Sixteen years ago Cassandra and I planned an escape to the Smoky Mountains of western NC. At the time Cassandra was working 2 jobs and I was working while enrolled in Grad School. I had a brief break between my summer and fall sessions and we took advantage by getting away for a week. Since this vacation, Cassandra and I have travelled all over the country and the world. We have loved our travels and wouldn’t have changed those experiences for anything. However, escaping to the Smoky Mountains still remains one of our favorite trips ever.
With this trip taking place 16 years ago, some of the businesses we visited in and around Franklin, NC are no longer open. I will provide info and links below for businesses that we both have and have not used but I will let you know those we haven’t used personally. I’ve done a lot of research and feel comfortable recommending any business or activity that I’ve provided below. However, since the Smoky Mountains are such a popular tourist destination, there are many more options for all aspects
Lastly, since this trip was so long ago I did not have a digital camera at that point. I took so many amazing photos while on this vacation but one of the few downsides of RV living is the fact that dragging a giant plastic tub of photographs around the country isn’t really an option. Since our photos are 1000 miles away in storage I had to pull pictures off of the web and I will provide credit to these photographers.
Smoky Mountains: Lodging
Now you have plenty of options for hotels and cabin rentals near Franklin, NC available online today. When we took this trip, there wasn’t as many options available online to find rentals. We lucked out with an amazing cabin rental through Rivendell Cabins Rentals tucked away with amazing views over looking the Smoky Mountains. Rivendell has 3 options for cabins and we chose the Cedar Cabin. It was so private yet still close to most of the major attractions in the area.
Even though we had such an amazing time with everything we did, the cabin really was the highlight of the trip. Whether it was watching the mist rise from the mountains in the morning while drinking coffee on the deck, or watching the amazing sunset colors in the evening we just fell in love with this location. Also, the best part is they are pet friendly and we were able to bring both of our dogs along with us on this trip.
Smoky Mountains: Hiking Trails
There are an abundant amount of waterfalls in western NC. In addition to seeing waterfalls, the higher peaks offer fantastic views of the surrounding Smoky Mountains. However, these views require some effort to hike up the steep trails. We hiked all over this area and we were willing to drive a bit farther for some hikes. There are so many options for waterfall hikes when it comes to length and intensity. I’ll provide a few higher rated hikes, near Franklin, that don’t necessarily have you over exerting yourself.
All the info provided for these links will come from the All Trails app. While I do like the app, I will warn you that sometimes the info isn’t incredibly accurate. I’ve found errors in length and intensity so you should be aware of these issues. I find the reviews for individual hikes incredibly helpful though. You can really find a lot of info describing current trail conditions from others that are using the app. This can help prepare you a bit more before tackling these trails.
A final note that due to the plentiful waterfalls and steep mountains, slick conditions may exist. Prepare yourself by bringing plenty of water, sun block for exposed areas, and hiking poles. I’ve purposely picked some of the shorter hikes so you can experience the beauty of the area with a relatively low risk of straining yourself. Please use the utmost caution while hiking because trail conditions can play a big role in injuries.
Popular Waterfalls:
Rufus Morgan Loop: This popular waterfall can be reached via a 1 mile loop trail. Be aware that there are seasonal closures of this trail from early January until early April. If you want to hike this trail during those times, All Trails provides other options for reaching the falls. (approx. 30 minutes from Franklin)
Dry Falls Trail: A short out and back trail with a total length of about a quarter of a mile. One of the more popular waterfalls to see near Franklin. The big draw for this trail is the walkway that goes behind the falls that hikers can walk on. (approx. 30 minutes from Franklin)
Combo Hike:
Bartram Trail: Wallace Branch To William’s Pulpit: This hike provides a beautiful waterfall only minutes from the parking area. However if you want to push yourself a bit this 4 mile out and back trail provides breathtaking views of the Smoky Mountains after a steep climb to a lookout point. This is definitely more challenging than the other two hikes but if prepared it is well worth it. (approx. 15 minutes from Franklin)
Whitewater Rafting Options
With all the streams and rivers in the area, it should be no surprise that whitewater rafting is a huge draw in the Smoky Mountains. There are several different outfitters to choose from but most companies offer two river options for rafting. We went with Carolina Outfitters and couldn’t have been happier with our experience. If you’ve followed our posts, you may know that we loved our experience rafting in Maine. Luckily our first experience ever with rafting was a much tamer river to learn our skills!
