You might ask yourself, “why do I want to vacation in Franklin?” The answer is why not vacation in Franklin! There’s plenty to do and see; activities, tours, white water rafting, biking, exploring waterfalls, hunting for gems, golfing, hiking the Appalachian Trail and so much more.
The Cherokee Indians called this place “Nikwasi” centuries ago and it was considered to be a center of activity and very spiritual. As the Europeans slowly advanced across the country, this site was settled and renamed Franklin in honor of Benjamin Franklin. However, there are still remains of a sacred mound built by the Cherokees near the downtown area.
Today, Franklin bustles with activity. There are concerts and events throughout the year including concerts at the Smoky Mountain Center for Performing Arts, artisan crafts around the town square, outdoor concerts featuring mountain music, and parades for July 4th, Veterans Day and Christmas. The townspeople and businesses are very involved in portraying Franklin in a warm and inviting way.
Did you know this small town of less than 4,000 has been called “the gem capital of the world”? These gems include garnets, rubies, sapphires, moonstones, quartz, amethyst and Citrine to name a few. As a matter of fact, there is a 2.5 pound ruby on display at the museum. That's amazing.
This is just a small portion of what Franklin has to offer. Remember, why not vacation in Franklin! You’ll have a good time, guaranteed.