President’s Day Shopping in the Smoky Mountains
Don’t wait until the summer or the holidays to plan your Smoky Mountain vacation. Any time, any weekend, is the perfect time to bring your family or your significant other and enjoy some much-needed downtime in the Smokies.
So what about President’s Day? Coming up on Monday, February 15, 2016, a lot of companies are giving their employees the day off to celebrate our first president’s birthday. Why not make that weekend your perfect time to escape to the Smoky Mountains?
Even if you don’t get the holiday off, President’s Day weekend is still a great time to visit the Smokies because you’ll get to enjoy its wintertime beauty—like icicles around waterfalls and snow-capped peaks—as well as the exclusive President’s Day sales!
That’s right—February is the perfect time to take advantage of discounts and sales offered by many stores in the area. You can use this opportunity to buy something special for yourself, shop for unique birthday or anniversary presents, or get a big head start on your holiday shopping for 2016.
So, are you in? We sure hope so! We definitely don’t want you to miss out on the deep discounts offered only at this time of year. And to help you plan your weekend of shopping in the Smokies, we’ve put together a list of some of the best shopping plazas and districts throughout the Smoky Mountains. Check them out while you’re in town, and get ready for great finds at great prices this February!
Unique Boutiques
If you’re looking for something unique during your President’s Day getaway—perhaps a one-of-a-kind birthday present or a special surprise for someone you love—be sure to check out The Village Shops in Gatlinburg. With more than 25 shops, you’re sure to find something romantic or tasty or manly or…basically whatever you’re looking for.
Some of the more popular shops in the The Village include The Day Hiker (great for hiking enthusiasts or people new to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park), Candle Cottage (Gatlinburg’s largest candle shop), and Alewine Pottery (a family-owned company that’s been making handcrafted pottery for decades). But this is by no means the full list! Other shops include The Honey Pot, The Silver Tree, Zi Olive, Life According to Jake, Pepper Palace, and so much more!
And when you’ve worked up an appetite walking around The Village, head to one of Gatlinburg’s unique eateries like The Donut Friar, where you can munch on delicious, freshly made donuts, cinnamon bread, and pastries. This is also a great place to get your caffeine fix while you’re out and about in the Smokies. Nothing warms you up like a cappuccino or latte made just the way you like it on a cold February afternoon!
Malls and Outlets
Maybe something unique isn’t on your list. Maybe you’re looking for something specific with this quick Smoky Mountain trip. Good deals on clothes or purses or shoes? Are you looking to stock up on back-to-school outfits for next year or get a jumpstart on holiday shopping? If so, then be sure to check out the variety of outlet malls in the Smokies.
Pigeon Forge is home to 2 outlet malls: Pigeon River Crossings (previously known as Belz Outlets) and the Pigeon Forge Factory Outlet Mall (also known as “Red Roof Mall”). In Gatlinburg, you’ll find the Gatlinburg Mountain Mall. All of these are great options for larger stores, though they also include smaller boutiques that you’ll only find in the Smokies.
For real deals and all the familiar stores you know and love, be sure to head over to Sevierville, where you’ll find the Tanger Five Oaks Outlet Mall. At Tanger, you’ll find jewelry and accessories, clothing stores, footwear, children’s items, and good food.
Here’s a short list of some of the Tanger shops you can look forward to during your President’s Day getaway: Bath & Body Works, Carter’s Babies and Kids, Chico’s Outlet, The Children’s Place, Coach, Disney Store, Forever 21, Fossil, Gap Outlet, Levi’s Outlet, Nike Factory Store, North Face, Old Navy Outlet, PacSun, Pandora, Rue 21, Skechers, Talbots, Toys ‘R’ Us Outlet, Vera Bradley, Wilsons Leather, Yankee Candle, and so much more. For a complete list, check out the Tanger Outlet online directory.
All Things Arts & Crafts
Finally, for those looking for something handmade in the Smokies—whether that be candles, pottery, jewelry, silver, leather goods, or even brooms—we recommend a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community.
Located just 3 miles outside of downtown Gatlinburg, this independent group of artisans is the largest in North America. Their shops are situated on a historic 8-mile loop, where you’ll find more than 120 artists and craftsmen from the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community.
Plan to spend several hours or the whole day perusing the shops and taking home your very own piece of unique Gatlinburg culture. Then come back to the Smokies this Easter, when you can check out the Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community’s Easter Craft Show! This will be held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center along with the annual Thanksgiving and Christmas shows at the end of the year.