The Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts is a modern, technologically advanced theater with seating capacity for 1,500 people. It offers a variety of professional shows including theater performances, dance festivals, concerts, films and comedy shows. Despite its large size, the venue never feels overcrowded and offers reasonable prices for tickets and refreshments. The staff is known for being friendly and helpful to guests.
Performance was good. Saw Footloose. Easy to find. Seating mostly good(Guy in front of me blocked my view. We moved after intermission.) Snacks are allowed and reasonable prices! Kind of refreshing. Wife and I enjoyed the evening.
John Myers — Google review
They have a great theater. There are no bad seats. The acoustics are amazing. As a performer, I also like the spacious wings and the ease of finding your way to the different dressing rooms. As a photographer, the lighting is perfect to get photos with a professional camera.
Julie Wall (Pixie) — Google review
This is such a great place for live shows. Whether it's a play like The wizard of or an up close and personal concert from one of their many musicians. The seating capacity is only 1500 so it's not like you have to deal with big crowds. The seats were fairly comfortable pretty much your standard theater going chairs. There's also a snack stand here with popcorn and goodies along with soda pop and other delightful treats. They also have a dedicated coffee bar which is really nice 🙂. The ticket price was quite reasonable. I Saw The wizard of Oz and got orchestra third row for $18. A large popcorn and large soda set me back a measly 8 bux. And I have to throw this in the production of The wizard of Oz was done quite well.
Warfather1964 — Google review
Wow! What an amazing venue. Big, but didn't feel crowded and we got in the building and out of the parking lot without much waiting. Reasonable prices for everything! Tickets were surprisingly good in today's crazy overpriced world! Refreshments were also fair prices, which is SO nice. They don't price gouge, so normally where we wouldn't have purchased anything, we got a large soda and large popcorn for like $8. The seats were good, able to see the stage well enough with people in front of us. The staff was also friendly, helpful and kind. This place has great events and we will definitely come back.
Susan Clark — Google review
We went to the Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts tonight. They featured a wonderful performance of “Beauty and the Beast”. The props and backdrops were awesome! The actors were great. The facility was very nice, with clean bathrooms and a nice concession area.
L Floyd — Google review
This venue is excellent. No bad seats in the house. Staff is friendly and attentive. Plenty of parking and easily accessible. Only con is that the lines for the snack bars seemed long and slow moving. I think they could use another bar and more help. Overall excellent place.
Josh Watson — Google review
Can't say enough Good things about this place, the atmosphere, the acoustics, and the friendliness of the staff and volunteers is beyond anything I've seen in this area. Last night we saw Crystal Gayle which was an exquisite treat. I can't say enough good things about how wonderful the sound was and how exceptional the show was. This is a treat that everyone in the Atlanta and surrounding areas needs to experience.
Jennifer Salmon — Google review
This is an absolutely incredible venue. There's truly not a bad seat in the house. Seating is very comfortable. They have a very good selection of shows throughout the year. Facilities are always clean and up to date. I would strongly encourage anyone to visit this location for any concerts or shows that might be offered.
Joey Gibson — Google review
Great acoustics, every seat a good one. Terrific venue.
Brian Schuster — Google review
We love going to shows here. There's no bad seats in such a large theater so you're always able to see everything going on. We've seen numerous plays, concerts and comedy shows and it's always the first place we check for new events.
Diana Allen — Google review
Our first time here and it was great! Jeremy Camp in concert was awesome. Big enough to not feel crowded, small enough to feel personal. We thoroughly had a wonderful experience!
Rob Zombie — Google review
My family and I have been to several shows here in many capacities, from school field trips to date nights. I've never been disappointed! Staff are very helpful and friendly, bathrooms are clean, and seating is easy to navigate!
Holly M. — Google review
I was really impressed with this theater. The seating was comfortable. The sound was great. Getting drinks was a slow process. If you go here to see a show you will probably enjoy it.
Raymond Buckingham — Google review
Beautiful venue, not a bad seat in the house. Nice large stage with excellent sound and lighting. Went to see Departure concert, fantastic!
David Womacks — Google review
I love this venue. There is hardly a bad seat in the house. Prices are pretty reasonable for tickets and they bring in some great artists
💎Absolutely LOVED our experience. 🤩 Was looking for a gem mining experience that was off the beaten path and away from the tourist spots, nestled in nature. Rose Creek Mine delivered. The drive to this place was wonderful and the owners were delightful. Enjoyed digging our own buckets and sifting at our own pace. We thought we’d stop for an hour and ended up spending all afternoon - closing th place out. We walked away with gorgeous gems, Rubies, Saphires, Emeralds and felt so relaxed by the end of the day. Would definitely come back.
melissa fox — Google review
We found this place on our way out of town. It was highly recommended and didn’t disappoint! We got a couple of kid’s buckets and a native dig. Then my husband did the Geode cut. The staff was very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. The kids had some beautiful finds and they labeled each bag for them, taking the time to explain what each item was and its origin. We were so happy to make this part of our Spring Break trip. We will definitely return when we are in the area!
