One of the things that the Great Smoky Mountain area is known for is the variety of souvenirs. It has shops with all kinds of items which make it easy to buy gifts for yourself or loved ones. One place to check out is The Village in Gatlinburg. It gets the name because it is modeled after an old-time European village. Established in 1969, the area is jam-packed with unique shops and activities. Find out more by exploring the list of 4 places in The Village in Gatlinburg that you need to visit:
1. The Donut Friar
As you walk along, you will be tempted to make your way into The Donut Friar when the smell of freshly baked pastries meets your nose. Start your day off right with a glazed croissant and a refreshing hot coffee for extra energy. Satisfy a midday sweet craving with a chocolate eclair or rainbow sprinkles donut. There are so many options, and it will be hard to choose just one. A donut has a hole in the middle which just means you can eat more!
2. Candle Cottage
Candle Cottage is a great shop with a unique story. The Luck family founded the business in 1976 and began by making candles in their garage. They later moved to a 40,000-square-foot facility in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. There are so many amazing scents to choose from! Visitors can bring the smell of the Smokies anywhere with the Mountain Mist candle. The collection also has other natural scents, some of which include Lavender, Lilac, and Magnolia.
3. The Spice and Tea Exchange
If you enjoy relaxing with a nice cup of tea, then you should definitely visit The Spice and Tea Exchange. Choose from their unique selection! They have great options like Black Chocolate Tea and Organic Earl Grey Black Tea. In addition to hot tea, you should also try their Southern Iced Tea which is perfect for summer! Along with tea, the shop is also known for the other part of its name. They have a great selection of handcrafted spice blends, such as the Zesty Lemon Garlic and Pesto seasoning. They will make your already delicious dishes even better!
4. Gatlin’s Escape Games
If you’re looking for a fun and engaging activity, then you should visit Gatlin’s Escape Games in The Village in Gatlinburg. A team of 2-8 players will be challenged with a series of magical tricks and puzzles. Those who solve them will enter into the Realm of Illusions and become one of the Masters of Magic. Along with being a fun time, this experience will also be a great bonding experience for your travel group, as it involves teamwork and cooperation. If you want to keep the brain-teasing fun going after you complete this quest, the attraction also has a gift shop with many games and puzzles to choose from!
Come visit these and all the other great shops in The Village in Gatlinburg. If you’re looking for even more unique souvenir places, check out this list of popular handmade craft shops in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.