Nantahala River:
This is the river we chose and feel it is a great way to gain experience with whitewater rafting. You have the option of doing these half-day tours with or without a guide and bring you through Class II-III rapids. (Actually only the very last rapid is Class III). The river is dam released which keeps the rapids consistent no matter the time of year. One warning though is that this river was extremely cold even in mid-August.
We enjoyed the combination of smaller rapids and periods of calm as we drifted down to our extraction point. Even though it is a bit on the mild side, the last rapid definitely gives you a thrill especially if you’re a beginner. Since we chose unguided, we were warned to make sure we got out at the extraction point because just after there are some Class V rapids. Since we were waiting for a few others to reach the end before heading back, we walked down to see what they looked like. Let’s just say you DEFINITELY don’t want to miss your exit!!
Ocoee River:
If you are looking for a bit more of a challenge, Carolina Outfitters has 1 more option. The Ocoee River offers Class III-IV rapids on guided only tours that can be half or full day options. Full day options also provide guests with lunch on the river. While we did not choose this option, the Ocoee River is one of the most popular rivers to raft on in the country. In fact, part of this river was used to host the whitewater rafting events for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA!
Enjoying The Views From Horseback
Cassandra and I both are animal lovers, and we both love to go horseback riding. We knew we wanted to take advantage of this during our trip to the Smoky Mountains. Today, there are many different options for stables near Franklin that offer horseback riding tours. However, we did not have a lot of options when we visited nearly two decades ago. Still, we lucked out with an amazing experience with Arrowmont Stables.
Arrowmont provides multiple options for 1 hour horseback tours. You can also combine the best parts of each and extend your visit to a two hour tour. Every tour starts with a brief safety instruction before you are ready to hit the trails. Even with our limited experience riding at this point, the guides made us feel totally comfortable. We chose the 2 hour tour and loved it.
We went up and down mountain sides, through woods, and along lakes and streams. It really did allow us to enjoy the beautiful views the Smoky Mountains have to offer while letting the horse do all the work! I feel what made this experience standout over all the other rides we’ve done was the elevation. Having to reposition yourself to deal with the inclines and declines made it more exciting. It felt more like horseback riding and less of just being on the back of a horse as it walked around. It truly was an amazing experience!
The Start Of A New Addiction…Gem Mining
All of the above mentioned activities were things we already planned on doing prior to our vacation. However, once we arrived to Franklin we couldn’t help notice all the places to go gem mining. Even with everything else we did in the Smoky Mountains, we still managed to go gem mining at 3 different locations! It really was a fun experience for us, but I could see families bringing their kids here for a great time as well.
The basic premise is you buy a bucket of dirt and take it out to the water trough. You scoop some of your first onto a screen and dip it into the water to wash the dirt away. In the end the goal is to find gemstones. They will provide you with some info on what to look for, such as rocks with flat surfaces or a dull sheen. Anything you are unsure of you can also bring back inside to have it inspected for free to see if you got something good.
We found a huge variety of stones but most common were smoky and rose quartz and amethyst. We were even able to find some garnets, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds as well! You are able to keep whatever you find, but many places give you an option to have your gems made into jewelry for a fee. We really enjoyed just searching for the gems but we did have some of the larger finds made into jewelry.
Our Favorite Spots:
As I said we went to 3 locations unfortunately one is no longer in business. I wanted to provide links to the 2 others. I will also add one more link to a place that gives you the option to go dig your own dirt for the buckets right on their property. Again we have not visited this place but the reviews are fantastic.
Gold City Gem Mine: Located right in Franklin. We found a 2 ct. emerald and a 14 ct. ruby here. We had these stones mounted into jewelry! Luckily this was on our last full day before leaving, or I probably would have come back everyday after. 🙂
Nantahala River Gem Mine: This was just down the road from our rafting location. It would be a great option to do either before or after rafting depending on what time you hit the river.