Brandi Geisert — Google review
Ok, my wife is the gem miner but this is THE place to go, better than any other I have been to and have been to many. Dig your own pail from the mine - excellent touch. And the exam by the folks who run it is the best part. Knowledgeable, friendly and they label and bag your treasures while you watch - an excellent part of the overall experience. The grounds are beautiful with many flowers, bird feeders and a playground for the kiddos. Also have a gift shop if you didn't clean what you wanted. We will definitely be back. Recommend the Super bucket and let friends help👍
Doug Hastie — Google review
Offers dig your own buckets!!!
This was so much fun and we found beautiful gems.
The staff is friendly knowledgeable and very helpful from start to finish.
They even identified every stone and put them in their own bags so we knew exactly what we found. No other mine has done that.
I've been to the other tourist mines in Franklin and this is by far the best.
Sean Price — Google review
My son and I visited for spring break and had so much fun! He got a salted bucket with amethyst that was well worth the money. I just dug my own and ended up with a piece of pottery and some beautiful garnets. He also cracked his own geode, which was one of the highlights of our trip! Both the owner, and the sweet lady helping him, were extremely knowledgeable and joy to talk to. We’ll definitely be coming back soon!
Holly Laine — Google review
Super spot for the kids. The couple that owns it label the finds in a kind of show and tell, and the kids have an opportunity to be really captivated with the geology lesson. They also prepare buckets with some exciting reveals, available for $5 when added to the regular bucket purchase. This place was half way to a nice trout farm visit, and it was a really nice geek-out orchestrated to factor in children and post some regular materials for adults too.
Jessica Renard — Google review
Fantastic experience! Highly recommend Sean’s mine. He was a pleasure to talk to, very knowledgeable about gemstones and mining. Answered all of my 5 year olds questions with a smile and a laugh and even answered mine.
The best part was once we were done, he took the time to lay out all our finds and identified every single piece and then wrote its name on a little bag so he could remember the names. He’s the only mine that does that in the area so if you have a kid that’s really interested, he’s the guy to see.
Lorena Carvajal-Casey — Google review
Just left and had an absolutely amazing time. I’ve been to a few different mines and this has been the best experience. The flume was easy to sit at and all the equipment was easy to use and in very good condition. There is a bathroom available which is always a plus. The owner and employees were very nice and made the experience perfect for my 5 year old. Also, we found some beautiful stones!
Laura Rossi — Google review
Had a great time at the mine. It's such a beautiful destination. The staff is very friendly and helpful. They identified and labeled all my gems.
Such a great place to bring the family.
Kimberlee Price — Google review
Friendly people, fun times, not too crowded. Overall a fun experience. Our group was all adults but two grandparents brought their little granddaughter who was about 5 and everyone was having a great time beside us.
Sarah Cottrell — Google review
Absolutely the best mine in Franklin, I arrived before the official start of the season but Shawn(Sean?) the owner was nice enough to let my group do a couple buckets anyhow. We did the native bucket and had so much fun, he went through everything we found and helped us identify everything. Beautiful selection of other buckets for any and all price ranges or rock desires. Cannot express how much I’d recommend this wonderful spot. Beautiful, quiet, set right by the campground, and dog friendly! 10/10 service and experience. Will definitely be back again before the seasons over!
Charlotte Jayne Griffith — Google review
This is a family owned mine. The staff is so nice & very helpful. If your not experienced they explain how it works and what to do. They offer dig your own at a set price which includes 2 buckets. Very reasonably priced. They also offer pre dug buckets for you to sift thru, and guaranteed stones. The place is nicely set up, there are tables to sit at and the sifting area is under shade. The one gentleman is a gemologist and enjoys coming around and helping you identify your finds. When your done they identify for you and place in separate bags. We were visiting from Florida and stumbled across this place. Very happy we did, we all had an amazing time & will definitely visit again when we are back up visiting family.
Marci A. — Google review
I’m so glad we chose Rose Creek Mine! The owner and his assistant were awesome. They were knowledgeable, helpful, and so patient with my 2 boys and their thousands of questions. Great service that included identifying and labeling all of our stones. We had so much fun and can’t wait to go back the next time we’re in NC!
Jessica Anthis — Google review
We had a great time mining at Rose Creek. The owner/staff were friendly and informative. I love that we had the choice ($$) to work straight from mine dirt or "salted" dirt. We picked mine dirt and none of us (5) went home empty handed. It was a fun afternoon that we plan to do again.
Laura Crouse — Google review
Absolutely loved my visit to Rose Creek Mine. The owner, was super sweet. And very knowledgeable. Extremely helpful, and even educating me on the different gems that I found. Always answering questions that I had, and helping to identify my finds. They have a geode cracking station on the premises. It was amazing! Such an experience. I found Quartz, Tourmaline,
Sillimunite,Cherokee Pottery,Topaz, Moonstone, Kyunite,Ruby.Sapphire,Garnet and Amethyst.I also treated myself and bought a large bucket with some beautiful pieces! And Tom, if you happen to read this, thank you for the pieces of amethyst. Very thoughtful. I would strongly recommend y’all to bring your families, including your children and pets! This is a pet friendly adventure.
tori austin — Google review
It was a lot of fun, and you will definitely find some gems without the salted bucket, but I highly recommend the salted bucket because you find some good gems in those. They do have different sized buckets for larger groups.
