular clans and learn what each one signified. And if it takes, you can buy your own tartan on the way out.

Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum

If you like jewelry or simply want to understand what you were digging for, the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is unmissable. The collection covers gems and minerals from around the world, including rare specimens you will not see elsewhere. With the right timing you may catch a gemstone cutting demonstration.

Macon County Historical Museum

Step back at the Macon County Historical Museum, which covers the local history of Franklin and Macon County. You see artifacts from the Cherokee Indians who lived here first, alongside items from the early settlers who followed. The staff know the collection properly, which makes a difference to what you take away.

Art, history, or simply learning something new, these museums cover all three. Get in there and put an afternoon into it.

Outdoor Adventures

Looking for time outdoors in Franklin, North Carolina? You have come to the right place. The landscape here suits nature lovers and anyone who wants to work for a view. A leisurely hike or something with more effort in it, both are available.

Hiking Trails

The direct way into the landscape around Franklin is on the trails. The Bartram Trail is the popular one and gives you the Blue Ridge Mountains from the top, which is worth the climb. The Little Tennessee River Greenway is the flat option, following the river at walking pace.

Waterfalls and Rivers

Franklin holds several waterfalls and rivers suited to being in rather than looking at. The Little Tennessee River takes fishing and kayaking. For something harder, rappel down a waterfall with Green River Adventures and find out what you are made of.

Nantahala National Forest

The Nantahala National Forest is unmissable for anyone who came for the outdoors. With over 500,000 acres, the options do not run out. Hiking, camping, fishing and kayaking are all available in there. The Wayah Bald Outlook Tower is the stop to make, for the view over the Appalachian Mountains.

So pack hiking boots, bring a fishing rod, and put in a proper day outdoors in Franklin, North Carolina.

Food and Drink

Do you take food seriously? Then Franklin, North Carolina is a better stop than its size suggests. This small town holds strong restaurants, food trucks and breweries. Here are the places to eat and drink in Franklin:

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company

If you like beer, the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company is the stop. This local brewery is known for its craft beers and its relaxed room. The range on the taps is broad, from light and refreshing through to dark and heavy. The outdoor seating is where you end up after a day on a sluice.

Downtown Franklin Restaurants

For a sit-down meal, head downtown and work through the restaurants. Italian, Mexican and Southern cooking are all covered, so most tastes are handled. Caffe Rel, The Bowery and Frogtown Market are the three to know. Leave room for dessert, because downtown has that covered too.

Food Trucks and Antiques

For something different, try the food trucks in Franklin. These serve everything from BBQ to tacos to gourmet grilled cheese. Many of them park outside the antique shops, so you can eat and then browse. It is a straightforward way to spend a slow afternoon in Franklin.

Picture a table with a screen bottom and water running under it. You are holding a bucket of dirt somebody dug out of a hillside in Macon County, and you tip it onto the screen and start washing. Most of what comes up is gravel. Then something red catches, and it turns out to be a ruby, and the whole day reorganizes itself around that one moment. That is Franklin.

Entertainment and Events

Looking for entertainment in Franklin, North Carolina? This town has plenty on. Here are the places worth checking:

Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts

If you like live shows, the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts is the venue. The facility hosts a range of performances through the year, including concerts, plays and dance. Classic rock through to country and Broadway, and the program is wider than the town’s size predicts. The staff are helpful and the theater itself is comfortable and well laid out.

The Factory Arcade

Looking for old-school fun? Head to The Factory Arcade for classic arcade games, pinball machines and more besides. Pac-Man or Galaga, there is plenty to work through. The staff are friendly and the prices are reasonable, so bring quarters.

PumpkinFest

For an event worth timing a trip around, check PumpkinFest. This annual festival runs in October with pumpkin carving, live music, food vendors and more. There is a costume contest as well, so dress for it. The festival is family-friendly and a straightforward way to mark the fall.

Live show, arcade games or a festival, Franklin covers all three. Do not miss these while you are here. And for something further out, the Bethlehem Experience is a live reenactment of the Christmas story.

Historical Landmarks

If you are a history buff, Franklin holds landmarks worth going out of your way for. Here are the notable ones:

Nikwasi Mound

You might wonder what a mound is doing in Franklin, North Carolina. The Nikwasi Mound, in downtown Franklin, is what remains of the ancient Cherokee town of Nikwasi. Legend has it the mound was made when a giant snake coiled around a hill to protect the Cherokee people from a great flood. The mound served as a council house and a place of worship for the Cherokee people over a very long period. Today it is a protected site and a symbol of Cherokee heritage.

Wayah Bald Outlook Tower

For a long view over the Nantahala National Forest, there is nowhere better than the Wayah Bald Outlook Tower. The tower was built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and served as a fire lookout during World War II. It is open to visitors now and gives you the surrounding mountains in every direction. The hike up takes about 30 minutes and is not difficult, and the view justifies every step of it.

