Location: Franklin
Top Things to do in Franklin
10 Things to Do in Franklin That You Shouldn't Miss
Franklin is a town in Franklin Township, Macon County, North Carolina, United States, within the Nantahala National Forest. The population was 3,845 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Macon County. Franklin is an official Appalachian Trail-friendly destination. The Franklin area is rich in gems and minerals and is known locally as the "Gem Capital of The World."
Restaurants in Franklin
1. Wayah Bald Lookout Tower
Overall Ratings
5 based on 218 reviews
Reviewed By jannabreton - Franklin, North Carolina
The trip to the top was great. Yes the road is curvey and the gravel road is narrow, but what do youe expect?, You are traveling to the top of a mountain. Beautiful clear day, blue skies. I want to go back and see the sunset. Worth every second. On the way down we stopped at the Wilson Lick Ranger Station. I love seeing buildings that take you back in time. A lot of scenery along the way. I'm sure in the spring or even the fall the trees are really something to see.
2. Franklin Gem and Mineral Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 137 reviews
Housed in the Historic 1850 Macon County Jail, the museum has approximately 6000 items on display in 8 separate rooms on two floors. The displays cover the history of mining in Western North Carolina, fossils, Indian artifacts, fluorescent minerals and gems and specimens from all 50 States of the USA and various countries of the world.
Reviewed By Road_Warrior32034 - Fernandina Beach, Florida
We were doing a thrifting tour of Franklin and stopped in to the Gemstone Museum for a look-see. We were most impressed by the enthusiasm, energy and expertise of the volunteers as we were welcomed to the museum. They were eager to help visitors understand how the museum was organized, pointed out things of special interest and were helpful in many other ways. The museum has no entrance fee, but would probably welcome donations in their jar by the front door. The items were nicely labeled and displayed in glass cases. One room was specially designed to display phosphorescent stones. One room was for gems found in North Carolina. Another room had examples of gems from all the states, organized alphabetically by state of origin. Even their gift shop sold beautiful, quality items that you could take home with you for a price.
It was very nice to view rocks, gems, fossils, geodes, a dinosaur egg and even dinosaur poop to make the children say "ewwww", all nicely organized and displayed in the old jailhouse. And if your children get antsy and start to misbehave, you can put them in an actual scary jail cell that was used until 1977 and preserved upstairs.
The bottom floor appeared to be accessible by those with limited mobility, but not the second floor.
3. Rose Creek Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 204 reviews
Reviewed By delyn35 - Placerville, California
Spent several hours at Rose Creek. Tom and Linda are very helpful and fun to talk to about rocks. The dirt piles are close by , though you can buy salted buckets. I found several very nice gems and nongem quality rocks. Highly recommend you visit this mine.
4. Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 139 reviews
Reviewed By mountainlaker - Blairsville, Georgia
Awesome...beautiful place. All seats are just fine. Whenever OVERSTOCK Theatre is having a production. .. do NOT miss. Scotty Corbin is fabulous. Many friends from Chicago and New York, just love to visit this place, they always hope a production is scheduled. Also many other shows to see, too. Ex: Neil Diamond impersonator, The Letterman, different comedians, gospel groups.
5. Mason's Ruby & Sapphire Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 363 reviews
Mason's Sapphire Mine is an all-natural, dig your own sapphire mine that has been in operation since 1942 in Franklin NC. We also offer enriched buckets so everyone can find something to love! Masons mine is a safe, fun, and unique experience to add to your family trip!
Reviewed By Leigh P - Fruitland Park, Florida
I was not so impressed with this mine. Granted, you never know what you are going to get but with four of us and all the times we went back to dig for more dirt, you’d think you would find something since I heard such...MoreThank you for sharing your experience. We are sorry to hear that your group didn't find anything. Being that it is a native mine there is never a guarantee of finding stones. We hope in the future you will give the mine another chance.
6. Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 187 reviews
Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine is Macon County's ONLY 100% Unsalted Mine, located in the heart of the Beautiful Cowee Valley of North Carolina's Smoky Mountains.
Reviewed By kahoe59 - Raleigh, North Carolina
We had the friendly greeting by 'mom', Matt was very informational, but Lisa could have cared less. Neither of them did a second chance to see if we had missed anything. We went through eight buckets and didn't find a single thing. Eight buckets!!! No one can be that unlucky. I guess the only accurate thing about them is that they say they don't guarantee you will find anything, and that is the truth. Don't waste your time or money.
7. Cowee Mountain Ruby Mine
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 72 reviews
Reviewed By Pnkmdgt - Palmetto Bay
My kids (8, & 11) had a blast! The attendant was hilarious and made the time spent even more worth it. My kids loved him! He really brought my daughter, who is normally very shy, out of her shell and got her laughing. He had everyone at the place laughing. We bought an extra bucket just to stay a bit longer and had it not been closing time already we would have probably gotten a few more buckets. The kids got tons of cool stones. They loved their "diet soda" rocks (sodalite) and their "Dalmatian" rocks (Dalmatian Jasper). Mom loved all the Amethyst and Citrine. Im so glad we stopped here. Definitely worth it. We will definitely be going back next year.
**note: if you do visit, be prepared to get dirty. btw- the clay does stain and does NOT come out of anything. =)
8. Currahee Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 33 reviews
Welcome to Currahee Brewing Company! Enjoy your experience in our 2000 sq. ft. German biergarten style tasting room and outdoor riverfront patio. We focus on European-inspired ales and lagers, and have cans and growlers to go. Enjoy a beer flight and bite to eat from our food truck, Mountain Fresh Grocery's Catering Kitchen, open 7 days a week. Cheers!
Reviewed By Greg F - Florida
They had quite the variety of food and brews. The Garand IPA was particularly good. Large tables indoors and out
9. Sheffield Mine
Overall Ratings
4 based on 136 reviews
Sift through the dirt to find rubies or other minerals.
Reviewed By rockdoctor48 - Norfolk, Virginia
This mine has been very productive for me for 17 years. I have found many stones over 30 carats and two over 100 carats. Some have cut into beautiful cabs and I have sold some of them mounted in jewelry.
These are lavender to purple and some pink rubies and sapphires. Most are small chips which can be used in small necklace bottle or collected and placed in glass spice jars for display.
Do not rush the cleaning process when you go to this mine.
This is not a true "mine" as the buckets are filled from the hillside behind the shop. Tiffany and American Gem prospected this many years ago and moved a lot of dirt when they opened the original mine and that is what constitutes the dirt in the buckets. They did not find a source for the stones and abandoned the area.
10. Pickens Nose
Overall Ratings
5 based on 22 reviews
Reviewed By RandyCP - Santa Barbara, California
approx 2 mile roundtrip hike to the Nose and then wide open beautiful vista. fairly easy moderate hike to the Nose with slight elevations. Some off shoot trails to checkout while on the main trail to see some other spectacular views. Highly recommend this little jaunt. Hard part was getting to it. Easy way and hard way. Hard way would recommend having a jeep or other 4 wheel drive as it winds up the mountain with some serious switchbacks and hairpins, one wrong turn off edge and go tumbling down. Very rutty road due to water. However, easier way in off Albert Mountain side just a bit longer. Fun hike for family and even young ones, just be careful of steps so you dont twist an ankle and of course be careful when you get to cliffs as they are no barriers over the edge. But definitely worth the time and effort to see spectacular views. Peace and happy new year.
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