Best Smoky Mountain Souvenirs to Bring Home From Your Vacation

Posted by Phil Rodgers in Things to Do

A Smoky Mountain vacation may only last a few days, but bringing home the right souvenir can help you remember the trip for years.

Throughout Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Wears Valley and the surrounding area, you'll find plenty of opportunities to shop for gifts and keepsakes. The challenge isn't finding something to buy. It's choosing something that actually reminds you of your vacation after you return home.

The best Smoky Mountain souvenirs don't necessarily have to be expensive. A small item connected to a favorite experience can mean more than something purchased simply because it says Tennessee on it.

If you're wondering what to bring home, here are a few ideas to consider during your next Smoky Mountain vacation.

Choose Something That Represents the Mountains

For many visitors, the scenery is the most memorable part of a trip to East Tennessee.

Mountain-themed souvenirs can help bring some of that experience home with you. Look for items featuring recognizable Smoky Mountain scenery, forests, wildlife or rustic designs inspired by the region.

A framed photograph, small piece of artwork or decorative item can become a reminder of the views you enjoyed during your vacation.

These souvenirs work particularly well because they don't have to be stored away after the trip. They can become part of your home and keep those vacation memories visible throughout the year.

Look for Locally Inspired Artwork

Artwork is another good choice for travelers who want something different from a typical vacation souvenir.

Throughout the Smokies, you'll find artists and craftspeople creating pieces inspired by mountain landscapes, wildlife, cabins, forests and Appalachian traditions.

You don't necessarily need a large piece. Smaller prints, handcrafted decorations and other compact items can be easier to transport and display once you're home.

When you're exploring the area, take time to browse instead of buying the first souvenir you see. Finding something that genuinely catches your attention makes the item more meaningful.

Bring Home a Black Bear Souvenir

Black bears have become one of the most recognizable symbols of the Smoky Mountains.

You'll see bear-themed merchandise throughout the area, including shirts, stuffed animals, ornaments, signs and home decorations.

For children, a stuffed bear can be a fun reminder of the trip. Adults may prefer artwork or decorative items that reflect the wildlife of the mountains.

If your family hopes to see wildlife during your vacation, remember that wild animals should always be viewed from a safe distance. Our Great Smoky Mountains National Park Guide includes more information for planning time inside the park.

Pick a Souvenir Connected to a Favorite Attraction

Some of the best vacation keepsakes are connected to a specific experience.

Think about the places your family enjoyed most. A souvenir from one of those stops can instantly bring back memories of that day.

If your family visits Goats on the Roof of the Smokies, take some time to browse the shop while you're there. A goat-themed souvenir can be a particularly fun choice for children who spent part of their vacation watching the rooftop residents.

Months later, that souvenir isn't simply another item from Tennessee. It represents a specific family memory.

Consider a Christmas Ornament

Christmas ornaments make excellent vacation souvenirs because they are small, easy to pack and inexpensive compared with many larger keepsakes.

They also have an advantage that many souvenirs don't: you get to rediscover them every year.

A Smoky Mountain ornament placed on the tree can become an annual reminder of your trip. Families that visit different destinations can even build a collection of vacation ornaments over time.

Look for designs featuring mountain scenery, black bears, cabins, Tennessee themes or a favorite attraction from your trip.

Let the Kids Choose Their Own Keepsake

Children and adults often have very different ideas about what makes a good souvenir.

Parents might be drawn to artwork or something practical. Children may be much more excited about a stuffed animal, toy, T-shirt or something funny they spotted during the trip.

If your budget allows, give each child a set amount of souvenir money and let them choose one item.

Making the decision themselves can turn souvenir shopping into part of the vacation experience. It can also provide a simple opportunity to teach children about staying within a budget.

Collect Something Small From Every Vacation

Families that travel regularly may want to choose one type of souvenir they collect wherever they go.

That might be magnets, ornaments, patches, postcards or another small item.

Over time, the collection becomes a visual record of family trips.

A Smoky Mountain magnet might not seem significant by itself, but when it's displayed beside souvenirs from other family vacations, it becomes part of a much larger story.

Don't Forget Wearable Souvenirs

T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats remain popular vacation souvenirs for a reason. They're practical, easy to pack and available in designs for practically every age.

Look for something connected to a place or experience you particularly enjoyed instead of choosing a generic design.

Children may especially enjoy wearing something from a favorite vacation attraction after they return home.

Just remember to check sizes carefully. Kids have an unfortunate habit of growing after you buy them the perfect vacation shirt.

Take Plenty of Photos Too

Some of the most valuable souvenirs from a Smoky Mountain vacation cost nothing.

Take photographs throughout your trip, but don't limit yourself to posed family pictures in front of famous locations.

Photograph the little moments too.

Take pictures of the view from your cabin, a funny roadside discovery, everyone getting ready for the day's activities or the mountains appearing in the distance during a drive.

Those ordinary photographs can become some of your favorites because they capture what the vacation actually felt like.

Make a Vacation Memory Box

Instead of allowing small souvenirs to disappear into drawers when you return home, consider creating a family vacation memory box.

You can include photographs, postcards, brochures, small keepsakes and other items from the trip.

Add a note with the year and some of the places you visited.

Years later, opening the box can bring back details everyone had forgotten.

For families with children, creating the box together after returning home can also extend the vacation experience for another afternoon.

Shop During a Slower Part of the Day

Souvenir shopping doesn't need to take up an entire vacation day.

It works particularly well between larger activities or during a slower afternoon.

For example, families can spend part of a day enjoying the mountain scenery and then browse a few shops while returning to Pigeon Forge.

If you're looking for ideas for organizing activities without making every day feel rushed, our Smoky Mountain Vacation Planning Guide can help.

Leave a Little Room in the Car

This tip is easy to overlook when you're packing for your vacation.

If the vehicle is completely full when you leave home, finding space for souvenirs on the return trip can become a challenge.

Leave a little extra room if possible, especially if you expect to do some shopping.

Families planning to explore several communities during their stay can also use our guide to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville to find more ideas for building out their vacation.

The Best Souvenir Is the One That Brings Back a Memory

There isn't one perfect Smoky Mountain souvenir for every visitor.

For one family, it might be a piece of mountain artwork. For another, it could be a black bear ornament. A child might treasure a stuffed animal, while someone else may be perfectly happy with a simple photograph.

What matters is the connection between the item and the experience.

When you see that souvenir months or years later, it should remind you of winding mountain roads, family adventures, beautiful scenery and the unexpected places you discovered along the way.

And if one of those memories happens to involve looking up and seeing goats walking around on a rooftop in Pigeon Forge, you've definitely brought home a story worth remembering.

 

This content posted by Goats on the Roof of the Smoky Mountains. Visit our home page, goatsontheroofofthesmokies.com for more information on the goats and their coaster.

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