One of my favorite places to visit in Gatlinburg is The Village, especially at dusk. Resembling a charming, European town out of a Grimm’s Fairytale, the collection of shops is perfect for picking up last minute souvenirs or enjoying an ice cream before turning in for the night.

Strolling the cobblestone streets under twinkling lights, we explored the 27 shops within the miniature town.  Some of the shops open as early in the morning, while others continue into the night.

The Donut Friar is like donut heaven, with the smell of pastries starting at 5 o’clock in the morning.  Opened in 1969, it is one of the original tenants of The Village.

Also opening in 1969, the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and The Cheese Cupboard is one of my favorite shops.  Whenever I purchase wine from the local wineries, I can’t pass up the opportunity to pair them with a wide assortment of cheeses.

The Coffee & Company Shop is one of the late-comers opening in 1993, but it is a favorite for the early-risers waiting for their caffeine fix.

We stopped by the Pepper Palace to purchase some salsa to go along with our chips and Mexican feast we were planning for the evening.

The dusk began to darken as the lights from the fountain shone brighter.  I was mesmerized by the sound of the water falling into the basin below.

The Old Word feel is a mix of German Village meets British Countryside.

The aesthetic detail of its construction is absolutely amazing.  Careful attention was applied to the design of the stained glassed windows and additional accoutrements.

Finally, though it is not technically within the Village, I can’t pull myself away from the large picture window, watching the candy makers prepare their taffy as little children watch wide-eyed waiting for a fresh piece to be wrapped in wax paper and watching the joy on their faces for that one piece of joy.

Have you visited The Village Shops in Gatlinburg?  What did you buy?  I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.  Many thanks for reading my post about The Village Shops and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

The Village
634 Parkway
Gatlinburg, TN  37738
Telephone:  865 436 3995

Where to Stay: 

We stayed in a rental through VRBO called the Firefly Chalet.

Where to Eat:

Bennett’s Bar-B-Que
2910 Parkway
Pigeon Forge, TN
Telephone:  865 429 2200

I ordered the Carolina Pork Sandwich and the Salad Bar.

What to Eat:

• Barbecue