If you’re heading to Pigeon Forge or Gatlinburg for Valentine’s Day this year, you’re in luck. Besides cozy 1-2 bedroom cabins that are ideal for romantic getaways, the area offers gorgeous natural surroundings, many wonderful restaurants for romantic dinners, flower shops for that perfect bouquet, and of course…lots of candy and sweet treats!
In Pigeon Forge, you won’t be left rushing to the pharmacy on the corner to grab a heart-shaped box of chocolates (with no diagram telling you what’s in them!). The Parkway that runs through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg is peppered with candy shops that feature unique treats sure to wow your Valentine.
Candy-coated apples, creamy fudge, cinnamon-covered nuts, old-fashioned hard candies, hand-pulled taffy, chocolate-covered cherries, brittles and pecans, chocolate truffles, chocolate-dipped strawberries, cupcakes…there is no end to the lineup of Valentine’s Day treats in the Smokies!
You can order online or stop in ahead of time and make up a custom bag or basket of goodies, or you can pick out candy together as you stroll hand-in-hand along the Parkway. From chocolates and ice cream to hard candies and donuts, here are just a few of our favorites in the area.
Chocolate Monkey | 3152 Parkway | Pigeon Forge | 865.453.0099
Chocolate Monkey is a chocoholic’s dream, with glass cases full of homemade fudge, truffles, brittles, turtles, candy-covered apples, and so much more. Fill up a box with mint chocolate and maple nut fudge, caramel pecan apples, or turtles to enjoy back in the cabin!
The Old Mill Candy Kitchen | 177 Old Mill Ave | Pigeon Forge | 865.453.7516
Whipping up delicious treats in their old-fashioned copper kettles, The Old Mill Candy Kitchen offers an impressive assortment of Valentine’s Day goodies. There are plenty of pre-boxed candies for a quick gift, or you can pick out a personal selection. Get fudge, brittles, divinity, chocolate-covered cherries, Bear Paws, homemade caramel, and fresh pecans!
Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen
744 Parkway, Gatlinburg, 865.436.4886 | 642 Parkway, Gatlinburg, 865.436.4617
“Home of the original Taffy Logs,” Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen is a charming gem along the Parkway. As you walk by, you’ll see taffy being pulled, caramel being poured, and candy apples being dipped. When you step inside, you’ll be overwhelmed with the sweet smell of candy and the incredible selection of Valentine’s Day treats. Fill up a bag with chocolate-covered candies, gummies, mints, pecan logs, or brittles; get a box of their famous Brown Bears; or grab a box of their assorted candies for the perfect mix!
Smoky Mountain Candy Makers | 2880 Parkway | Pigeon Forge | 865.453.9213
Pulled on a 1940s taffy machine, the sweet and tart taffy at Smoky Mountain Candy Makers is a fun retreat from the typical chocolates for Valentine’s Day. They offer a large assortment of flavors, along with sugar-free taffy and local honey – perfect to pour on top of those biscuits you made with the mix from The Apple Barn.
Aunt Mahalia’s Candies | Mountain Mall | Gatlinburg | 865.436.7992
Your mouth will start watering the second you step inside Aunt Mahalia’s, where homemade candies are piled high. Colorful rock candy, chewy jelly beans, decadent pecan logs, old-fashioned stick candy, creamy and crunchy pecan nests, and sweet syrups and jams.
Glades Homemade Candy | 1402 E Parkway Shop #9 | Gatlinburg | 865.436.3238
Want a fresh take on the mixed box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day? Glades Homemade Candy has a variety box that will put others to shame. Peanut brittle, taffy, and stick candy come in piles and piles; the candy apples are coated in nuts, candy bars, and more. You can even order more goodies when you get back home after vacation!
Kilwin’s | 645 Parkway | Gatlinburg | 865.436.3720
You can’t walk by Kilwin’s on the Parkway without smelling the incredible aroma of sweet treats. Besides the juicy chocolate-dipped strawberries and huge candy-covered caramel apples, Kilwin’s specializes in decadent truffles, Tuttles, toffee, gooey caramels, cream-filled chocolates, saltwater taffy, and handcrafted marshmallows!
The Fudgery at The Island | Pigeon Forge | 865.774.7800
Big creamy chunks of fudge, caramel turtles, and candy-covered marshmallows are piled up high at The Fudgery at The Island in Pigeon Forge. Spend the day browsing the shops before stopping in for a rich and decadent dessert. And with employees singing show tunes will making the fudge, it’s like dessert and a show!
