GATLINBURG, TENNESSEE, USA -- Shopping is another area where Gatlinburg exhibits its two personalities. The main drag is home to more than 400 "specialty shops, boutiques and galleries." There are a few gems interspersed among the countless shops filled with cheap tourist souvenirs (which in this humble writer's opinion, no trip would be complete without - refrigerator magnets or shot glasses anyone?) and endless varieties of t-shirts, fudge, taffy and Asian imports (with a particularly wide variety of knives and martial arts weapons). The downtown landscape is dotted every block or so by old-time photo shops, miniature golf courses and more pancake houses than I have ever seen concentrated in a single area in my life. If pancakes are your idea of the perfect food, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven in Gatlinburg.

But as I said, there are some gems downtown. Our personal favorite is the gift shop at the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum (click for the whole story about this fun, free attraction), where you can pick some unique new or vintage salt and pepper shakers to add pizzazz to your table.

There are also numerous shops in downtown Gatlinburg offering unbelievable deals on quilts (while prices vary by the quilt's size and complexity, we are talking bargain basement, blue light special prices here).

Appalachian Arts and Crafts

The further you get from downtown, the further the shopping gets away from tourist souvenirs manufactured in China -- for nowhere else in the south will you find a richer tradition of Appalachian Mountain arts and crafts than the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. Established in 1937, the largest group of independent artisans in North America make up the community, which is located on an eight mile loop of road at the outskirts of Gatlinburg. It's easy to drive from one artisan complex to studio to co-op store to another. Along the way you'll find one of a kind creations in pottery, woodcarving, candle making, quilting, weaving, broomstick making, painting, sculpture, glass, and many other fine art forms.

At stops along the loop you'll see artists in action, creating works of art and practical craft items by using traditional Appalachian techniques and materials. For instance, when we visited we encountered local resident David Short, who was studying the art of making corn husk chair seats from a community master. Short demonstrated using corn husks from his own garden to twist into the rope that constructs the seat. By moistening the corn husk strips as he twists them together, he creates an amazingly durable and practical material for the rustic chairs.

Arts and crafts minded visitors need not live in Gatlinburg, like David to learn to create arts and crafts themselves. The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, founded in 1945, offers summer and spring workshops and an array of special conferences for all levels of students in craft-art media. Throughout the year the art galleries at Arrowmont are open for tours of select collections.

Practicalities

The Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum and gift shop and spice shop is located in Winery Square on Highway 32 in Gatlinburg. Call 888-778-1802 or 865-430-5515 or visit their website at www.thesaltandpeppershakermuseum.com.

The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community is located on Highway 321 North, Glades Road, Buckhorn Rd. and Adjacent Byways (3 miles from traffic light #3 in downtown Gatlinburg). Visit their website at www.artsandcraftscommunity.com.

The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts is located at 556 Parkway in Gatlinburg. For more information about classes or special programs call 865-436-5860 or visit www.arrowmont.org.

For further information and reservations, contact the City of Gatlinburg Department of Tourism and Convention Center at 800-568-4748 or click to www.gatlinburg-tn.com .

If you plan on driving to Gatlinburg, be sure to check out the time saving article below. If you plan to fly, US Airways serves nearby Knoxville, for reservations call 1-800-428-4322 or visit www.usairways.com.

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Cheri Sicard, in addition to being the editor of FabulousTravel.com and its sister site, Fabulous Foods.com is the author of The Great American Handbook: What You Can Do For Your Country Today and Every Day. To learn more about Cheri, click here.