My mom, sister, and I had a great time here! We found some beautiful gems and it was made even better by our host Isaiah. We had a great time with the trivia and we plan to come back again!
Spirit Walker Adventures — Google review
What a great experience! We come up every year and typically go to the same place however we accidentally stumbled upon Old Cardinal Gem Mine and we're so GLAD we did!! Morgan was incredible, full of information and very hospitable, Isaiah was ready with any information we needed and Chief of course was the absolute greatest moral support!! We found some beautiful stones and some super neat fossils! We can't wait to come back up next year to visit our new favorite people and pets!!!! Highly recommend to anyone looking for that comfortable, happy, wholesome experience!!
*Chief loves hotdogs, so don't forget to bring him some! 😊
Siera Hollihan — Google review
We had the best time mining for gems & found a ton of cool, colorful gem stones to bring back home! Everyone was so nice & helpful! I would definitely recommend!
Kassidy Griffin — Google review
I enjoyed our time at Old Cardinal Gem Mine. It's definitely a small family operation so don't expect a nice gift shop or anything. I feel we got a pretty good deal on our bucket seeing how we found multiple types of gems including one absolutely stunning amethyst. The young man even looked around and found a ruby that someone else had thrown out. (Be sure to check all your rocks) the best part was reminiscing on past trips to NC to "mine" as a child and bringing my son for his first time.
I didn't rate it 5 stars just becaise I know that there's other places with more "bells and whistles" than this.
Destination Unknown — Google review
Great staff, great time! The drive in made us wonder what kind of adventure we'd signed up for, but as soon as we got started, we experienced nothing but kindness and a good time. We didn't happen to have a bunch of huge stones in our bucket but it had plenty of rubies, which is a good value and several others. Love our time at Old Cardinal!
Rearranged Life — Google review
My husband and I tried to go to a couple of “dig your own” mines that ended up being closed and found ourselves at Old Cardinal...I am SO happy we did. It is a family run place at what I believe is their home and they get the dirt from an old mine on their property so it is unsalted. We had a great time and the brother and sister team working were AWESOME and informative. It wasn’t busy and touristy, it felt like a more authentic experience than the roadside places. Do yourself a favor and go here!
Shelby Sink — Google review
The staff at this site is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Isaiah aides in the identification of the gems. Darcel is a fine gemstone cutter. And my daughter still talks about Morgan all the time. Highly recommended for anyone with families
Zachery Holder — Google review
This was awesome!!! My family and I came to Franklin for vacation and going to old cardinal gem mine was the highlight of our whole trip!!! We found so many amazing things and had an all around great time! The owners were amazing very helpful and very officiant! Isaiah is an amazing young man with a bright future ahead of him and his grandmother has done a great job raising him!!! We will be back for sure!!!! A must for anyone going to Franklin NC. Thank u old cardinal for making the highlight of our trip magical 🥰🥰🥰
K!A Official — Google review
Such a wonderful time for our family at Old Cardinal. The owner was such a sweet lady who spent so much time with us and the kids sharing information and helping the kids figure out which stones they had and really didn’t leave our side making sure we had all we needed. Highly recommend them when looking for a fun family gem finding experience! The kids said it was their favorite thing in our trip.
Ashley Baker — Google review
Had a great time at the Old Cardinal Gem Mine. I arrived in the morning and had the place to myself besides another couple that arrive after me. Isaiah and Darcel were friendly and helpful. The experience was relaxing and enjoyable. I purchased a $40 native bucket and found rubies, garnets, sapphires, emeralds, quartz, moonstone and aquamarine in addition to other rocks. They will help you identify your rocks and sort them for you.
Cheryl Snyder — Google review
I would not recommend this mine for looking for gems. My brother and I went there recently and the place was a dump. It looked like it was abandoned when we got out. As we looked around we were met by a young man who greeted us and began to explain how the process worked. Against our better judgment we decided to purchase a $50 salted bucket. As we walked three the mud and slop to the sluce the young man gave us a nasty piece of carpet to set on due to the benches being filthy. As we look thru the mud in the buckets we wondered where was the the gems. To make it short and sweet, I found 8 rocks of agate and my brother found 9 PCs of assorted rocks, nothing to write home about. It was the most disappointing mine we have visited in the Franklin, NC area. I would not go back to this place ever. We should have just burnt the $100 bill we spent. I can say nothing good about Red Cardinal Mine. BEWARE
Kim Rickard — Google review
Our 1st time here & definitely will be the last. We purchased 3 different buckets; 2 -$60 buckets & 1 $25 bucket. Wasn't finding anything but buckets of dirt & rocks(literally) rocks. The young man said, oh if you don't want them just throw them to the side & after you leave I will walk around & pick them up & just resell them. This place is absolutely horrible & ran down. Definitely scammed us out of $145 & we left with maybe 8 pieces of stones that were just slivers & so small. DO NOT GO HERE, WASTE OF MONEY & TIME
Peggy Holbrook — Google review
My husband and I had a spur of the moment decision to go gem-mining and we couldn’t have made a better choice! We had a wonderful time and the owner was extremely sweet and helpful. We will definitely go back again later this summer!
