Planning your Gatlinburg trip can be lots of fun; especially looking forward to all the things to do; like attractions, historical sites, natural wonders and special events. We've put this post together to help you unwind from your everyday cares with a good old-fashioned picnic. Not everyone wants to make their picnic from scratch. We hear you about that! That's why we found you two great shops that can help you fill your picnic basket fast, with incredible food that everyone in your group will love! Take our word for it; try these two shops and be on your way to picnic heaven! Then check back on this blog for more picnic advice, as we'll profile some different shops soon!

The quick and easy (and exceptionally tasty) way to have a picnic is to stop in for all your Italian favorites at Slice Pizza Bakery at the base of the Space Needle. Load your picnic basket up with delicious pizza, calzones, salads, appetizers and sandwiches.

Here's a great tip: Try their pulled pork pizza, the Deep South Pulled Pork Barbecue. You'll love every bite that features fresh local smoked pulled pork, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, red onions, and a sweet BBQ glaze. While they have other pizzas on the menu, this one sounds too good to pass up!

Their bread sticks, cheese sticks and cinnamon sticks round out your meal. What really sets this pizza and Italian food shop apart is their dedication to freshness and quality. This post from their Facebook page says it all:

Hand sliced pepperoni, fresh cut bell peppers, shredded from the block mozzarella, daily made sauce on a delicious hand tossed dough.

One of the best reasons to visit Slice Pizza Bakery is that they have great hours; from 11 am to 1 am 365 days per year! Your Italian dining desires will always come true when you gather your picnic goodies here!

Top your picnic off with some decadent fudge! In Gatlinburg there are a number of fudge shops, and we'll likely write a post soon introducing you to many of them, but today we wanted to acquaint you with one whose website photos are incredibly tempting.

Fudge Shop of the Smokies has created quite a compelling site to introduce you to their fudge; it looks like you could reach out and take a piece right from the page:

http://www.fudgeshoppeofthesmokies.com/#!flavors/c22fu

Put your mouse over any of the images to see a description about that type of fudge. From Rocky Road, to Peanut Butter Pie, Chocolate Pecan, Cookies & Creme to many more indescribably good flavors, Fudge Shop of the Smokies' fudge spans all the best-tasting confection flavors; there's nothing like it and you'll love shopping here because a great vacation should start with delicious food. A picnic is supposed to be fun; so bend the rules to suit you. Maybe you can start your picnic with dessert first! It can be a delightful feeling to chomp on fudge, then dig in to a freshly made calzone!

Now that you have some awesome picnic food recommendations; there's just one other thing you need to do; pick the perfect picnic spot!

You'll find that your Gatlinburg cabin from Diamond Mountain Rentals is the perfect place to have a picnic. Let us recommend our cozy and luxurious cabin Spirit of the Mountains. Take your fudge and pizza out on the back deck of Spirit of the Mountains and let the Smokies surround you! This luxurious 2 bedroom cabin is nestled in a gorgeous setting and gives you the feeling that you're all alone in your own private retreat. Think how good that pizza and fudge will taste on this deck, overlooking the ridge, with dramatic mountain views in the background:

  

Spirit of the Mountains is only a 5 minute drive from the Gatlinburg "Strip". You'll thrill to a spectacular mountain view of Mt. LeConte. The master suite is located on the main level. It's highlighted by a king bed and extra-large whirlpool tub. Go upstairs for the queen bedroom and luxurious full bath. A fully equipped kitchen, game room and living room with fireplace make this the ultimate picnic hideaway in Gatlinburg.