What do you look for in a vacation destination? Do you seek out places of immense natural beauty? Are you attracted to cities with exciting nightlife and restaurants? Or, do you keep an eye out for locations with plenty of quirky shops to explore? If your travel style is all about chasing down the best souvenirs, look no further than the Great Smoky Mountains of Eastern Tennessee. Plan your Smoky Mountain getaway around these places to go shopping in Sevierville, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge!
Tanger Outlets
The number one shopping destination of the Smokies is located in Sevierville. At Tanger Outlets, you can get massive discounts on designer brands from Adidas to Zumiez. Give your wardrobe a makeover at Chico’s Outlet, Victoria’s Secret, and Torrid. Pick up a slick new pair of kicks at Converse, Vans, or the Nike Factory Store. Find a one-of-a-kind gift for your lady at Pandora or Kay Jewelers Outlet. Plus, you never know what “gems” you might find among boutique shops specializing in perfumes, cupcakes, hot sauce, sunglasses, and more.
Once you’ve had your fill of creating outfits and exploring accessories, make sure to conclude your excursion at one of the moonshine shops. Only at Tanger Outlets in Sevierville will you find distillery outlets nestled among the regular shops. Stop by Junction 35 Spirits or Smith Creek Moonshine to sample some of the best liquor in the Smokies. There’s nothing better than kicking back at your hotel after a long day of walking with a glass of whiskey on the rocks.
The Island
If you come to the Smokies and stay in Pigeon Forge, you can expect to spend the majority of your time at The Island. This 23-acre entertainment center contains everything you need for a successful vacation: attractions, events, rides and games, restaurants, music venues, and even hotels. If you will be traveling with kids, The Island is an excellent place to find kid-friendly activities like Arcade City, Gatlin’s Bumper Cars, The Escape Game, and, of course, the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel. Even with the attractions aside, there are still enough retail shops and boutiques at The Island to keep you busy for days.
Check out the tropical-themed apparel at the Island Tiki General Store, or get a custom monogrammed t-shirt at the Monogram Boutique. Bring the South into your fashion style and kitchen at shops like the Paula Deen Retail Store and Southern Charm Boutique. You’ll find plenty of toys for the kids between Build-A-Bear Workshop, The Toychest Company, and Puzzled. Keep your holiday gift shopping list in mind when visiting one-of-a-kind stores like the Hand-Blown Glass Gift Gallery, Cosmic Pen, and Kryptonite Character Store. With so many shops like these and more, there’s bound to be something for everyone, regardless of age or taste!
The Mountain Mile
If you liked the sound of The Island, you’re going to love The Mountain Mile, too. This brand new 174-acre property comprises three distinct sections. First, the Mountain Monster is a small amusement park area with three rides: a 190-foot free fall, a 175-foot aerial swinging dive, and a sling that shoots 170 feet in the air with a flip at the top. Let your kids run wild at the amusement rides or hang out together at the Lawn. The two large lawns are frequent venues for fall festivals, movies, concerts, picnicking by the fire pits, ice skating, and other fun family activities.
The third area is, of course, the Tower Shops. The Mountain Mile is home to both national brands and local boutiques. Get your sweet tooth fix at Cream & Sugar Sweet Shoppe or Cinnaholic. Explore stylish apparel at Baakk Boutique and Hatley. Prepare for your upcoming hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at REI Co-op and Bladez. Or, take a tasty treat home with you from Savannah Bee Company. Between all these shops and attractions, the Mountain Mile is so much more than just a shopping mall!
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
The best shopping experiences are those you can’t have anywhere else in the world. If you’re craving a bit of window shopping off the beaten path, look no further than the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. Now a part of the Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community dates back to 1937. This 8-mile loop features shops, studios, galleries, and cafes where you’ll meet some members of the continent’s largest group of independent artisans.
As you venture from one shop to the next, you’ll encounter artists who work with their hands to sew, weave, carve, sculpt, paint, photograph, cast and more. Shop among one-of-a-kind products like jewelry, ceramics, pottery, candles, apparel, stained glass, brooms, baskets, and much more. The trail offers free parking at all the shops and a shopping experience with roots in the local history and land.
Great Smokies Flea Market
Does the sound of artisan-made specialty items sound like a dream to you? Would you rather walk around than drive around to see them? If yes, then the Great Smokies Flea Market is for you. In Kodak, TN, one gigantic 200,000-square-foot roof covers over 1,000 rotating vendors year-round.
At the greatest flea market in Eastern Tennessee, you can buy just about everything under the sun: clothing, food items, electronics, pet supplies, gardening supplies, books, movies, beauty care, fishing equipment – the list goes on! The best part is that almost everything is 70% off! No matter where your interests lead you, you’re bound to go home with some fascinating souvenir you couldn’t find anywhere else.
In Conclusion
The Great Smoky Mountains are well-known for delicious Southern cuisine, moonshine distilleries, and outdoor adventures. Yet, these activities are just the tip of the iceberg. The Smokies are also a paradise for shopping enthusiasts, with a wide range of commercial centers and boutique shops from Sevierville to Pigeon Forge. If you’re the kind of traveler who loves to collect unique souvenirs from each place you visit, you’ll have plenty of fun to look forward to on a vacation in the Smokies.
