If you are anywhere near Wears Valley, do yourself a favor and stop by LightPoint Center. This…read moretwo-story used bookstore and research library is an absolute hidden gem. The main entrance lobby is dedicated to their used book collection, which is incredibly well-organized, warm, and inviting. The prices are also very reasonable! ​What really makes this place special, though, is the couple who runs it. They are wonderful, genuinely passionate people. I could spend all day just talking with them--we've chatted about everything from favorite authors to local growth and things to do in the area. They offer the kind of personalized customer service you rarely see anymore. After just my second visit, they recognized me, remembered that I was hunting for books in a specific collection, and immediately made sure I knew they had more in stock for me. ​If you love books, great conversation, and supporting passionate local owners, LightPoint Center is a must-visit.

This bookstore is worth the stop! We came across it and decided to check it out; the couple that…read moreowns it are so friendly and knowledgeable of the area. Love the cause behind it. Beautiful little library and bookshop all in one.

This is a fun place to visit for an hour or two, or even to stop for information, maps, and to…read morepuruse the small gift shop. They do have a small museum here that costs a small amount that you can walk through (it's indoors and a part is outside). We did not visit the museum as we planned a hike instead, but did enjoy looking at some of the books in the gift shop. Cute building! Service was welcoming and friendly. Staff knew a lot about the local area. Cute rocking chairs out front of the building!

We were in the area visiting Cades Cove and stopped by here later in the afternoon. It was almost…read morecompletely cleared out around 3:30. We really enjoyed the outdoor buildings and information as well as the indoor artifacts that dated back to the original Native American settlers of the land. This was affordable and informational. A great first stop for anyone headed to Cades Cove. Plan to spend about an hour or two here depending on how throughly you want to see everything.

They have a huge selection of books new and previously read, good coffee, t shirts, on and on. Nice…read morepeople.

Great selection and the owner is very knowledgeable. Great chai as well. Highly recommend.read more

We stopped at the Spur Welcome Center during our Smoky Mountain vacation and were impressed by how…read moremodern and updated the facility feels. The staff were friendly and helpful, and there were plenty of maps, brochures, coupons for local attractions, and souvenirs to browse while we planned our adventures. The location is one of its biggest advantages. Compared to the smaller downtown visitor center, I much prefer this one because it's easier to get in and out of, has ample parking, and feels less hectic than navigating the busy Parkway area. It's a convenient stop whether you're heading into Gatlinburg or the national park. One thing to note is the new park parking policy: if you park for more than 15 minutes inside the Smokies, you'll need to purchase a parking tag. I was initially a little frustrated by that, but I understand the need to help support park operations and visitor services. Later, I learned the parking tag revenue goes to the federal government (currently being used on DC projects) rather than staying at this specific visitor center or within the local community, which was disappointing to me personally. Overall, this is a clean, welcoming, and well-organized visitor center that makes a great first stop before exploring the Smokies.

The Gatlinburg Welcome Center is a good stop for local information and Great Smoky Mountains…read moreNational Park updates. We made several visits to the center to pick up maps, parking passes, shirts, post cards and gifts. The staff is super friendly, helpful and will answer questions. Prices are reasonable. They carry hiking and Park guides. I highly recommend picking up maps because internet connectivity is rarely available in the Park. Free maps are available and specialty guides are only $1. Restrooms are available at the Center. There is limited parking and a larger lot up the hill. We always found parking no matter what time of day that we visited. The Center is also a stop and provides parking to ride the free trolly that goes to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg.

This shop is a must stop for my lovely wife and I for 30+ years…read more Large parking area leads to several showroom of functional an decorative art. Perhaps the neatest showroom on the circuit.

What a beautiful pottery barn! A stop during the Smoky Arts…read moreand Crafts community drive around is a MUST! All the merchandise being sold are magnificently crafted. We were able to meet and greet the owner himself. What a very nice gentleman! Pottery craftsmanship needs patience and time. A passion into to this art is highly valued. Materials used for this craft are expensive thus ending the items prices on a bit high end. With the intricate details of each item shows worthy of its price. Various kinds of pottery merchandise are displayed, from stoneware to ceramics down to clay. Once you see how beautiful it's works, you cannot resist to purchase one. Come and stop by.

This review is for the Master's Edition Fine Art Gallery at 1100, Parkway, Gatlinburg ( near the…read morePark Grill and The Black Bear Inn ). There are six locations around Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg with various names. We had the good fortune to meet art consultant, Ed Cothron. He was very patient and knowledgeable regarding the artists and their works. We purchased a Giclée ( reproduction of an original by the best professional ink jet print with high resolution, color, longevity, and in our case; on canvas ). Generally, one rarely will realize a return on this type of investment; so we purchased for the pleasure of the artist's work. In our case, Rod Chase. I did some research and found the pricing to be consistent with similar online sites. However, the framing was significantly more expensive. Mr. Cothron was instrumental in our decision to purchase from the Master's Edition as opposed to online. We had rather pay a little more to have his opinion and benefit of his expertise. The purchase was shipped and arrived timely in pristine condition. Will shop here again.

This is the best place to purchase beautiful art created by local artists! You'll find everything…read morefrom gorgeous art work; sculptures; jewelry and even note cards printed from the originals. The Art Market has so many options you'll love for decorating your home and/or for special gifts!

My husband and I went to see a movie downtown, but got there rather early, so we decided to walk…read morearound and see what we could find in the nearby area. The art market was a rather fun place to stumble upon. It's not just an art gallery, but an actual art co op, so the people you are buying art from art actually the artists (so be careful what you say!). The people working here were super nice, and some of the art was gooorgeous. They not only have paintings, but lots of photography, sculptures (one artist seems to have a particularly odd penchant for vegetable steamers), jewelry, and clothing. The ceramics and jewelry were pretty reasonably priced. Some of the artwork was reasonable, and some both my husband and I both agreed was waaaay overpriced. I imagine since the artists determine the price for their own artwork. There was one painting which I'm now wishing I had bought. Maybe if we have a little extra money next month I'll call and see if it's still there. In any case, we did buy a ceramic vase, which we are now housing our lucky bamboo. Overall, I really liked this little art co cop, and I would gladly go back.

Giftville is a gift shop and tourist shop located in the shooing center of elks plaza on the…read morepopular parkway strip on downtown Gatlinburg. Stopped in here while browsing the strip. My oldest was on search of an airbrushed shirt to commemorate or trip to the city. She was unsuccessful here but we did end up grabbing a few pieces of jewelry for the older girls and some stuffed animals for the little ones. Overall pretty standard high and tourist shop. Pricing f as expected a bit on the high end but this was a larger and more spacious gift shop for the area.

Customer service was great but the prices were even better! We went to all the souvenir shops in…read moreGatlinburg and this by far was my favorite , it also has parking which is a rarity for downtown Gatlinburg , it's located right next to a coffee shop, perfect place to get clothes, magnets, mugs, gatlinburg bears so really anything that resembles Gatlinburg!