Aimee Merritt — Google review
My kids and I visited this mine a year and a half ago and had an awesome time! We opted for native buckets of dirt and had so much fun sluicing and discovering the gems in the dirt! We came away with amethyst, quartz, rubies, and some other really cool gems and minerals, all native to the area. My daughter found a large ruby that she had cut and set into a ring! They have lapidary services on site so they can do gemstone cutting and setting into rings, pendants, etc. This is a family run business and everyone was exceptionally nice and extremely helpful. I am headed back to TN in May and will be taking my husband here for his first gem mining experience! The abundance of friendly cats on the property is an added bonus!
Wendy Tucker — Google review
One of the sweetest experiences! The drive-in made me think that we were in the wrong place, but you will get the best down home experience at Old Cardinal! Our buckets were full of gems and Darcelle was the sweetest gem of all! Thank you for giving us the best time! We pray all the best for you and the mine! ♥️ yall go check it out! Plus there are cats and roosters that drop in and say hi!
Kali Barnes — Google review
This place is such a hidden gem! (See what I did there?) We didn’t know what to expect, but Isaiah was so great and so accommodating for my crazy family. We all had such a wonderful time - adults, kids, and the dog all so happy to have had this experience.
Elizabeth M — Google review
Loved this place!! Grandma and Isaiah we the best! They also told us about Cataloochee StatePark. Little hard to get to. Incredible experience there too. Thank you so much for having the best mine!!!
Krista Peltz — Google review
We absolutely loved this cute place. Run by a small family, Isaiah was so welcoming and thoughtful. He also kept checking in on the kids to make sure they didn't need anything. He labeled and bagged all the gems they found and explained them to the kids. There were also super cute chickens running around and they were very entertaining. Kids walked away with tons of gems and lots of good memories.
Great little craft brewery on the outskirts of downtown. Good variety of craft beers for any taste, friendly knowledgeable service if you need direction to your perfect beer. All beers well crafted, no superstars of the craft world but all are solid flavorful brews. Nice size taproom with a small outside seating patio street side. Looks like a band stage out back for special events. It’s all good, check them out. Oh, and food truck on site has a nice ce menu for pub grub and service is friendly. Bottom line, pricing is very reasonable. Cheers!
Jim Fisher — Google review
A nice brewery to stop at on a trip. Not fancy and the beer is just ok. But very relaxing and laid back as the name would imply. We had our dogs with us and they were welcomed. We also had lunch from the food truck that seems to be a permanent thing. The food was pretty good and the guy brought the food in to us when it was ready.
Michelle Lee — Google review
Love there beer. Always pickup a 6 pack and i finally got to go to the brewery in franklin nc. Was worth it met amazing people and food truck was great drank, enjoyed wish i could have stayed longer a must stop.
Brandon Hill — Google review
We stopped by here while vacationing in the area for my son's birthday, and it was a great experience! The beer and food are both equally delicious. We enjoyed our flights, burgers, fries, and nachos. All were great! The environment is so inspiring to see all of the signed posters for the hikers attempting to complete the Appalachian Trail thru hike. If I didn't already want to hike it, I certainly would have the motivation after leaving here. Loved it!
Rachel Fox — Google review
Nice place.... visiting from Georgia. Lots of great drink choices. I had the Amblin Amber and the wife tried the Sour Cherry Cider... YUM! I definitely recommend you give it a try.
John Sones — Google review
Wow what a great name for a brewery. We bought shirts that we can't wait to wear on our next hike.
Delicious and diverse beer selection. The nachos and soup were great it was the perfect lunch spot.
Jessica Graves — Google review
My wife and I stopped in to relax and have a few brews. What a great selection of IPAS and other dark brews. Great atmosphere, brews and even corn hole game outside. When we visit the area again we know where to come. Thank you! 😊
Boston Don — Google review
The burger at the outdoor food truck very good. Juicy, good toppings, nice folks there. It’s associated with a brewery. Local beer sounds good but not on our driving trip. Pleasant stop on a road trip of mountains to eat outside.
Carol Kaz — Google review
Excellent establishment catering to hikers and the masses. Lovely decor throughout the brewery, including old hiking boots and the beer map of North Carolina. Amazing choices for a flight of beers at great prices. There is also a food truck on site that has some delicious offerings. If your in Franklin don't miss it on this place.
Dob Dobbin (Dob Dobbin Photography) — Google review
Excellent brewery with fabulous staff, great choices in beer, awesome atmosphere and rocking food truck. Also had a huge selection of merchandise to take home to remember your visit. Also on the Appalachian Trail so you get lots of folks wandering in to converse with about their trip and where they are from. Cool place to go - can't recommend enough!
Emily Franklin — Google review
Such a wonderful brewery! A huge selection of beers that are brewed in house with unique flavor profiles. Service was GREAT and the place itself was super kid friendly which was wonderful for my family because we came with 2 toddlers and 2 babies! My favorite was the Jala-Pine-Yo sour or the Tropical Candy IPA. Get a flight to try out many flavors!
