Salt & Pepper Shaker Museum

The museum is at 461 Brookside Village Way, in Winery Square, up the hill from the Parkway rather than on it. Its own directions are simple: from Pigeon Forge, head toward Gatlinburg and turn left at stoplight #3 (Highway 321), then go about half a mile up the hill and watch for the Winery Square sign on your right. It is easy to miss if you are watching the Parkway crowds, so plan the turn ahead of time. The phone number is (865) 430-5515.

Shakers are one of those collectibles that look small until you see thousands in one room. Expect novelty sets, souvenir pairs, figural animals and characters, and the sort of design oddities that make people say "my grandmother had that one." The pepper mill collection adds some heft to the display. The museum's website also has a virtual museum, a blog and a list of the best-selling sets from its shop.

According to the museum, hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 4 PM, and Sunday, 10 AM to 2 PM. It posts unexpected closures on its Facebook page, and it has closed on holidays such as July 4, so check before you drive up if you are on a tight schedule.

Admission is $3 per adult, and that fee goes toward any salt and pepper shaker you buy in the gift shop. Children 12 and under are free. That makes it one of the cheapest stops in town.

• Budget about 30 to 45 minutes. It is a compact museum, not a half-day outing.
• It is indoors, which makes it a good rainy-day filler between bigger attractions.
• Set a shopping budget before you walk in. The $3 credit makes buying a pair feel like a bargain.
• Parking is easier here than on the Parkway, since you are off the main strip.
• It pairs well with a winery stop in the same square or a lunch downtown.

This is not the place for a thrill, but it is a good example of what makes Gatlinburg fun: oddly specific, family-run and cheap enough to try on a whim. Kids who like collections, counting and spotting funny designs tend to hold up well here. If you want a quick, inexpensive stop that costs almost nothing, put it on the list.