Cherokee Ruby And Sapphire Mine: Located in Franklin they allow you to dig your own dirt to fill your buckets. Please follow all safety measures explained on site.
Southern Comfort, BBQ, And Beer
Having lived in the Carolinas for several years, we know what this area is known for when it comes to food. During our stay in the Smoky Mountains, we chose to take advantage of the full kitchen in our cabin and made most of our meals there. We did pass by a BBQ place several times as we explored the area and decided to try out our first taste of Carolina BBQ. Unfortunately, with our trip being so long ago this restaurant closed down. However, with extensive research I’ve picked three places that will give you a taste of what the Carolinas are best known for.
Ms. Lois’ Restaurant: One thing I’ve learned to love over the years is good southern comfort food. Great southern cooking will fill your belly and warm your soul. This restaurant comes highly rated through Google, Yelp, and Tripadvisor and is located right in Franklin.
Haywood Smokehouse: The Carolinas are definitely known for their BBQ. Haywood Smokehouse have several locations including one right in Franklin. Their fresh, never frozen, meat is smoked daily to ensure an amazing flavor. If you’ve never had BBQ in the Carolinas you don’t know what you’re missing.
Time To Wash It Down:
Lazy Hiker Brewing Company: Of course I’ve got to show a little love to local breweries. Lazy Hiker has been open since 2015 but has expanded to a second location outside of Franklin. Their beers can be found all over western NC and NE Georgia so you can still sample them even if you miss out on the brewery.
Day Trips Around The Smoky Mountains
There were two more options I wanted to mention for activities to do in the area. Both of these locations are not that far from Franklin and would make perfect day trips to explore other parts of the Smoky Mountains.
Cherokee, NC
Located less than an hour from Franklin Cherokee, NC is located on the eastern edge of a Cherokee reservation. Cherokee offers a wide variety of activities to choose from. If you are a history buff, travel back in time to the mid 1700’s to the Oconaluftee Indian Village and explore how life was for this tribe in those days. Learn about the Cherokee culture and history at the Museum of the Cherokee People. You can also admire, or purchase, Cherokee works of art or authentic crafts at Qualla Arts and Craft Mutual, Inc. or the Islands Park Art Market.
If you love the outdoors, Cherokee is perfect for you. There are a wide range of activities to take part in for the nature lover or wildlife enthusiast. Hiking, tubing, fishing, wildlife viewing and much more can all be done from this town. With so many options, I highly recommend checking out the provided link to see what may interest you here.
Finally, two other options near Cherokee to enjoy are the Sequoyah National Golf Club and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort. The Sequoyah National Golf Club is tucked into the beautiful surroundings of the Smoky Mountains. It was also ranked #2 in Golf Magazine‘s “Best New Course You Can Play” back in 2009. Harrah’s Casino was the first casino to open in North Carolina and offers plenty of dining options or relax and take a spa day!
Dollywood:
Although we talked about it when we were there, we chose not to go to Dollywood on our visit. However, we have had several of our friends and family visit and they raved about it. Dollywood is a top rated amusement and water park. It is located less than 2 hours from Franklin and is set in among the stunning scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains. Along with the rides, Dollywood offers plenty of options for dining and shopping. You can also take in exclusive shows or take part in a variety of craft exhibits. Amusement Today gave Dollywood their Golden Ticket Award in 2023 for Best Park and Best Guest Experience. It really is a must do for any amusement park enthusiast.
Wrapping Up
We truly did love our experience in the Smoky Mountains. It is a vacation that we still hold dear in our hearts. I’m also happy to see that most of the businesses we visited so long ago are still thriving today. We really would not have changed any part of this trip. We had such an amazing time visiting and really loved how relaxing the trip was even though we fit a lot into our itinerary. I can honestly say the Smoky Mountains are one of my favorite places in the US.
Thank you for visiting our website and if you’d like to hear a little more about our personal stories from this trip, you can check out our podcast episode related to this. We would highly recommend this area for anyone considering a vacation in or around Franklin, NC. It really was a dream vacation! Wishing you safe travels and wonderful memories, take care.