Haylie Abele — Google review
A very comfortable feel with award winning brews. I enjoy the outside fire pit the most myself. Hikers, families, and dogs are all welcome. I've noticed an older crowd sprinkled with some mid-30s and 40s. With live bands every week and a food truck outside that delivers your food to you. This is definitely a great mountain brewery. I prefer their dark brews, but they have a large selection of IPAs and light beer too. They also sell 6 packs, 32oz, and 64oz to-go's. They even give free samples. The only negatives are, there's barely any parking and it fills up fast.
Update:
Almost a year later and what was once new has become near and dear. I don't always drink when I go, it is worth a visit based on food alone (My favorite is the Hiker Burger w/ curly fries😏). Not only that, I feel comfortable enough in the environment to bring my son, which speaks volumes for the friendly environment they provide.
Luke Crowell — Google review
All the beer was good, and the variety was diverse. I also liked how the styles were categorized on the menu board— this is helpful for non-seasoned beer drinkers and likewise, since I knew I was interested in seasonal and malty beers on the particular day we visited, it helped to guide me directly to the beers that I was more into at the time.
Service was also outstanding, and pricing was reasonable. All around an excellent experience. Wesser Evil Porter, the Oktoberfest, Mic Czech, and the Rock were all stand-outs for me.
The Gem & Mineral Museum-Franklin is a charming museum and shop that occupies a former jail in Franklin. The venue showcases an impressive range of gems, fossils, rocks and minerals, some of which glow under fluorescent light. Despite the challenges posed by COVID restrictions, the museum has managed to maintain its high standards of customer service and visitor engagement. The knowledgeable tour guides make for an informative and enriching experience for all who visit.
This museum is in downtown Franklin, and it is free to enter. It is also built into what used to be a jail, so that is really cool. They still have an old jail cell that you can go into, and it is a neat experience! The exhibits themselves are super cool, as well. All of the items are labelled which was very helpful. They have volunteers and workers that go around and help educate people, and they really made me feel welcome. They also have a shop that has reasonably-priced goods. I was very impressed coming here, and I am interested in visiting again!
Mar Pepin — Google review
Had a wonderful time at Franklin’s Gem and Mineral Museum! Going back, because I didn’t have time to go into the Fluorescence room or see upstairs! Here are some of my favorites!
Nancy McShane — Google review
A gem of a museum, especially for free! The people who work here are super friendly and helpful. If you love rocks or fossils, stop by! There's a great selection of local and exotic gems.
Jessi Hessler — Google review
We were visiting downtown franklin and stopped by. There was a wide variety of crystals, gem stones etc. There was also the upstairs jail. Everything was very authentic, the people were very helpful of any questions we had. They also have jewelry and stones for sale!
Hanna Bateman — Google review
We have been waiting for over a year to visit this museum because of COVID restrictions. Since it was open this trip we had to go and was NOT disappointed! The tour guide knew his stuff and everyone at the museum was friendly and accommodating. It was so nice, I signed up as a member of the Franklin Gem and Mineral Society right then and there.
Karen Warseck — Google review
Great place to see and learn about gems and other artifacts from all over the world! Thousands of displays, and knowledgeable docents to make your touring experience the best. The on- site gift shop has anything you desire. This museum is a gem of gems.
Susan Ray — Google review
We weren't sure what to expect from this little museum, but absolutely LOVED it. They offered a great small tour that was interesting to the adults as well as our 6-year-old. I was shocked at the amount and variety of their displays. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful too. I highly recommed a visit, especially if you are visiting one of the local mines.
T Quinn — Google review
A little piece of heaven right in the heart of Franklin! Housed in an old jail, this museum holds more than just an amazing collection! The history and information shared was priceless!Also, got to purchase a few beauties before heading out. Definitely will make it a point to visit and support this museum for years to come!
Jerri Brock — Google review
Absolutely a hidden gem pun intended! I was looking for things to do with kids in town and this popped up. Enjoy walking around the beautiful gardens first and entrance to museum is free. The staff are quite delightful and offered a tour for our family and really engaged our kids. I'm never one to buy souvenirs but ended up getting some here to support the museum and there were some interesting items. Recommended visit for the family and so glad there are affordable family fun and educational that still exists
Truc Mai — Google review
My husband and I had a great time touring the Gem and Mineral Museum in downtown Franklin, NC. The history of the old town jail, the stunning mineral collections, and the friendly staff made for a memorable and fun visit.
Katie Greer — Google review
Fascinating. Information on many different gems, minerals, and lapidary available in the local area. Also some info on other areas. December through about May (guessing Saturday noon -4:00 area their winter hours. BTW upstairs is their Old Jail over 100 years old. Lots of stories and History there, too.
Ray Adams — Google review
This place is a “gem!” No but really, we were greeted Y the front by three very lovely folks who gave us a tour of the first room and let us wander after that. Loved it, got the t-shirt!
The Scottish Tartans Museum is a well-designed museum located in the charming downtown area. It traces the origin and contemporary use of Scottish tartans, with a particular focus on kilts. The docents are knowledgeable and provide interesting stories and information about the history of surnames and Highland games in the South. For just $4 per person, visitors can view numerous colorful tartans, including Campbell tartan.
