Chandra And Charles’guidebook
Food scene
We are including places we like in Franklin, Clayton, GA, Sylva, Bryson CIty, and HIghlands area. All are within a 30 min drive. If you have an interest in Asheville we can email you separately....too much to list!
Great little place in Franklin. Has something for everyone, heavy on pasta dishes. Cakes are amazing! You can purchase beer next door to take with you. Cash only- so please hit the ATM.
98 locals recommend
Caffè Rel
459 E Main StGreat little place in Franklin. Has something for everyone, heavy on pasta dishes. Cakes are amazing! You can purchase beer next door to take with you. Cash only- so please hit the ATM.
Yonder
151 Hillcrest AveWe love Yonder! Small produce and specialty store with friendly folks!
Nice casual spot in Sylva. All sorts of options and in a beautiful old building in downtown.
61 locals recommend
Lulu's On Main
678 W Main StNice casual spot in Sylva. All sorts of options and in a beautiful old building in downtown.
Fortify Pi
69 N Main StWe really love the pizza at Fortify. Great beer menu and wine too.
VERY SPECIAL OCCASION PLACE! Reservations needed. Beautiful setting and quite expensive, but WOW!
29 locals recommend
Canyon Kitchen
150 Lonesome Valley RdVERY SPECIAL OCCASION PLACE! Reservations needed. Beautiful setting and quite expensive, but WOW!
Fortify Kitchen and Bar
69 N Main StGreat place downtown Clayton- so cute!
Thai food in Franklin, what you might expect, great for takeout too.
12 locals recommend
Boone Thai Restaurant
553 Highlands RdThai food in Franklin, what you might expect, great for takeout too.
Yep, Western NC style BBQ. The original is in Dillsboro, but this one is great!
191 locals recommend
Haywood Smokehouse
79 Elysinia AveYep, Western NC style BBQ. The original is in Dillsboro, but this one is great!
This place is fun! Burritos, bowls, pasta and yummy apps. Funky on the inside and always a good time.
34 locals recommend
Guadalupe Cafe
606 W Main StThis place is fun! Burritos, bowls, pasta and yummy apps. Funky on the inside and always a good time.
Sandwiches, salads, etc. Great deli downtown Bryson City if you are visiting for the day.
63 locals recommend
High Test Deli
145 Everett StSandwiches, salads, etc. Great deli downtown Bryson City if you are visiting for the day.
Casual burgers, sandwiches, upscale bar food.
98 locals recommend
The Ugly Dog Public House- Highlands
294 S 4th StCasual burgers, sandwiches, upscale bar food.
Friendly place with plenty of options. Sandwiches, steak, pork chops, veggie burgers, etc. Brewery next door too and Dillsboro is really cute.
31 locals recommend
Foragers Canteen
42 Depot StFriendly place with plenty of options. Sandwiches, steak, pork chops, veggie burgers, etc. Brewery next door too and Dillsboro is really cute.
Good breakfast option in Franklin with healthy food too! I love the chia pudding and not so healthy french toast. These are nice folks too!
20 locals recommend
828 cafe
228 NE Main StGood breakfast option in Franklin with healthy food too! I love the chia pudding and not so healthy french toast. These are nice folks too!
This is hands down one of our favorite places in Franklin! Bethany and her team are fabulous. The coffee is great, the space is beautiful, but the baked goods are the really special part. We love all the bread, polenta biscuits, and those chocolate chip cookies with sea salt...oh my! Stop here grab some bread and head up to Wayah bald for a picnic!
13 locals recommend
Bent Willow Baking Co
473 E Palmer StThis is hands down one of our favorite places in Franklin! Bethany and her team are fabulous. The coffee is great, the space is beautiful, but the baked goods are the really special part. We love all the bread, polenta biscuits, and those chocolate chip cookies with sea salt...oh my! Stop here grab some bread and head up to Wayah bald for a picnic!
Beer, Wine, Music
Curahee normally has a foodtruck and a nice outdoor seating on the river.
66 locals recommend
Currahee Brewing Company
100 Lakeside DrCurahee normally has a foodtruck and a nice outdoor seating on the river.
Lazy Hiker is laid back and has a food truck in the parking lot. Beers are good and pet friendly too!
117 locals recommend
Lazy Hiker Brewing Co.
188 W Main StLazy Hiker is laid back and has a food truck in the parking lot. Beers are good and pet friendly too!
Nice local brewery if you are spending some time in Sylva.
