Posted by Leif Palmer in Things to Do
Chances are that the next time you stay in one of our Wears Valley, TN, cabin rentals, you'll want to do some shopping somewhere in the Great Smoky Mountains region. It's one of the most popular activities among area visitors, and for good reason. The area is home to hundreds and hundreds of retail ventures, from outlet mall stores and craft studios to general merchandise retailers and unique specialty shops.
And it's those specialty shops that we're going to focus on this week. We figure with Christmas landing on our doorstep before you know it (only three months away), this is as good a time as any to get a head start on the ol' shopping list. And if you have hard-to-buy-for people in your life (I think we all do), this might give you a few ideas for where to go to shop for the person who has everything.
Who doesn't love hanging out in a magic store, right? Even if you're just browsing, you're bound to see an amazing illusion or two before you leave this family-owned business that's been around for more than 40 years. With locations in downtown Gatlinburg and at The Island in Pigeon Forge, Doc's is a great place to go to find magic kits, jokes and gags, Gospel-themed illusions and Harry Potter-related merchandise. A neat spot to hang out for kids and kids at heart.
You'll find this spicy retailer at The Village in downtown Gatlinburg, which happens to be home to several unique little shops. Pepper Palace carries everything for the spicy-food lover, including hot sauces, salsas, barbecue sauces, marinades, spices, rubs and more. They offer free samples every day, so drop in and try a taste of the hottest shop in town. You might also try their location at The Island in Pigeon Forge.
We thought we'd toss out another one from The Village. The Cheese Cupboard has been around since 1969, making it Gatlinburg's premier cheese shop. Look for imported and domestic cheeses, unique crackers and chocolates imported from Switzerland and Germany. The shop fits in with The Village's Old World motif, and if you really get hungry, you can dine at the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant on the premises.
We dare you to drop by this retailer – located at The Island in Pigeon Forge – without buying something. The entire store is filled with nothing but puzzles for all ages and skill levels. They've got everything from traditional jigsaw puzzles to 3D and 4D puzzles to Rubik's Cubes – more than 10,000 items on site altogether.
It doesn't get much more specialized than this long-time retailer/attraction, located on Tenn. Hwy. 66 in Sevierville. It's your go-to place in the Smokies for all things knife-related, and they claim to be one of the world's largest sources for knives. That wouldn't surprise us, considering that they carry everything from pocketknives and kitchen cutlery to multi-tools and swords. And believe us, that's just scratching the surface.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in the Smoky Mountains. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.
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Gatlinburg Hiking Pigeon Forge Pigeon Forge Attractions Places To Eat Places To Eat Rental Cabins Seasons Smoky Mountains Sevierville Smoky Mountain Attractions Smoky Mountains Things to Do Wears Valley