Woo-hoo, really enjoyed! On Main St in Franklin NC. Museum only $4 each. Lots of colorful tartans. Even had Campbell tartan. Glad we went.
A Campbell — Google review
Always a pleasure coming here! We traveled 3.5 hours to be here! So glad they were open on Black Friday so we could visit!
Southern Shenanigans — Google review
A fun little place to visit. It's not very large, but there's some unique information and a lot of tartan.
Jessi Hessler — Google review
Stopped by to browse this unique store and museum and was pleasantly surprised by the service that Heidi offered. Not only did she go into detail on the different types of like they sell but she also went through the books on the origins of surnames and was able to inform our group on the clan origins of our surnames. Amazing place to shop and visit. When you come to Franklin don't miss out on this awesome place. Thanks again Heidi.
Dob Dobbin (Dob Dobbin Photography) — Google review
Such a well done museum. A pleasant surprise in a cute downtown location. The docents were very helpful and full of great stories and information. This was a spur of the moment idea driving back from Highlands and we are not disappointed. Left having learned a bit more history about my family surname and useful information regarding Highland games in the South.
G Phillips — Google review
The man at the counter was super helpful and so willing to do research and help me find tartans from my family history.
Kimberly Ss — Google review
The museum has plenty to check out, for hours, we could have spent so much time in here that they would have to send us out at closing time. We bought the best Scottish Honey (the best I have ever tasted), the only Scottish Bonnet pepper chips I have ever seen (they are not that hot, try them) also bought a beautiful modern Tartan fabric from the family sur-name. The person behind the counter told us about the family names we all shared and what clan the names were associated with. Awesome, we were here a few days after the festival on June 17th but we made our own festival in spirit. I will post photos tonight when we get back to base.
EGL Every Green Light — Google review
A great visit for Scottish, Irish, and all those who have interest. Fascinating historical museum with two floors of Island history and everything tartan related. The staff is friendly and know their passion behind Scottish history. Scottish Clan materials and kilt related attire and equipment for sale. They measure and have kilts made to order but warn that it does take a little while for completion.
Matt “GenXBiker” — Google review
Drove 2 hrs to get there. Went to the gift shop. Was locked for private shopping. Finally got in felt very unwelcome. Did find booklets for Clan Craig and my uncle was mentioned which was cool.
Sharley — Google review
Interesting museum to learn about the history of Franklin. Lots of educational expositions. There is a store inside you can buy memorable gifts and Scottish clothes.
Boris Budagyan — Google review
Learned more about our family history during our visit. The museum staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly. It's great to know that this is less than a 2 hour drive from where we live in Georgia. Strongly encourage to anyone who may be visiting or just passing through the area.
I always enjoyed bringing the grandkids here. We hit several mines, but this was their favorite. The buckets were perfect for them. My aged mother loved it, too.
Also, the stone cutting was fabulous. The kids and family sure miss it.
George Moyer — Google review
We visited while on vacation and had a blast! My wife found quite a few interesting gems and we decided to have a ruby cut. They said it would be 4-6 carats and rarely could have a star in it. It arrived today and is a beautiful 8 carat and totally has a star in it!
We were very lucky with the find and are curious what the other gems would look like now. We will definitely visit again!
Frank Troglauer — Google review
Cower Mountain is a Great place to gem mine with the family. We own a Mobile gem business and travel there to buy wholesale from Matt and the Customer Service is great. My daughter has mined there while I was putting my order together and the gems where great for the value.
John Kuhn — Google review
Lots of fun. Buckets always have nice gemstones. Thank you to Donna behind the sluice box for a great experience. Very helpful and knowledgeable.
Cindy McCullough — Google review
We came down on vacation and looked up reviews on the mines in the area. This place caught our eye and we couldn’t have been any happier. The entire family (ages 11 thru 65, 8 of us) had a blast (even the teenagers)! The staff was extremely helpful, pleasant, and we came away with some amazing gems. Will definitely come back anytime we visit! You won’t be disappointed. It’s also one of the only places I found that had smaller buckets if that’s what you preferred. Check it out!
Jenni Newell — Google review
Had a great time here! We each got a ruby and sapphire bucket. The young man, who had red hair and wore full Clemson attire that helped us was energetic and fun as we worked through our buckets. I think he was as excited as we were when we found the gems!
As far as the amount of gems, we found two hands full of good sized rubies and sapphires
Well worth your time if you are looking for a gem mine experience.
M — Google review
Our large family of 11 arrived and say all the signs for the types of salted buckets and their cost right away, so it didn't take long to get all of us seated and started. The woman behind the mine was quick and informative on what we needed to look for. The area was covered so the sun wasn't beating on us. The woman also told us to put a stone up in front and she would walk by and let us know what it was. She answered all of our questions and was super helpful! We had a blast finding so many different types of rocks and gems! After we had our bags filled we went into the shop and another awesome lady helped us identify all our stones! She was patient and helpful! We had so much fun that we came back a few days later! Love this place and would recommend it for anyone that wants to have a fun mining experience :)
Summer Moon — Google review
If it wasn’t for the rude woman in the store, I’d give it 5 stars. John at the flume was a hoot and really knew his stuff. We had a great time - until we went inside to have our stuff looked at. She sorted our rocks, told us which of our pieces were “gem quality,” and tried to pitch their cutting service. When we said we weren’t ready to do that yet she just threw our stuff in a bag and walked off. Overall, the experience was good. We came to play in the dirt together, and we did. Would go again and just bypass going inside.
