The Best Spot in Gatlinburg? Still True in 2026? Full Village Tour 2026

Rays on the Road

Rays on the Road

👁️ 4K views📅 3 weeks ago⏱️ 47:26

What This Creator Said

4½ Happy Bacon

Creator RecommendsCabin / Ship Tour✨Casual Creator

❤️ Best for CoupleVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

Today we are in my favorite place on earth, the village in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.

The coffee is so robust, but not bitter and not overpowering. If you're in the village, I really recommend stopping by here.

All right, so that was the inside of the world famous doughnut fryer. The best donuts probably anywhere, honestly.

I'm not going to miss my second chance. It's rare in life to get a second chance. You should seize it.

Creator's Tips & Advice

✓When buying taffy, try the sour apple, sour cherry, or sour raspberry as they are more fruity than sour.

✓Bring cash to the Doughnut Fryer as they primarily accept cash and the ATM may have fees.

✓Park at the Orchard Terrace Drive lot for a closer, potentially cheaper entrance to the Village.

✓If buying candy, try to get it made fresh near where you are consuming it.

Questions This Creator Answers

QIs The Village in Gatlinburg still a good spot in 2026?

QWhat are the best shops and treats in Gatlinburg's Village?

QWhat kind of gear can be found at the Day Hiker store?

QDoes the Doughnut Fryer accept cards?

Port Highlights

Gatlinburg5 Happy Bacon

How to read the Trip Bacon Score

Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect

Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this

Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology

YouTube Video Description↓

Join Matt and Staci from Rays on the Road for a fun, laid-back stroll through The Village in Gatlinburg, Tennessee — one of their all-time favorite spots! In this 2026 visit we check out new and classic shops, sample treats, and do a little shopping on a hot summer day. Here’s what we explore: - Candy shop (moonshine taffy, fruit jellies, sugar-free options & mixing tips) - Day-hiker / outdoor gear store (survival kits, walking sticks, books & more) - Savannah Bee Company (honey tastings — tupelo, lavender, bourbon-aged & more — plus body butter, whipped honey & lip balms) - Coffee & Company (rich, non-bitter lattes and cold brew) - The Doughnut Fryer (cash-only classic — chocolate glazed, cinnamon twist, apple fritter & Bavarian cream eclair) - Misty Mountain Soap Company (herbal salves, cherry almond scrub, ache-no-more roll-on, bug-be-gone stick & doggy shampoo bar) Plus quick looks at Joseph’s Deli, Life is Good, the Celtic Pub, and more. We share what we bought, what we loved, parking tips, and why The Village feels so charming and clean. Haul includes fresh donuts, sour taffies, royal jelly body butter, cherry almond scrub, bug repellent, and a few fun stickers. What’s your favorite shop in The Village — or is there one we missed? Drop it in the comments! If you enjoy these road-trip and shopping vlogs, hit subscribe and the notification bell so you don’t miss the next one. Channel memberships start at just $0.99/month for exclusive content, custom emojis, and more. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCauhHwp-vxnMy26iA2ck3Fg/join Physical mail: Matt & Staci P.O. Box 9262 Louisville, KY 40209 Facebook: https://facebook.com/raysontheroad X: https://x.com/raysontheroad1 Thanks for coming along — stay safe, have fun, and we’ll see you on the next adventure! 🍩🍯🧼 Physical Mail: Matt & Staci P.O. Box 9262 Louisville, KY 40209 Facebook: https://facebook.com/raysontheroad X (Formerly Known as Twitter): https://x.com/raysontheroad1 #gatlinburg #best #local #shoplocal #shopping #restaurant #smokies #Tennessee #restaurant #new #worthit