October 16, 2017
Top 6 Places to Find Great Smoky Mountain Souvenirs
Bringing home some souvenirs from your trip to Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains is the perfect way to keep those precious vacation memories alive. The cities of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville are home to a number of great shops where you can find unique keepsakes and gifts that capture the spirit of the Smokies. To help you make the most of your next getaway, Hearthside Cabin Rentals has put together a guide to the top six places to buy Great Smoky Mountain souvenirs.
The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community is a can’t-miss destination for souvenir hunters. This 8-mile loop located off of the East Parkway in Gatlinburg features numerous shops, studios, and galleries that carry locally made goods. In fact, the Arts & Crafts Community is considered the largest group of independent artisans in North America! Some of the items you’ll find along the loop include pottery, paintings, photography, wood carvings, candles, quilts, jewelry, baskets, brooms, dulcimers, and countless other handcrafted items.
2. The Apple Barn General Store
If you’re looking for something sweet to take home from the Smokies, you’ll definitely want to visit The Apple Barn ! Located beside an apple orchard, this hugely popular general store is famous for its apple-based products. With apple butter, applesauce, apple syrup, apple pancake mix, apple fritter mix, dried apples, apple butter BBQ sauce, and even more tasty items, this shop is a mecca for chefs and food lovers. The Apple Barn is also just steps away from a winery, candy factory, creamery, and two great restaurants.
3. Sugarlands Visitor Center
Sugarlands Visitor Center is another one of our favorite spots for Great Smoky Mountain souvenirs. Situated at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Sugarlands Visitor Center has a superb gift shop that is stocked with Smoky Mountain memorabilia. Popular items include stuffed animals, T-shirts, hats, magnets, books, calendars, hiking gear, local preserves, key chains, and postcards. Best of all, the proceeds from gifts purchased at Sugarlands Visitor Center support the national park!
4. The Old Mill
The Old Mill is a historic grist mill in Pigeon Forge that has been in operation since 1830! When you visit The Old Mill General Store, you can pick up some of the mill’s freshly ground flour, cornmeal, grits, oats, or a variety of mixes that feature the mill’s products. In addition to the previously mentioned items, the general store also sells sauces, salad dressing, salsas, jams, jellies, and lots of fun knick-knacks. The Old Mill Square is also home to a moonshine distillery, pottery shop, candy store, and a blacksmith shop where guests can forge their own souvenir knives.
5. Goats on the Roof
Goats on the Roof is one of the most fun places to shop in the Smoky Mountains. True to its name, this store actually has live goats that live on the roof. Guests at this unique attraction will find an awesome two-level gift shop stocked with T-shirts, hillbilly-themed novelty items, hot sauces, old-fashioned candies, jellies, and many other great products. Be sure to feed the goats during your visit!
6. The Village
Tucked away in downtown Gatlinburg, The Village is a popular shopping area that is reminiscent of a quaint German town. Visitors to The Village will find 27 unique shops to explore. Some of the souvenirs you can pick up at The Village include shoes, socks, pajamas, jewelry, toys, tumblers, artwork, hiking supplies, olive oil, gourmet tea, and candles. If you get hungry during your shopping trip, a tasty treat from The Donut Friar never disappoints!
Where to Stay in the Smoky Mountains
When you stay with Hearthside Cabin Rentals, you will be near all of these awesome places to buy Great Smoky Mountain souvenirs. With everything from 1 bedroom cabins to 18 bedroom cabins, we are guaranteed to have the perfect accommodations for your getaway. To start planning your escape, browse our selection of cabins in the Smoky Mountains!