99 locals recommend
Innovation Brewing Company
414 W Main StNice local brewery if you are spending some time in Sylva.
We love to drink wine on the patio in front of the Inn in the summer. This is a beautiful place and they have great small plates(pimiento cheese:)
38 locals recommend
Old Edwards Inn and Spa
445 Main StWe love to drink wine on the patio in front of the Inn in the summer. This is a beautiful place and they have great small plates(pimiento cheese:)
Great venue with a variety pf performances. We have seen some great bluegrass at this venue.
40 locals recommend
Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts
1028 Georgia RdGreat venue with a variety pf performances. We have seen some great bluegrass at this venue.
Hiking and Outdoor Activities
This is a short list of hikes, biking, and water sport options. Our area is so full of opportunities there is no way to list everything. If you have a specific question we will be happy to help. We love this part of NC and the outdoors so we hope you get out and enjoy nature.
When you get to the top of Wayah Bald there is a large tower you can see for miles!! We love it up here because everyone can access this drive up view. There is hiking from up here in lots of directions and something for everyone. The AT runs through here too.
86 locals recommend
Wayah Bald
4419 Wayah Bald RdWhen you get to the top of Wayah Bald there is a large tower you can see for miles!! We love it up here because everyone can access this drive up view. There is hiking from up here in lots of directions and something for everyone. The AT runs through here too.
This is a regular spot for us and our dogs. Small parking lot by a creek. This is the closest hike to town and gets you in the woods quickly. Small waterfall just a little way in. This is a gradual incline for a large portion of the hike but as you go up the views to the left are great!
28 locals recommend
Bartram Trail: Wallace Branch to William's Pulpit
1719 Ray Cove RdThis is a regular spot for us and our dogs. Small parking lot by a creek. This is the closest hike to town and gets you in the woods quickly. Small waterfall just a little way in. This is a gradual incline for a large portion of the hike but as you go up the views to the left are great!
There is a pretty large parking lot here and this is a fun little day trip hike with amazing views! This is family friendly too.
139 locals recommend
Whiteside Mtn Trail
91-170 Deville DrThere is a pretty large parking lot here and this is a fun little day trip hike with amazing views! This is family friendly too.
If you are looking for whitewater rafting and kayaking you must visit! Cool area with hiking on the AT too. Decent place to eat, little outdoor shop, and a great place to watch folks come down the river.
446 locals recommend
Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 U.S. Highway 19If you are looking for whitewater rafting and kayaking you must visit! Cool area with hiking on the AT too. Decent place to eat, little outdoor shop, and a great place to watch folks come down the river.
This is a great place for mountain biking and easy day trip. Fast and beginner to intermediate trail system. Also, great for trail running if you don't mind bikes!
21 locals recommend
Tsali trailhead
8105 Tsali RdThis is a great place for mountain biking and easy day trip. Fast and beginner to intermediate trail system. Also, great for trail running if you don't mind bikes!
Everyone loves dry falls! Viewing area at the top or walk down a paved section. Not a hike but worth a visit!
229 locals recommend
Dry Falls
U.S. 64Everyone loves dry falls! Viewing area at the top or walk down a paved section. Not a hike but worth a visit!
This is a beautiful lake only 45 minutes from our houses. Great little beach area and you can rent boats, kayaks, etc. We love to ride over here for the day and cool off. Also, in this area is Jack Rabbit trail system which is good for trail running and mountain biking.
45 locals recommend
Chatuge Lake
This is a beautiful lake only 45 minutes from our houses. Great little beach area and you can rent boats, kayaks, etc. We love to ride over here for the day and cool off. Also, in this area is Jack Rabbit trail system which is good for trail running and mountain biking.
This is the place for rafting and kayaking. The Appalachian Trail also runs right through here so hike and raft in one day! Great spot to sit and watch the rafters and grab some lunch.
446 locals recommend
Nantahala Outdoor Center
13077 U.S. Highway 19This is the place for rafting and kayaking. The Appalachian Trail also runs right through here so hike and raft in one day! Great spot to sit and watch the rafters and grab some lunch.
This lake is close to our homes and stunning! There is a really nice beach and swimming spot. Scenic views! There is also a trailhead across the street that goes to an amazing waterfall!! Trail is steep in places and slippery, but the waterfall is a hidden beauty....very worth it!
57 locals recommend
Lake Glenville
This lake is close to our homes and stunning! There is a really nice beach and swimming spot. Scenic views! There is also a trailhead across the street that goes to an amazing waterfall!! Trail is steep in places and slippery, but the waterfall is a hidden beauty....very worth it!