Franklin is a popular destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts, specifically in relation to the Nantahala National Forest, the Great Smoky Mountains, and the Appalachian Trail.

"[6] Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the area was home to tribes within the Cherokee Nation.

[9] It was privately owned until Franklin purchased the site in 1946 and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

A new $68 million Angel Medical Center was built and opened in 2022 on the east side of town.

[11] In 1946, the people of Franklin raised money to buy the site of Nikwasi Mound and vowed to preserve it.

Schoolchildren were among those who donated money to buy it from one of the many private owners who had held it since the Cherokee were forced from their historic town.

Due to its proximity to these major cities, combined with a relatively rural location and lower cost of living, Franklin has developed as a destination for persons seeking retirement, recreational, permanent, or second homes.

The annual average precipitation in Franklin is 55.50 inches and rainfall is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.

The AT runs north and south, passing 10 miles west of Franklin; it can be accessed at many locations in the area.

Bartram Trail climbs into the hills of the Franklin area; hikers may follow the explorer's footsteps and discover the exuberant natural world in which he took such delight.

Franklin hosts the jewelry and gem show, "Macon County Gemboree", twice a year.

The Cowee Valley north of Franklin attracts thousands of visitors annually to its mines, which continue to yield valuable stones.

The waterfall is located on the Cullasaja River in the Nantahala National Forest and is part of the Mountain Waters Scenic Byway.

A small pull-off is located near the falls, but walking on the road puts visitors in danger of being hit by a passing vehicle.

It is part of a series of waterfalls on a 8.7-mile (14.0 km) stretch of the river that eventually ends with Cullasaja Falls.

[25] Dry Falls is located on the side of U.S. Highway 64 15.7 miles (25.3 km) southeast of Franklin, North Carolina.

Bridal Veil Falls is a 45-foot (20.1 m) waterfall located in the Nantahala National Forest, southeast of Franklin.

With a short curve of roadway that passes behind the falls, this is the only waterfall in the state where one can drive a vehicle under the water.

Bridal Veil Falls flows on a tributary of the Cullasaja River through the Nantahala National Forest.

During periods of drought, the stream may nearly dry up, though visitors will get wet if the waterflow is moderate or high.

Bridal Veil Falls is located on the side of U.S. Highway 64 16.5 miles (26.6 km) southeast of Franklin.

[26] Quarry Falls is a small waterfall (or perhaps large rapid in high water) located beside US Hwy.

[27] It shows materials common to some of the Scots-Irish immigrants who settled in this area in the late eighteenth century and later.