If you’re walking the strip and want something different than grabbing fudge or ice cream, the Goo Goo Cluster Gatlinburg experience lets you build your own chocolate bar—and it’s way bigger than you expect.
This is an easy add if you’re already exploring downtown. It feels like a quick stop, then turns into a full little experience. You customize everything, watch it get made, and walk out with what is basically a brick of delicious chocolate.
If you’re planning out your day, this fits perfectly alongside other stops—check out my guide to Downtown Gatlinburg and learn more in my post about Downtown Gatlinburg: The Ultimate Guide to Restaurants, Attractions, and Things to Do to map it all out.
And if you’re staying nearby, it helps to be within walking distance so you’re not carrying a chocolate slab across town—find hotels near the Gatlinburg strip here.
The Goo Goo Cluster store is right on the strip near Reagan Terrace Mall, so it’s easy to pop into while you’re already walking around.
You don’t need a reservation or any kind of plan. You just walk in. It’s a good stop when you want something sweet but don’t want to just grab another piece of fudge and keep walking.
When we walked in, they greeted us right away and explained how everything works.
You start at a self-service kiosk, which walks you through building your custom cluster step-by-step. It’s simple, and scrolling through all the options is part of the fun. You’ll feel confident in your choices… until you realize you just added five toppings and have no self-control.
Once you place your order, you move over to the chocolate bar and watch them make it right in front of you. That part was one of my favorite parts. It’s quick, but there’s something about watching your exact order come together that makes it feel more like an experience than just buying candy.
The whole thing takes about 10–15 minutes, including a few minutes at the end where it cools before they hand it to you.
This is where things get dangerous—in the best way.
At the kiosk, you build your cluster layer by layer. Some of the options include:
Then the chocolatiers take over and start assembling it right in front of you using premium chocolate.
This isn’t something pulled from a display case. It’s handmade, built to your exact order, and you get to watch the whole thing happen.
One thing to know—this is not a small snack. This is a massive chocolate cluster. I was not expecting it to be as big as it was, and I ended up eating on it for a few days.You think you’re just going to have a bite… and then you’re still eating it the next day.
The custom Goo Goo Cluster costs $15.
For what you get, it felt worth it:
If you compare it to grabbing multiple desserts on the strip, this ends up being one of the better-value stops.
Yes. This is one of those simple things that ends up being more fun than expected.
It doesn’t take up a big part of your day, but it adds something different to your time in Gatlinburg. You’re not just buying candy—you’re picking everything out and watching it come together.
If you’re already walking around downtown, it’s an easy yes. Especially if chocolate is involved, which… feels obvious, but still.
I’d do it again without hesitation.
You don’t need a reservation
It takes about 15 minutes total
It’s rich and large, so consider sharing
It’s right by Reagan Terrace Mall, so it’s easy to add into your route
If you’re building out your day, you could easily pair this with a full itinerary—check out my guide on How to Spend 24 Hours in Gatlinburg: 3 Perfect Itineraries for a One-Day Smoky Mountain Getaway to plan around it.
If you’re making a full Gatlinburg trip out of it, staying close to the strip makes your life easier. You can walk everywhere, pop in and out of places like this, and not worry about parking.
You can browse hotels near downtown Gatlinburg here to find something central.
If you’re coming from outside the area or planning a Smoky Mountain trip, renting a car gives you flexibility to move between Gatlinburg, Sevierville, and the national park without relying on rideshares—renting a car makes this much easier if you want to explore more than just the strip.
This is one of those small stops that ends up being a highlight.
You walk in thinking it’ll take five minutes, and leave with a custom chocolate creation that weighs more than expected and somehow lasts for days.
Between choosing your ingredients, watching it get made, and walking out with something you built yourself, it’s a fun break from the usual shops on the strip.
It’s also great if you’re filming or taking photos—the process itself is half the content.
If you’re already in downtown Gatlinburg, this is 100% worth popping into. And if you’re planning your food stops, you can always pair it with a full meal—see my full review of Top Places to Eat in Gatlinburg: Where to Dine from Breakfast to Dessert so you don’t accidentally replace dinner with chocolate. (Although… no judgment if you do.)
I walked down what looked like a regular hillside entrance and came out into a room that could almost fit a football stadium. 🪨 Tuckaleechee Caverns is the highest-rated cavern in the Eastern US and until you’re standing inside it, that’s just a fact. When you’re actually there, it feels earned.
Stalagmites 24 feet tall. A 210-foot underground waterfall. Formations that took 20 to 30 million years to build. A family that still runs the whole thing.
Bring a jacket. Wear good shoes. Don’t Google how it was discovered before you go hearing it on the tour is so much better.
#townsend #visittennessee #travel #travelling #travelvlog
If you’ve only ever seen the Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge side of the Smokies, Townsend is going to feel like a completely different state. 🌲 No neon signs. No traffic. No crowds fighting for the same overlook.
🥾 Middle Prong Trail | River views, small waterfalls & fresh air the whole way. Hike as little or as much as you want.
⛰️ Tuckaleechee Caverns | Start underground with massive cave rooms, waterfalls & guided tours. Go early, beat the rush.
🍕 Peaceful Side Social | Made-from-scratch food, craft beer & mountain views. Fair warning: you’ll stay longer than planned.
🚗 Scenic Drive to Tremont | Slow down. Stop. Take it in. The drive itself is part of the experience.
Summer swap? Ditch the hike for River Rat Tubing — same vibe, more splash.
Townsend calls itself the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. After one full day there, I completely understood why. Entire itinerary linked in bio.
@peacefulsidesocial is what happens when someone builds exactly the restaurant a mountain town deserves. Made-from-scratch food. Craft beer brewed on site. A kids’ play area outside, & mountain views from the patio. ⛰️
It’s casual in the best way, the kind of place where you sit down for lunch and suddenly it’s two hours later and you don’t care.
@cityoftownsend | 📍Townsend, TN
I walked through the gates and immediately understood why people fly back to Curaçao just for this place. 🌴
23 rooms. Private beach. A Balinese-inspired resort built stone by stone by the owners themselves. Buddha statues next to conch shells. Candles lit everywhere at night. Beachfront dining that eats like fine dining but feels like you’re just having dinner on the sand.
It’s currently the #1 resort in the Caribbean and after spending time there, I get it completely.
Full review linked in bio
#travelling #curaçao #visitcuraçao #luxuryresort #travelvlog
I walked down to the beach and immediately noticed how calm the water was. 🐚
It sits in a small cove, so there’s really no waves pushing in. You just walk right in without thinking about it. I grabbed my snorkel (they actually rent them for free at the resort, which I didn’t expect) and went out near the pier and stayed way longer than I planned, because the water was that clear.
Honest caveat: if you need a lot of energy and activity at a beach, this probably isn’t it. It’s quiet, it’s calm, and you’re mostly just... sitting there. Which for me was exactly the point.☀️
Full Baoase review linked in bio. 🔗
#curaçao #travel #luxuryresort #privatebeach #visitcuraçao
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
