- The list below includes 69 free or cheap things to do in or near Highlands, North Carolina, including 80 different types of inexpensive activities like Waterfalls, Art Gallery, Walking Trails and Movie Theaters.
- From Dry Falls to Whiteside Mountain, there are a variety of budget-friendly attractions in Highlands and in nearby cities within 25 miles like Franklin, Sylva, Walhalla and Clayton.
Showing 31-40 of
335
13.5 Miles
Entertaining in a scary way, Where Shadows Walk features tours of haunted houses, buildings and graveyards. Along with cemetery tours, there are also historical and special holiday outings dedicated to seeing and experiencing ghosts.
13.7 Miles
The building that was once Franklin, North Carolina's county jail is now the Franklin Gem & Mineral Museum. The Museum has eight rooms crammed with gems, jewelry, mineral samples and information related to mining and gemology.
13.7 Miles
Located in the Smokey Mountains, the Scottish Tartans Museum in downtown Franklin, North Carolina features displays of Highland historical dress. The museum, which was established in 1963, is also home to an expansive gift shop.
13.7 Miles
17%
6 votes
86 E Main Street, Franklin, NC 28734
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The historic Scottish Tartans Museum & Heritage Center is a museum and gift shop that was founded to study the origins and development of the tartans. The museum has artifacts including rare Scottish books, kilts, and sporrans.
13.7 Miles
100%
4 votes
26 E Main Street, Franklin, NC 28734
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The Pantaleo Art Gallery At Main Street Coffee & Tea is an art gallery filled with a large variety of photography. Visitors commonly enjoy visiting the gallery when stopping by the shop for coffee or tea.
13.7 Miles
Operated by the Historical Society of Macon County, the Macon County Historical Museum is a museum filled with exhibits and artifacts displaying the history of the local area. The museum also contains genealogical records and a gift shop.
13.8 Miles
Sitting 5,342 feet above Franklin, North Carolina, the Wayah Bald Lookout Tower offers unrivaled views of the surrounding land. The tower lies along the Appalachian Trail and is easily accessible from other area trails. There are outhouses and picnic tables on the tower's grounds.
13.9 Miles
The 37-mile Bartram Trail originates in Clayton, Georgia. It is a remote trail and not frequently hiked. Consequently, portions of the trail are not neatly maintained nor adequately marked. This trail is best reserved for experienced hikers.
15.2 Miles
91%
32 votes
500 Oconee Station RD, Walhalla, SC 29691
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Originally both a military outpost and a trading post, Oconee Station State Historic Site is still home to the William Richards House, and a stone blockhouse dating to the late 1700s. Take a guided tour, or hike the site's trails to Station Cove Falls.
15.6 Miles
94%
172 votes
Highway 281 South, 976 Grassy Ridge Rd (Visitor's Center), Sapphire, NC 28774
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Visitors to Gorges State Park can partake in hiking, fishing and camping among waterfalls and river gorges. Considered a temperate rain forest, the park is also home to several rare and endangered plant and animal species.