Franklin and Macon County, North Carolina is a lovely year-round mountain area with enough goods and services to make life easy but with the charm of an “Old Time Main Street” offering quaint shops, and various museums. Before the town was settled and founded in 1855, the Franklin, NC area was home to the Cherokee Indian Nation. The Cherokee called this area "Nikwasi" meaning "center of activity". Today the Town of Franklin and Macon County host innumerable activities for vacationers and residents alike, catering to many different hobbies and interests.
The area is world famous for its gem mining. Franklin hosts the famous jewelry and gem show, “Gemboree” twice a year, an event that draws crowds from across the country and around the world. Franklin offers multiple craft, harvest and heritage celebrations every year. The Octoberfest celebration in the fall offers crafts, foods and the annual “Pumpkin Roll” competition. Scottish Heritage weekend and The Taste of Scotland festival celebrate the proud forefathers of the local mountain folk. The “Streets of Franklin” promenade is held at Christmastime featuring Turn of the Century dress and carolers on Main Street. The Macon County Fair held in September of each year is one of the last purely agrarian fairs in the country, offering free admission. Local produce, cooking, hobbies and livestock are center stage. There is no carnival atmosphere or amusement park rides to take away from the real heart of this timeless American tradition. “Pickin’ on the Square” is a music and dance program held at the gazebo on Main Street in front of the County Courthouse on Saturday evenings from April through October with free admission (bring your own chair) and street venders for locally grown produce and Bar-B-Que.
Franklin and Macon County, North Carolina are home to many very diverse hobby groups. There are antique car groups, wood carvers, farm tractor collectors, gardeners, quilters, gun clubs, coon hunters and soap makers just to name a few. Whatever your interest, you’ll find kindred spirits in Franklin. There is always something happening in Franklin!
For more information about Franklin check out the Franklin, NC Chamber of Commerce.
Dillsboro and Highlands, North Carolina offer an assortment of activities. Highlands features fine dining, art galleries, boutique shopping and upscale spa facilities. Dillsboro is home to the Smoky Mountain Railroad, running between Dillsboro and Bryson City, NC. The Railroad features seasonal themes such as The Polar Express as well as murder-mystery dinners, gourmet dinner rides, Oktoberfest/Gourmet beer excursion and the Raft N’ Ride combination, a great way to experience the scenic train ride and enjoy rafting the family-friendly Nantahala River! Experience the Christmas season like no place else at Luminaries on the Streets of Dillsboro.
For those with an active lifestyle, take advantage of nearby activities such as hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, tubing and camping. Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee, NC is just up the road only minutes away and offers nightlife in the form of gambling, live entertainment, fine dining and more! For the shopping enthusiast, Franklin, Dillsboro and Highlands are just over the mountain from Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville, with an abundance of name brand outlet shopping, family entertainment, the full gamut of dining experiences!
For a list things to do and see in the area go to the area attractions page.
The climate in Franklin has something for everyone! A four season town, the rich biodiversity in the area provides a lavish background of beauty in any season. In early Spring hundreds of daffodils volunteer along the roadsides to herald the coming of spring, and the grasses come in as a brilliant easter-egg green shortly thereafter. In April the Dogwoods begin to bloom, ushering in fresh new leaves on the myriad of trees native to this area. In May/June the native Flame Azaleas begin their color show, in brilliant orange, which brings admirers from all over the country. Summer features cool nights, cold crystal-clear mountain streams and the fuschia blooms of the wild rhododendron as well as mountain laurel, and is wrapped up in August with the array of colors of the daylillies which line the roadsides. Our Fall color rivals any in the eastern United States due to the verdant biodiversity in the area. The brilliant reds and oranges of the Maple trees compete with the yellows of our Poplars and Oaks to produce a breathtaking show, even in a bad year, and is the centerpiece of vacations and road trips for both tourists and locals alike. Winters are mild and relatively short, in a lucky year producing just enough snow to appease the lovers of Old Man Winter. Average annual snow fall in Macon County is under 6 inches and, unhappily for school children, melts quickly under the frequent warm winter sun.
Our temperate climate and beautiful scenery brings people back time and time again, many times to stay! Come visit us and consider making Franklin, North Carolina your home!