Prologue: took the “gem quality” rocks to a jeweler who said we didn’t have a single item worth cutting. Not one. Just ONE of the stones she was pushing for us to cut would have been $225, so there’s that.
Sundee Proctor — Google review
This place was great, I was under the impression that the location was built near the mine, but unfortunately it's not. We came in the AM, so there were not as many people and our kids had a great time. My daughter loved it. You will want to buy more then one bucket, because you'll get hooked on finding things. Also if you want a guaranteed good time, get the super bucket or the kids 10.00 bucket. If you get the super bucket you get a prize inside.
Will definitely come back.
We hiked the first mile of the trail then turned back. It does become steep at the top according to other hikers we met. It’s a beautifully wooded trail with a very nice water fall early on.
Bill Fickling — Google review
Majority up hill pretty steep in spots but a great hike. Lots of fun
zachary quinn — Google review
Nice beautiful private trail. I would say it is a moderate hike being a narrow trail with decent inclines and lots of roots and stones. Several spots that are nice to stop and just take in the views with a couple waterfalls and creeks along the way. Decent hike for families with children of all walking ages. Even my two year old was doing well on the trail.
Dixie Fauker — Google review
Beautiful hike area, not to difficult, just a steady up hill.
:keith Camic — Google review
Good reminder to get in shape. Gradual incline gets steeper as you approach the pulpit. Leaves just returning to trees. Would not expect great views in summer.
Todd Early — Google review
Lots of upward climb till you get to Williams Pulpit as the turnaround spot (2.3 miles there, 2.3 of mostly declining on the way back.) Definitely a moderate trail. Lota of little water falls in beginning for dogs to drink.
Robin W — Google review
One of my favorite hiking trail. Parking lot is somehow limited. The trail is moderate hike with beautiful waterfall in beginning of the trail. Some roots and stones and narrow path. After rain part of it muddy. Overall well worth the effort and the view.
DT Photography — Google review
This is a very pretty trail with nice vistas at the pulpit. It is a bit steep packing in just over 1,000 ft ascent in about 2 miles.
Frank Pace — Google review
Nice hike . Did not do the entire stretch - just did around 30 min ( to and fro ) . It was uphill but not very steep elevation - this would be only the first 15 min of hike . Could see small waterfall in the first 10 min of hike . Pic attached .
Haridas Attur — Google review
This trail was amazing. Not difficult but you will need to bring a good hiking shoe. Mud and leaves gets quite slick so watch your footing. Well worth the energy. Took the pups with us. Super friendly people on the trail. Seems like a good area. Would definitely go back.
Walking Main Street Franklin & stopped in for lunch. Grilled cheese & tomato soup, along with fried shrimp & hot brie was awesome! Shared with husb & perfect amount of everything. Jaime was a wonderful server. Highly recommend!
KATHY CARLISLE — Google review
For starters, I could eat their breakfast burrito every day. I've always enjoyed their lunch options, and the service is always wonderful.
Rosanna Scott — Google review
I have breakfast there a few days a week and it's always been great, they have the best bacon I have ever had .
Ron Schrichten — Google review
Man, Franklin has really grown up beautifully in some ways. 4L is just fantastic. Best chef salad I’ve had in ages. Great people and fresh food! No better combo!
Justin K — Google review
Excellent local, small sandwich shop. Not a corporate chain, support this place.
Truther Pick — Google review
I have only been once, I had the special. It was Fish sandwich. It was pretty good. The spice was a tad strong for me, but probably on point for others (I just don't use much seasoning in my food). I saw some food others ordered that looked really good. I look forward to going back. The folks running the place were very nice. Thank you, courtesy goes a long way.
P J — Google review
New ownership has kept the quality food offerings which is the most essential feature. Bulk market items and coolers were removed providing more seating.
Jim Longstreth — Google review
I've never been disappointed eating here... Great burgers, brisket, everything! The staff are friendly - outgoing and best quality steaks & breakfast sausage to take home.
Brian Walker — Google review
The food was great! I ordered the barbecue pork quesadilla. It was huge; meaty and cheesy. The fries were the best ones I’ve had in Franklin. I highly recommend them!
Peaceful and lovely! While traveling in our van ~we stopped here and enjoyed the views while eating lunch! Simply beautiful, clean, well maintained!
Maple Roads — Google review
This was a wonderful place until the county took over the maintenance and they have knocked down a lot of the bird houses and cut down the native trees and flowers and are not cleaning the bathrooms and the grounds, and the homeless and drug addicts are living there! It's to bad when we have a wonderful place and it gets ruined!
