Walking the Parkway in Gatlinburg

    Gatlinburg's main street is always just as busy as those windows appear. I have rarely walked this parkway when it wasn't packed with people. Summer can be insane, but October is "fall foliage" season and the crowds were nearly as big. Of course the line to get into Pancake Pantry is always a mile long. They must be good but I would never wait in a line like that to find out.

   There is so much to see along the parkway. Yes the tourist t-shirt shops are every other storefront, but there are some gems. Our favorite stores are

• Ranger Bob's- squirrels, bears, moose, hiking t-shirts and home decor in a very distinct Smoky Mountains flavor
• All Sauced Up- kitchen items and novelties, every kind of sauce you never thought of, from bbq to salsa. We bought some homemade sweet potato pecan butter this time. Yum. Oh and did I mention all the free samples? Yes please!
• Beef Jerky Outlet- jerky in any flavor you can imagine. The kiddo likes to try new ones each time, from alligator to ostrich. 
• Aunt Mahalia's Candies- homemade fudge, pralines, divinity, so sweet and so good.

   But our newest favorite thing to do is to get to town early and park on River Road, the one running parallel to the Parkway, which has free parking along it(if you get there early enough). Otherwise expect to pay upwards of $10 to park. We park along the river and just walk and take in the beauty that is only a block away from all the tourist madness. Feed the ducks or just sit and listen to the river. A hidden gem in little Gatlinburg, even when the National Park is too congested.