Franklin

Franklin is truly the epicenter of western NC mountain life!  Within 40 minutes in every direction, you'll encounter many little mountain towns with their own unique characteristics, such as Highlands, Cashiers, Bryson City, Sylva, Waynesville, and Clayton.

Food + Fare

• Franklin is home to two craft breweries, the Lazy Hiker and Currahee Brewing, as well as a tasting station for Slanted Window vineyards.
  
  
• Downtown dining includes two of our favorites, Gracious Plates (try their truffle fries!) and soon-to-open, JR Chophouse.
  
  
• Looking for tasty fuel to start your day? We recommend Just Donuts (which, ironically, has amazing bagels!) and look no further than Bent Willow Baking Co. for the best croissants and specialty lattes you’ve ever had.
  
  
• Enjoy breakfast or lunch at 828 Cafe and barbecue at Haywood Smokehouse.
  
  
• Yonder Community Market has a curated selection of high-quality foods that are sourced as locally as possible.
• Franklin Pizza Tavern serves beautiful hand-tossed pies that you can carry out or eat inside.

Entertainment

• Catch a show at the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts!

Shopping

• Outdoor lovers will adore the gift shop, Trail Mix, while home chefs will get lost for hours at Kitchen Sink.
  
  
• Franklin fashionistas are lucky to have the Blush Boutique downtown!

Things to Do

• With in-town access to world-renowned hiking trails such as the Appalachian Trail, the Bartram Trail, and the Little Tennessee Greenway, there are hundreds of trails in a small radius of our area! Drive up to Wayah Bald Lookout Tower if you want to see incredible views without the hike. Pickens Nose is an easy-to-moderate hike that is short and has some big rewards at the top, too!
  
  
• The drive from Franklin to Highlands is a beautiful one with rock walls, waterfalls, and rushing rivers! Check out Bust Your Butt Falls, Dry Falls, and some other secret places to pull over on the side of the road and explore. Highlands Excursion offers an unforgettable tour of all the hidden delights.
  
  
• There's a plethora of lakes for you to explore, including Lake Nantahala, Glenville, Chatuge, Fontana, Rabun, Burton, and Seed.
  
  
• Dig for your own rubies and sapphires at Mason’s Ruby and Sapphire Mine!
  
  
• Kids will love snow tubing, snow play, and ice skating at Highlands Outpost, which also has the longest gravity-powered coaster in North Carolina.
  
  
• Highlands Aerial Park has an eight-zipline canopy tour spanning 95 acres of pristine mountain wilderness.