Other historical landmarks in Franklin include the Macon County Historical Society and Museum, which covers the history of Macon County, alongside various Civil War sites in the area. If history is the reason you travel, Franklin earns the visit.

Visiting Franklin

So you are planning a trip to Franklin, North Carolina. Good choice. This town in Western North Carolina works for families, couples and solo travelers alike. Here is what to know before you go.

Weather and Best Time to Visit

Start with the weather. Franklin has a humid subtropical climate, which means hot summers and cool winters. June through August is peak season, with temperatures from the mid-80s into the low 90s. If you can take some rain, come in May or September, when the weather is mild and the crowds are thinner.

Stay and Weekend Getaways

There are plenty of places to stay in and around Franklin, from cabins through to upscale resorts. For a weekend away, nearby Asheville is a short drive north. Historic downtown Franklin is the place to base yourself if you want the restaurants, shops and attractions on your doorstep.

Accommodation	Type	Price Range
Franklin Terrace Bed and Breakfast	B&B	$$
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham	Hotel	$
Carolina Motel	Motel	$
Cabins at Nantahala	Cabins	$$$

Attractions

Franklin is a small town with a long list of things to do. Here are the attractions worth building a day around:

Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine: Go gem mining and keep what you find!

Wayah Bald Lookout Tower: Hike to the top of this tower for panoramic views of the mountains.

Rose Creek Mine: Another great place for gem mining.

Nantahala National Forest: Go hiking, fishing, or camping in this beautiful forest.

Scottish Tartans Museum: Learn about the history and significance of tartans.

Drive

The direct way to see the country around Franklin is by car. Take the Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs through North Carolina and Virginia. The Appalachian Mountains open out along the whole route and there are plenty of places to stop and take photographs.

Historic Downtown Franklin

Finally, walk through historic downtown Franklin. The area holds shops, galleries and restaurants in the same few blocks. The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum is down there too, with a strong collection of gems and minerals from the area.

Whether you came for the outdoors or for a relaxed weekend, Franklin will give you back what you put into it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most delicious restaurant in Franklin, NC?

That is a tough one. Franklin has a lot of good restaurants and it depends what you want. For BBQ, Fat Buddies Ribs & BBQ is the stop. For Italian, try Cafe Rel. And for Southern comfort food, the Motor Company Grill is the answer.

What are some kid-friendly activities in Franklin, NC?

Franklin has plenty that works for children. Gem mining is the obvious one, at places like the Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine or the Rose Creek Mine, and the digging holds their attention longer than you expect. A ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad is the other one. And for animal lovers, the Appalachian Animal Rescue Center is worth the visit.

What’s the best way to spend a rainy day in Franklin, NC?

Do not let rain write off the day in Franklin. The indoor exhibits at the Macon County Historical Museum are the first option. The Franklin Bowling Center is the second, for a few games out of the weather. And for a film, Ruby Cinemas runs the current releases.

Where can I find the best shopping in Franklin, NC?

If you want to shop in Franklin, you are well supplied. For unusual gifts and souvenirs, the Lazy Hiker Brewing Company or the Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum will do the job. And for antiques, the Whistle Stop Antique Mall is the one to walk into.

What are some unique places to stay in Franklin, NC?

For somewhere unusual to stay in Franklin, look at the cabins at the Nantahala Outdoor Center. They sit right on the Nantahala River and put you properly outdoors. The other option is a yurt at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is a circular tent and a genuinely different night.

What’s the craziest event happening soon in Franklin, NC?

Hard to say what the strangest is, and there are good events running in Franklin through the year. The Franklin Apple Festival is unmissable, celebrating everything apple with live music, food vendors and apple-themed activities. The Franklin Folk Festival is the other one, covering the heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains.

Frequently asked questions about Franklin, North Carolina

How long should you actually spend at one of the Franklin gem mines?

A morning at the absolute minimum. The Cherokee Ruby and Sapphire Mine has been running over 50 years and offers sluicing, digging and creeking, and each one of those rewards patience in a different way. The Old Cardinal Gem Mine is the quartz option. Rushing either of them produces a bucket of gravel and nothing else at all.

Is the Bartram Trail harder than the Little Tennessee River Greenway?

Considerably harder. The Bartram Trail climbs and gives you the Blue Ridge Mountains from the top, which is the whole reason to take it on. The Little Tennessee River Greenway is flat and follows the water, and it suits a slow walk rather than a climb. Take the greenway on a hot day.

Which Franklin museum is worth the time on a wet afternoon?

The Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum, since it explains what you were looking for at the mine. The Scottish Tartans Museum is the stranger one and covers the history of the kilt properly. The Macon County Historical Museum carries the local record and the staff there know it well. All of them are short visits rather than afternoons.

Spread the love!