Being a high school student isn’t as fun as one would think, especially when you live in a small town like Franklin. You and your friends hang out at the same little places like Walmart, The Factory, and wherever else is good enough for some solid entertainment.
But what if there were other outlets for entertainment just 15-30 miles from town? What if there were hidden gems right inside your town that you didn’t even know were there?
In this article, you’ll get to read all about the 15 best places in and around Franklin for you to explore.
15. City Lights Bookstore ~ 3 E Jackson St, Sylva, NC
City Lights Bookstore is a bookstore located in Sylva, NC. It’s a delightful place just above the City Lights Cafe.
Inside, you can roam amongst the array of genres, puzzles, displays, trinkets, merchandise, and even meet their bookstore cat, Cedric!
It’s perfect for a day of aimless wandering and for those who enjoy a good book on a rainy day.
14. In Your Ear Music Emporium ~ 573 W Main St, Sylva, NC
In Your Ear Music Emporium is a music and records store located on Sylva’s Main Street. Right out front, you can find yourself eye-catching designs even before walking into the building.
Here, you can find a vast selection of different albums, CDs and vinyl, genres, musicians, merchandise, and much more.
With an environment full of rock n’ roll with the clash of jazz and pop, this place is a vibe worth spending the day in.
Feel free to leave a little sticky note on the note wall on your way out, too!
13. The Rathskeller Coffee Bar and Pub ~ 58 Stewart St, Franklin, NC
Hidden within the Back Street of Main Street, Franklin, NC, you can find the lively and cozy cafe and pub, The Rathskeller.
With a beautiful atmosphere that holds a dark and hidden yet bustling and social hours in the late evenings, it has plenty of things to drop by for.
Hosting a variety of things such as trivia nights, poetry nights, open mic nights, and live music weekly from local artists around town, it’s certainly a place that’s worth your time.
Even if you’re just dropping by for a morning coffee, a midday lunch or simply just a place to focus your mind on studies and assignments, it’s a perfect place for just that.
12. Funky Fern Emporium ~ 233 Wall St, Waynesville, NC
Are you a fan of bizarre patterns, colorful expression, maybe even vintage pop? If so, then the Funky Fern Emporium, located close to Main Street in Waynesville, is the place for you. Take some time to stop by and browse the array of strange necessities and clothing they have.
Inside, you’ll find yourself lost in the collection of clothes, decor, beautiful displays, and hidden treasures from local artists that hide amongst the store.
Furthermore, the great majority of their clothing collection consists of retro and vintage items from the 90s and 80s, even some from the 60s and 70s.
If you’re looking for a place with eye-catching decorations and unique one-of-a-kind finds, then the Funky Fern Emporium is the place for you.
11. Snake Song ~ 610 W Main St, Sylva, NC
Snake Song is an apothecary and unique store that stretches from Sylva’s Main Street to the Back Street.
Inside, you’ll find a plentiful collection of plants, taxidermy displays, jewelry, herbs, crystals, and more within the gothic forest vibe the place brings to those who wander in.
With immersive artwork and designs from local artists around Sylva and NC, browsing inside a place like this is sure to be an unforgettable experience.
10. A Novel Escape ~ 60 E Main St, Franklin, NC
A Novel Escape is a cozy bookstore located on Main Street, Franklin, NC. With a clean yet antique interior, you can enjoy your time browsing books and neat knick-knacks that they keep on display.
Inside, you’ll find copies of new and trending books, organized by genre and age range. The bookstore also has an extensive used book collection in every genre.
A Novel Escape has an upcoming Trivia Night, on November 20th, 2025, at 6:30 PM with a $5 admission fee.
If you like browsing and finding the latest books that everyone’s talking about, then A Novel Escape is a marvelous place to visit.
9. Ghost Apothecary ~ 112 N Main St, Clayton, GA
Located on Main Street, Clayton, GA, Ghost Apothecary is a wonderful place to visit.
Housing crystals, tarot cards, board games, trinkets, books, accessories, and more, Ghost Apothecary holds a variety of unique gifts and treasures.
Recently added upstairs is a new bookstore and tea bar, giving a collection of unique books and the smell of warm tea brewing. It’s certainly a good place to calm your nerves.
