| Shopping for that special something is a big part of | | | | beef, pork, poultry, fish and, of course, home grown |
| vacations . A survey by the Travel Industry | | | | vegetables . The harvest of the season is one of the |
| Association found that almost 63 percent of | | | | main reasons for a party in the Smokies . |
| travelers said that a vacation just isn't complete | | | | Mountain cooks pride themselves on preparing |
| without some shopping. | | | | gourmet dishes from locally grown fruits and |
| Many tourists visiting the Smoky mountains on | | | | vegetables. Visit local Farmers Markets, usually open |
| vacation enjoy shopping for bargains . The Smoky | | | | on Saturdays and one or two days during the week, |
| mountains are a region of small towns that are not | | | | you'll get a delicious insight into how much the locals |
| much more than a few stores and a post office. You | | | | appreciate the home grown goodness of mountain |
| won't find large crowds, traffic jams, mammoth malls, | | | | fruits and vegetables. |
| or theme parks. | | | | Visit a century old grist mill or savor home baked |
| The most desired items for shoppers are mountain | | | | goods in bakeries and restaurants wherever your |
| crafts, antiques, North Carolina furniture, specialty | | | | travels take you. Mountain style desserts piping hot |
| foods, local wines, books and apparel. Many | | | | fresh fruit pies, hand made candies, oven baked |
| successful shoppers in the mountains know where to | | | | sweet rolls are the perfect delicacy to complete |
| shop and how to take advantage of the competitive | | | | every meal of the day. |
| sales. | | | | Wine Country tasting tours in western North Carolina |
| Outlets | | | | take on a special mountain hospitality an inspired glow. |
| Shop in Blue Ridge outlet malls for great bargains. Like | | | | From native grapes to imported varieties, Carolina |
| elsewhere in the world Smoky mountain outlet stores | | | | vineyards are producing exceptional, award-winning |
| or factory outlets sell high quality merchandise with a | | | | wines. Tours of mountain vineyards, local wine |
| well-known brand at discounted prices. The items | | | | events and exclusive tastings offer all our guests, |
| usually contain slight manufacturing defects and are | | | | including the most discriminate of wine connoisseurs, |
| leftovers from last season or the previous year. As a | | | | opportunities to enjoy the award-wining wines of the |
| result, they are always discounted 20%-40% below | | | | Carolinas |
| department store prices. | | | | Books |
| Antiques | | | | Everywhere you turn in the North Carolina mountains |
| Antique hunting is just a fancy term for driving in | | | | there are amazing stories and storytellers. Majestic |
| circles through the countryside and stopping in towns | | | | mountain views, peaceful pastoral country scenery |
| that you might not stop in otherwise just to poke | | | | and small town charm seem to be torn from the |
| around among things you might not notice , a little | | | | pages of such authors as Thomas Wolfe and Carl |
| worn, a little beaten up, but designed simply and built | | | | Sandburg, who had homes in the region, as well as |
| to last. The inventories of antiques shops in the | | | | frequent visitors: Ernest Hemingway, F Scott and |
| Smoky mountains spill out onto the sidewalks and | | | | Zelda Fitzgerald, and O. Henry. |
| consist of just the right ratio of trash to treasure. | | | | The Smoky mountains literary trail is a winding path |
| Gifts and Crafts | | | | that passes through Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain |
| In the Blue Ridge mountains shopping for traditional | | | | to Jan Karon's "Mitford" novels. The Carolina Blue |
| arts and crafts is always a pleasure. Gift shops | | | | Ridge is filled with quaint book shops that offer the |
| abound in the small mountain towns of the Carolina | | | | works of these and several other local authors, each |
| Blue Ridge . Unique small shops throughout the region | | | | with a special story to tell . |
| offer handmade crafts, local and regional art, unique | | | | Home Furnishings |
| clothing, sportswear, souvenirs, and memorabilia. | | | | 35 percent of all home furniture manufactured in the |
| It shouldn't be hard to find that something special in | | | | world is produced in North Carolina . More important, |
| the mountains. Numerous galleries and folk art | | | | leading furniture manufacturers, such as Broyhill, |
| centers showcase pottery, textiles, paintings, musical | | | | Thomasville, and Henridon, sell their top-quality |
| instruments, metal work, jewelry, and wood carvings. | | | | furniture at deep discounts straight from their |
| The Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway and | | | | factories in the region. |
| The Southern Highland Craft Guild shop in Asheville | | | | The Smoky mountains also offer a large selection of |
| offer one-of-a-kind arts, crafts, pottery and | | | | accessories and decor for mountain homes. From |
| keepsakes unique to the Carolina Blue Ridge . Enjoy | | | | rustic figurines to kitchen accessories to living and |
| the mountain air and scenery as you search for that | | | | bedroom log cabin furniture the region is filled with |
| perfect gift | | | | quaint shops with mountain crafts and country |
| Food and Wine | | | | furnishings. |
| The real question when you're traveling in the | | | | For most visitors to the mountains street markets, |
| mountains is, "Where do the locals go for the most | | | | country stores. and unique specialty stores that are |
| authentic and delicious mountain food around?" The | | | | off the tourist grid are typically the best bets for |
| people of the Smoky mountains have a healthy | | | | good finds when it comes to mountain mementos . |
| respect for the tender flavors and rich tastes of | | | | |