Cool Places To Shop For Christmas
By Leif Palmer
Posted on December 1, 2022
Now that we've officially crossed over into December, things are starting to get more serious when it comes to shopping for the holidays. Christmas is only weeks away. But it's not time to panic just yet. There are still lots of opportunities to get out and hit the stores and start crossing more names of your shopping list.
First, we'd like to encourage you to not do all of your shopping online. This year, consider visiting more local and locally owned stores. It's good for our Smoky Mountain economy, and you'll find merchandise here that you just can't get anywhere else. We'll even take that one step further and suggest that shopping in the Smokies doesn't necessarily mean outlet malls. In Gatlinburg, we're proud of our unique shopping destinations, and no matter what part of town you choose to visit, we have plenty of Gatlinburg parking garages to accommodate your parking needs while you explore the stores.
Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
What if we told you there's a place in Gatlinburg that's home to more than 100 arts and craft studios, shops and galleries? No lie; just head to the northern end of town to visit the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. The artisans whose businesses comprise the community are located along an eight-mile auto loop, consisting primarily of Glades Road and Buckhorn Road. You'll find resident artists practicing their crafts year 'round, but Christmas is an excellent time to drop in, do some holiday shopping and even watch the artists at work, depending on when and where you visit. Craft forms range from pottery, candle making and broom making to leather work, painting and photography. In addition to the crafters, the community boasts a number of restaurants and other food vendors. You can make an entire day of it.
Downtown Gatlinburg
Do you have people on your shopping list that are hard to shop for? Or those who already have everything? Consider taking a stroll up and down the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, because that's where you'll discover a mind-boggling array of specialty shops. Know someone who's into hot sauces? Check! How about someone who's a Christmas-décor freak 12 months a year? Check! What about Star Wars collectibles, local honey, beard accessories? Check, check, check! And remember that if you don't have that much walking in you, you can always take the Gatlinburg trolley to get around. One of their routes covers the entire Parkway, while others will connect you with other parts of town.
Attractions
Yes, you can always take a break from shopping by stopping by any of Gatlinburg's many awesome attractions. But you can also make it a shopping stop in itself by purchasing gift certificates TO said attractions. We bet you could think of someone who would appreciate a paid-for visit to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies or the Gatlinburg Space Needle or Ober Gatlinburg. And the wrapping couldn't be easier!
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. 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.