Shopping the Outlet Malls on Black Friday in Sevierville/Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Outlet shopping is always a big attraction in Sevierville and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, the small communities that make up the resort area surrounding the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. On Black Friday, though, the outlets pull out all stops and draw shoppers from throughout the South. You do have to fight for those parking spaces, but the savings are worth it. Here are ten tips to make your Black Friday experience in Sevier County the best ever.

1. Choose one mall. I've chosen Tanger Five Oakes Outlet Center in Sevierville. It's a huge sprawling outlet mall - more like a series of strip malls. Close to 100 stores are located here. Last year, this mall opened at midnight, but this year it is not opening until 8 a.m. It closes at 10 p.m. on Black Friday. From I-40, take exit 417 and follow the signs to Pigeon Forge and Dollywood. Five Oakes will be on your left at Traffic Light No. 3. You can't miss it. One drawback…you'll find lots of great clothing and house wares, but the mall has only one toy store, a K.B. Outlet.

2. Check the mall's Web site for coupon offers. Ttangeroutlet.com, for example, now has Black Friday coupons available for virtually every store. Savings range from 15 percent off one item at Van Huessen and Izod to 50 percent of all 5-pocket denim at Lane Bryant. You can also order coupon books from the Web site. Since it's so close to Black Friday, you might wait and pick these up at one of the mall offices on Black Friday. The books are $5 and offer savings in virtually every store. (These coupon books are free for AAA members.)

3. Look at a map of the mall you've chosen. These are also available on the Web site. Usually, outlet mall shopping is pretty laid back, going from one store to the next as your move around the mall. Depending on your shopping list, you may want to vary and choose which store to visit second based on the early bird specials instead of just going to the store next door.