When you bring the family to our gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains, you want to soak up every bit of trail magic, outdoor adventure, and good fun you can muster. For a great time in Franklin, North Carolina, here are our suggestions for families of all ages!
Dry Falls
This is one destination that shouldn’t be mist! Get it? Okay, okay—but truly, you can’t just go on a vacation to the mountains without checking out a waterfall, and Dry Falls is perfect for a small family excursion.
You can park right beside the falls and follow the steps down to the water, complete with guardrails for younger kids, and even walk behind the roaring falls themselves! If the rain has been particularly heavy, the falls are truly spectacular. Just make sure to bring an extra shirt in case you get soaked!
Gem Mining
There’s nothing quite like throwing on an old tee, ratty shoes, and last year’s jeans to go get muddy at a gem mine. You’ll get a bucket of soil and a sieve to run under a pure mountain spring, with plenty of opportunity to get dirty in the meantime!
Finding gemstones in all that mud is an added bonus, of course—and that bonus could make a great piece of jewelry for you to save forever! There are usually artisans on call to set your stones there at the mines themselves.
Wesley’s Park
Playground? Check. Dog park? Check. Paved walking trail? Check. Oh, and throw in a miniature splash park, a pavilion for the adults to kick back in, and the picturesque Little Tennessee River rolling by, and you’ll have everything that makes an fun-filled afternoon at Wesley’s Park.
Wesley’s is a perfect stop for a hot day or an afternoon picnic with the whole family. Whatever your speed—a stroll by the river, a race up the slides, or a sprint through the water—check out this destination for a great time!
Wayah Bald Lookout Tower
You know, there’s just something about an old stone watchtower on top of a mountain that brings out the adventurer in people of all ages. The view is a breathtaking 180 panorama, too—not bad for your next Christmas family photos!
The Wayah Bald tower is at the top of a short walk from the parking lot, so families can access the area quickly and easily. For the more daring, though, the tower stands at an intersection of the Appalachian and Bartram Trails, so you could hop on to one of those at the bottom of the mountain and hike your way up.
The Factory Arcade
No family vacation to Franklin, North Carolina would be complete without an afternoon of fun at the Factory! This massive arcade has all the classic games you know and love with so much more—there’s laser tag, go carts, bumper cars, and mini golf to keep you busy for hours on end.
Plus, there’s also the Pizza Factory and Grill, located right inside the arcade, where you can grab a bite with the whole family without having to load up the car and drive somewhere else. Who wants to pause the fun for that long, anyway?
No matter what you end up doing in Franklin during your vacation, there are plenty of good times ahead for you and your family!
