Photo Ops at The Village Shops in Downtown Gatlinburg
You’ve got the mountain backdrop photos, the leafy canopy hiking pix, the wooden roller coaster, hands-in-the-air snapshots, but your Gatlinburg family vacation photo album is lacking something. You need some elegant shopping photos! You know, those pictures featuring the WHOLE crew (including great-grandma, who comes for the shopping and eating) with a unique background that calls to mind your wonderful bonding experience in Gatlinburg. We’ve got you covered! Head on over to The Village Shops in Gatlinburg where you will find several options.
Once everyone has had a sweet treat from Maddi Mae’s Creamery, it’s time to line the family up for a cute shot. There are some obvious choices: first up is the beautiful fountain feature in the center of the shopping community. With lovely shops and flowers around it, the fountain area looks like a slice of Savannah in the mountains! So pretty. Another idea is a wide shot with several shops behind the group. The Village Shops, with their quaint cottage-style architecture featuring dormers and other details paired with warm-looking brick pavers in lieu of traditional concrete and low wrought-iron lining the landscaping, will make people ask where in Europe you took the photo.
Next, break a few family members off to take individual pictures around other features. The stout horse statue, head bowed as if in military formation, is a beautiful prop. Have a couple of the kids stand next to the old red phone booth, which calls to mind rainy days in London in the 1800s. Keep in mind it’ll be tough to keep everyone out of the unique shops while you’re shooting photos. Just be patient, their money will eventually run out. And do not miss the telephone booth – you’ll regret it if you do!
Another obvious choice in the summertime is the benches near all the beautiful and colorful flower beds which are meticulously planted and tended throughout the season. (Every season in the The Village is celebrated with gorgeous décor or plantings.) These areas make for another excellent “full group” shot.
Finally, why not grab lunch and a few beautiful group photos at the same time? Head into Boudicca’s Celtic Pub. Stop outside for a photo near the beautiful folk-art-style pub sign. Inside you will find chandeliers, barrels, wood floors and old-world charm. Excellent for group photos and, again, sure to have others asking if you took a trip overseas. While there you will enjoy an excellent menu featuring, among other delights, fish and chips and the pub’s famous “Banger Burger.” The Irish beer menu is famous among locals and tourists alike. Everyone of age around the table can raise a glass for an iconic snapshot!
Before you leave, you may want to take a photo at the entrance to The Village Shops, which arcs overhead with the name of the little community emblazoned on a sign. Brick pavers fanning out behind you, the quaint shops falling into the distance and you smiling in front? Beautiful memories to last a lifetime. Hopefully you’ll have lots of bags in your hands because shopping the unique offerings in The Village, from candles to spices to jewelry and more, is a wonderful time in and of itself.