Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community — Local services in Gatlinburg

First time I had been in a # of years. Went on a Tuesday. Sad to see so many of the craft places were either closed or totally gone. Thinking this may be the effect COVID had on the community. The craft shops that were open and had original crafts of the area were pretty amazing. Sad to see a number of businesses had a number of items made out of the country. Getting a meal in the loop on a Tuesday was about impossible. Guess a lot of food establishments are closed on Monday & Tuesday. We did find a Cafe. I believe it was Misty Cafe in small plaza with some craft shops. The food was amazing, but the wait once seated was over 45 minutes for sandwiches. The Chef who made the sandwiches was most creative. Luckily we were not in a hurry, and the food was worth the wait. I truly cannot compare the craft area to what it was a few years ago. I hope it makes a comeback as the crafters in the Smokies are...

Fun thing to spend about a half a day doing. A bit away from the strip in Gatlinburg so more peaceful, quiet and leisurely. Plenty of free parking but the shops are spread out over a few miles so it's better to drive and park wherever you want to stop unless you just enjoy walking several miles. Most of the items appeared to be hand made but there definitely was some made in China garbage thrown in the mix. The Glades soda fountain was the only place open to get food or drinks. We got 2 chili cheese beef hot dogs, 2 bags of chips and a big glass of sweet tea for $10 for lunch. Not bad. The girl running the place was very sweet. This shopping area is a great place to find a unique gift for someone besides the usual tourist merchandise (t-shirts, hats, keychains, etc.) They have everything from jewelry, candles, knives, to pot holders, pottery, paintings and...

Traveled the artisan loop Sunday with my family. The shops along the route all provide excellent quality goods and unique hand made items. The variety of goods is quite impressive: handmade chairs, wooden ornaments, hand blow glass, paintings, photography, quilts, pottery, candles, flame rocks and more. We use this visit to pick up a few accent items and gifts.

A few notes about the tour - plan ahead. Maps are available at each stop, but you’ll likely want to prioritize where to begin and what sites offer you the most interest. Additionally, Sunday morning many of the shops are closed. In the afternoon, things open up more. Saturdays or weekdays may be the better times to visit.

Fully recommend the tour and have the highest regard for...