Felecia Henderson — Google review
Beautiful walking path that is paved and not a lot of steepness on any part really. Plenty of places to just stop and take in the view or just watch the river. The path has stations throughout that tell you about the area or things to enjoy with informational plaques. During the spring and summer months there is even a little butterfly garden to take a stroll thru.
Dixie Fauker — Google review
Now I understand what the folks over at the FROG are so excited about. This is a beautiful walkway through town.
I had to walk back from Walmart to my hotel and having this as an alternative to walking through town and dealing with the traffic was great.
You can checkout the website for the Greenway so you can look at a detailed map to help you get around.
Plenty of benches and spots to explore. I'd definitely put some miles on here if I lived in town.
2 👍
Mark Cowman — Google review
This is super nice for a walk or run. Nice and level a easy walk for anyone. It meanders beside the river. A few bridges back and forth across the river. Very clean and well kept.
Steven Stacey — Google review
When you think of a Greenway, you think of trails with no traffic. This IS the best Greenway between Franklin and Waynesville, including Silva's. You'll want to take this on a bike, with a kid in a stroller or with your honey for a long relaxing walk!
Ron Van Alstyne — Google review
Nice 4 miles walk by the river. Beautiful bridge and area near library. The views are amazing. Favorite place.
DT Photography — Google review
In the way into franklin you can easily access the "lesser" side of the riverwalk. I recommend the other side, basically go under the overpass and you can see all of it. Nice loop!
Rick van Wijngaarden — Google review
Came for the splash pad and playground in a hot and sunny day. No shade over playground. Splash pad 15x25 ish. Wonky sprayers. Not super impressed. 6 and 9yo we're over it pretty quickly.
Riann Chapman — Google review
11
Artisan Jewelers Gemstone & Mineral Gallery (Formerly Gem Factory)
Gorgeous gallery of art!
You will enjoy seeing all the different pieces of jewelry and gemstones!
The beautiful mounted butterfly are stunning! I really like the melted glass added to driftwood! Great location and perfect place to buy something nice !
HawaiiBobsGardenArt — Google review
Had a great experience, and great conversation with the owner. Really friendly and professional, with such a vast and stunning collection of stones. Found a mineral specimen I had been on the hunt for for a long time, it is now my very favorite piece in my collection. You can tell he is very careful and selective with what he brings to the store because every piece is absolutely gorgeous! I’ll definitely be back!
Lisa Hickel — Google review
For a few years now I have driven almost 4 hours round trip to have Chris cut stones for me. I do this for a few reasons. He is honest, focused on customer satisfaction, and a work ethic that shines through every stone. He always walks me through the process and while I am sure he could take full advantage of me and cut anything and everything I bring him to make more $$$...he doesn't. He guides me through and evaluates every stone. There have been times I walk out and have nothing cut at all despite the fact I walked in with several stones and willing to pay to have them cut. I trust Chris and recommend him highly to anyone reading this review. I am to the point now I just ask him to do what he thinks is best for the stone and I have never been let down.
I just picked up some small items he cut and set for my daughter who is turning 1soon. He did an amazing job and created an heirloom for us to share with her.
While I know I am not the most frequent customer or one that spends the most money Chris has never made me feel anything less than that. My only regret is there are only 5 stars and not more to click....
Brian P — Google review
I brought a gemstone in August 21, 2021 to be cut and made into a ring. I was told it should be ready in 4 to 6 weeks. After calling the store multiple times and even dropping in once, I finally have it and it’s January 18, 2022. Communication was poor and the owner was very defensive when I told him I didn’t think it was fair for me to pay full price seeing how it took almost 5 months to get my ring. Oh top of that, the stone is scratched and there is fuzz stuck under the prong. I personally would not recommend this shop, especially if you are not local. I paid a pretty good amount and I am disappointed.
Amber Marbut — Google review
My solitaire had a broken prong & the others were worn. He found the perfect mount & setting, size and reset it while I watched. I HIGHLY recommend Chris and this beautiful store. His excellent service, outstanding integrity and skilled talents guarantees from here on he's our go to jeweler.
Patsy Engel — Google review
Above and beyond the call of duty. I just finished a two week trip with my kids. We stopped by the store on our second day on the road. My kids were impressed, I was impressed, and the staff was great. We made a small purchase AND I left my wallet in the store and drove away. Mind you I live in Florida and was headed to TN.
My phone was on do not disturb and sends most phone calls to voice mail and turns off text message alerts as I drive. However, phone numbers I know, like my doctor's, are allowed. So about an hour later I get a phone call from my doctor in Florida. I answered. She says, "You just made a purchase at Artisan Jewelers Gemstone... and you left your wallet there."
Yes, I am beyond grateful and will gladly stop by if I am passing through Franklin NC again. Once again, thank you.
Keyloy Alawzhou — Google review
I love this place every time I go - today I had my necklace cleaned and it's beautiful again, thank you
Jennifer — Google review
Beautiful building and interior. The lady that helped was knowledgeable and friendly. Can't wait for you guys to get more pieces up on etsy so I can shop from home!!
Shawnie Crooke — Google review
The only jeweler that I trust.
Chris has been amazing to work with through the years.
I make a two hour trip regularly to secure high-quality products for myself and my family.