Beat the heat at popular local swimming holes
When the clouds part and the sun starts beating down, Macon County residents and tourists alike won’t have any shortage of options for enjoying a day on the water.
The Macon County Recreational Park pool is open through August from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays. In addition to the main pool, there are water slides and other water attractions for kids to enjoy. Admission is $4 adults, $2 children 4 and under. Season passes are available for $75/individual or $150 for a family of four. The cost for pool parties is $125. For more information about the Macon County pool, call 828-349-3107 or visit www.maconnc.org/parks-recreation.html.
Visitors to Highlands can check out their public pool from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $4 adults, $3 children 12 and under, $7 for a family of five or less. Monthly passes are available for $35/individuals, $55/family. Pool parties can be scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday-Sunday. The cost for a pool party is $75 with a $50 deposit required. For more information, call the Highlands Parks and Recreation Department at 828-526-3556.
The Franklin Golf Course pool is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pool is now heated with a water temperature of 85 degrees, which will allow the pool to stay open longer during the year. A day pass cost $5 (ages 14 and over), $4 (ages 4-13), and is free for children 3 and under. Season passes are available for $100/individual or $200/family. The pool can be rented for $100 for 90 minutes. For more information about the Franklin Golf Course pool, call 828-524-2288.
For a more natural touch, spend some time on the lake at Lake Sequoyah in Highlands or Nantahala Lake in Topton. The Cullasaja River and the Little Tennessee River run through Macon County with spots to swim, fish, canoe or take in a handful of scenic waterfall views. In the Franklin area, Parker Meadows is a great choice for multiple river access points that set up a fun day of short-distance river tubing.
Some parents may want to treat their kids to some water-based fun without getting soaked themselves. Those families should head to the greenway and check out Big Bear Park, where the playground has embedded water jets for kids to splash around in. With so many options on where to go and what to do, Macon County is a great place for kids making the most of their summer vacation.
“There’s a lot of different stuff you can do,” said young David Morales after a day of river tubing. “It’s actually a lot of fun.”