Shopping
Gatlinburg Shopping
While you’re staying in Gatlinburg cabins, don’t forget to check out the shopping in the area. Shopping in Gatlinburg is a wondrous experience that will engage all your senses. From full-fledged malls to unique specialty shops, Gatlinburg is teeming with shops and stores that entice tourists to spend their dollars on small (and not-so-small) treasures they won’t find anywhere else.
Whether you’re taking home gifts for family, souvenirs for yourself or collectibles unique to Gatlinburg, more than 450 stores — including five shopping malls — offer just about anything you could imagine. If your cabin is located up in the mountains, drive into town and park and most stores will be within walking distance. Just be sure to wear your comfortable shoes.
Here’s a rundown of the different types of stores available:
Malls
The Gatlinburg Mountain Mall, across from the Ripley’s aquarium, offers a mountain-themed indoor shopping setting with a wide variety of stores. Tourists can visit a tobacconist store, buy blown glass gifts and have time left over for a bite of specialty candy before they stop at the leather store and the art gallery on their way out.
Ober Mountain features a shopping area where the tram departs in downtown Gatlinburg as well as a second area at their mountaintop ski resort. Calhoun Village features three restaurants and several arts and crafts stores, while Baskin’s Square Mall in the center of Gatlinburg includes 20 craft and specialty shops as well as the Guinness World Records Museum, the White Wolf Gallery, Old Tyme Photos and more.
Reagan’s Carousel Mall includes specialty shops such as Godiva Giggles, Earth’s Treasures and Party Hut Night Club, while the Reagan Terrace Mall in the heart of Gatlinburg features more unique shops, food and two family attractions: Old Gatlinburg Golf and Games, and Fort Fun.
If outlet stores are more up your alley, Pigeon Forge has at least five major manufacturers’ outlet malls beckoning tourists who are looking for great deals.
Specialty stores
Next to the Pancake Pantry at traffic light number six in the heart of Gatlinburg is one of the city’s most diverse shopping experiences. The Village is a collection of 27 shops built in a unique Old World architectural style. The stores range from gift and specialty stores to eateries and clothing shops. Check out The Day Hiker (a must for anyone heading out on the trails), The Donut Friar (open at 5 a.m.) and Celtic Heritage (offering products from Scotland, Ireland and Wales).
Other specialty stores are scattered throughout the area. Selling everything from homemade jam to fly-fishing equipment to woodcarving tools to authentic Smoky Mountain teddy bears, the shops meet just about every need or desire you can think of.
Arts and Crafts
The Gatlinburg area is also home to a rich variety of arts and crafts stores. Perhaps inspired by the beauty of the land around them, artisans have taken to wood, clay, stone, paint and light to express their inner desires. The result is a plethora of artistic stores that provide perfect home decorating and gift ideas.
Most arts and crafts stores can be found in an eight-mile loop in Gatlinburg known as the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. More than 80 studios, galleries and shops offer a little bit of everything, including hand-thrown pottery, silversmithing, baskets, frameable art, quilts, jewelry, leather, dolls and much more. The community claims to be the nation’s largest concentration of independent artists. Members put on three arts and crafts shows each year: one each at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. The shows are free and offer visitors a chance to browse dozens of vendors at once.
Gatlinburg’s art galleries deserve a special mention. Collections to meet even the most discriminating tastes abound, with local Appalachian artists displaying their handiwork alongside nationally beloved artists such as Thomas Kinkade. Paintings and photographs provide an elegant way to bring a memory of your time in a beautiful part of the country home with you.
For more information on taking advantage of these shopping opportunities, call American Patriot Getaways at (800) 204-5169. Our professional staff will meet all your needs and help you plan the perfect vacation at cabins in Gatlinburg. Thanks for choosing American Patriot Getaways!