8. White Moon Cafe & Dark Moon Cocktail Bar ~ 545 Mill St, Sylva, NC
White Moon Cafe & Dark Moon Cocktail Bar is a lively and welcoming cafe located behind Sylva’s Main Street.
Commonly found bustling with people and warm energy, it’s open to any expression you bring in. Plus, they have a delicious menu with different foods like bagels, acai bowls, smoothies, vegan-friendly options, and more.
With friendly staff and considering bartenders, this cafe is sure to be a landmark to visit again.
7. Dry Falls ~ Highlands, NC
Dry Falls is a gorgeous waterfall outlook located in Highlands, NC, giving the gift of a beautiful scenic route through a portion of the Nantahala National Forest on your way there.
Be sure to dress warm and prepare to get a bit wet because this waterfall has a wrap-around walkway that provides not only a beautiful close-up of the rushing water, but also a collection of caves and rock crevices to explore.
There’s also a lookout to give a full overview of the waterfall from higher ground, a landmark for photography, and more.
6. Underground Sylva ~ 635 Mill Street, Sylva, NC
Underground Sylva is a unique store full of different items and eccentricities, located on the backside of Main Street, Sylva, NC.
Inside, you can find vinyl, rock and metal t-shirts, vintage clothing, one-of-a-kind decor, bearded dragons, and even a bird sanctuary to view and watch.
Underground is a staple place to tour in Sylva, and it’s hard to miss with its colorful Pink Floyd and mushroom window paintings.
5. Wayah Bald ~ 4419 Wayah Bald Rd, Franklin, NC
Wayah Bald is a lookout tower located on a high mountain that overlooks the town of Franklin, NC, all the way to the Great Smoky Mountains. With gorgeous scenery and a story to tell from it, it’s worth a visit for outdoor fans.
From the lookout, you can see where the healthy and living trees meet a divide from the dead and completely white ones.
In 2016, a wildfire set ablaze the trees surrounding Wayah Bald, leaving the forest and lookout damaged. After being reopened in 2018, nothing can erase the history that the lookout tower provides.
4. American Museum of the House Cat ~ 5063 US Highway 441 S, Sylva, NC
Set as a detour off the side of Highway 441, the American Museum of the House Cat is a national landmark right here in NC.
Known as the one and only cat museum of America, it holds a collection of antiques, artifacts, animatronics, and more, all of… well, cats!
It’s an alluring and fascinating place to go, with such recognition nationally, there’s no doubt it wouldn’t captivate the attention of its new visitors immediately.
3. Highlands Road Gem Mine ~ 4961 Highlands Rd, Franklin, NC
If you’re a fan of collecting gems, stones, and even mining for them, you’ll enjoy visiting the Highlands Road Gem Mine.
Located on Highlands Road in Franklin, NC, it presents a beautiful museum of crystals and gems, as well as fossils and purchasable pieces.
If you just so happen to have a desire to look for some rocks straight from the raw flesh of the Earth’s plentiful inside, then consider taking a trip to the Highlands Road Gem Mine.
2. Macon County Public Library ~ 149 Siler Farm Rd, Franklin, NC
The Macon County Public Library is a great setting to hang out if you’re studying or just looking for a quiet place to read.
Not to mention, with a vast array of events and clubs, it’s a nice place to check out and stay in the loop for new experiences.
And if you’re not into clubs, group activities, or reading, there’s always their collection of DVDs and CDs for check-out.
1. Wander North Georgia ~ 87 N Main St, Clayton, GA
Wander North Georgia is a gift shop located on Main Street, Clayton, GA. It offers a collection of unique gifts and treasures for fans of nature and its wildlife.
Not only a collection of clothes, hiking gear, home decor, and more, but they also have a downstairs bookstore for those who love to read.
Enjoy your time browsing their unique collection of books for all ages, and maybe picking up some gifts for the holiday season.
So the next time you find yourself with a day to spend wandering around the great mountains of NC, consider taking a trip to some of these unique must-see places close to your town!
Happy travels, and the staff of The Prowler Press wish you a long and relaxing Thanksgiving break!
