7 Reasons To Visit This Tiny Tennessee Mountain Town, According To A Local Chef
Don't let Sewanee, Tennessee's, tiny size trick you into dismissing it. While it's best known as home of The University of the South, often called simply Sewanee, everyone's invited to closely study the charming town and the natural beauty of its surroundings.We asked award-winning Southern chef Julia Sullivan, who considers the town a second home, for her thoughts. Co-owner of Nashville's Henrietta Red restaurant, she opened Judith in Sewanee last fall, and it alone is reason enough to visit. But there's more to do, too.'Sewanee's a special place, full of so many wonderful things, including great outdoor pursuits,' she says. 'I'm excited that Judith can add to all the other offerings.' Here are some of Sullivan's favorite spots.
'The thing I do most when I'm not working is spend time outside,' Sullivan says. Located on Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee promises picturesque scenery to swoon over. 'There are state parks surrounding campus, plus so much undeveloped land,' she says. 'And every season has its own different look, but spring is magical.'An avid hiker, Sullivan often explores on foot, naming the Fiery Gizzard Trail a 'can't-miss classic' near the top of her list. It traverses 13 miles total, but features a 2.5-mile loop that leads to multiple refreshing swimming holes, making it a doable day-hike.
She also calls out Foster Falls. 'It's a sizeable waterfall worth checking out,' she says. The Sewanee Perimeter Trail is also a must-trek. 'It's gorgeous with great campus and Plateau views,' she says. She recommends stopping at the Sewanee Memorial Cross to take in sweeping vistas.
Sullivan's favorite trail is Lost Cove East, a rolling three-mile loop in the woods with a natural rock bridge and beautiful ridge views. She offers one additional piece of outdoor advice. 'At night, don't forget to look up. With so little light pollution, the stars are stunning,' she says. 'I love leaving Judith at night and seeing so many shining so brightly.'
Founded in 1857, The University of the South crowns the Cumberland Plateau and is the heart of Sewanee. While home to less than 2,000 students, the campus, called the Domain, spans 13,000 acres, much of it still wild and undeveloped, and the areas where college life unfolds are dotted with Gothic Revival architecture; take it all in with a serene stroll.'The buildings are really beautiful,' Sullivan says. Many are constructed of local sandstone, and All Saint's Chapel is a towering example of the university's aesthetic, including its awe-inspiring stained-glass windows. Inspiring spiritual imagery abounds, but look closely to spy a VW beetle hidden in one of the panes.The visual appeal of the campus also attracts artists; it's not uncommon to find local painters set up capturing the chapel and other structures plein air. Pop into Frame Gallery Gifts & Art to see some of their work and that of other area creatives.
new.sewanee.edu; 735 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37383; 931-598-1000
A cave system called The Caverns invites everyone underground for subterranean discovery, with guided tours daily. Visit its massive main stone 'room' (the size of three football fields) called Big Mouth Cave, and if you're up for more adventure, delve deeper to explore its multiple interconnected passages leading through spectacular ancient rock formations.Sometimes, Big Mouth resonates with big sound. Concerts are regularly held in the space, taking advantage of its powerful prehistoric acoustics; find a list of upcoming shows on its website. 'I've actually not made it to The Caverns yet, but I want too,' Sullivan says. 'I've heard amazing things.'
thecaverns.com; 555 Charlie Roberts Rd, Pelham, TN 37366; 931-516-9724
Right off campus, Sewanee's handful of shops line a few walkable streets. Give The Lemon Fair a look and find paintings from local artists, comfy-chic clothes, and fun accessories. Candles, Christmas décor, plants, throw pillows, lamps, and more make Taylor's Mercantile a treasure trove of gifts–for others or yourself. And in the neighboring small town of Monteagle, search for prized possessions from yesteryear at Oakes & Oliver's Modern Mercantile, a vast repository of vintage pottery, heirloom china, antique furniture, and more.
thelemonfair.com; 60 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37375; 931-598-5248taylorsmercantile.com; 10 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37375; 931-598-5893oakesandolivers.com; 335 W Main St, Monteagle, TN 37356; 931-954-8680
Sullivan points to student-run Stirling's Coffee House, a cute java joint in a sunny yellow cottage on campus, as the some of the best coffee around. While they specialize in house-made syrups (like blackberry, amaretto, and brown sugar) to enliven lattes and other drinks, Sullivan doesn't indulge.'I'm a black coffee girl, but it's great coffee to enjoy black,' she says. Pastries like banana-walnut muffins, and chocolate croissants make perfect coffee partners for a light breakfast, and Sullivan shares her go-to food order, though it's more suited to lunch. 'I almost always get the curry chicken salad sandwich,' she says.
241 Georgia Ave, Sewanee, TN 37375; 931-598-1786
'I love lunch at LUNCH,' says Sullivan, but don't be confused. LUNCH is the name of a Sewanee eatery owned by a university alum and wins Sullivan's favor with it focus on freshness. 'They change the menu weekly and use great seasonal and locally sourced ingredients,' she says. Popular selections include hearty sandwiches on rustic breads and fluffy frittatas, whose filling specifics change daily based on whatever is ripe and ready in the area. And for a sugar fix, 'I love their ginger-molasses cookie,' Sullivan says. She notes the décor—hanging house plants and an eclectic collection of art adorning walls—is sweet too.
A seat at laidback hangout Shenanigans also often makes Sullivan's agenda; she suggests the BLAT (the bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato) sandwich, but its pizzas are also popular.
lunchsewanee.com; 24 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37375shenanigans1974.com; 12595 Sollace M Freeman Hwy, Sewanee, TN 37375; 931-598-5774
On weekends hosting a big university event, the tiny town packs with visitors, who also pack its restaurants. One solution: Make a dinner reservation at Sullivan's new eatery Judith. Fond memories of the town (her dad went to the university) motivated her to choose Sewanee for the spot, and she created the space and its menu of approachable yet creative tavern-like fare with a warm welcome in mind.'I want students, faculty, other residents, and visitors to all feel comfortable here,' she says. Start simple with soft sourdough and chili oil for dipping or tartare with crispy chips before diving into a cheesy smashburger or ribbons of pasta coated in a creamy mushroom-herb sauce.Don't skip dessert here: Opt for a swirl of homemade vanilla soft-serve ice cream or a slice of decadent chocolate pie. And after dinner, retire to Oddfellows, a 'hidden' speakeasy that pops up at night in the back of Shenanigans to serve up swanky vibes and classic cocktails.
judithtavern.com; 36 Ball Park Rd, Sewanee, TN 37375; 931-203-2737
Related: The 12 Most Beautiful Places In Tennessee, According To Locals
Read the original article on Southern Living
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Axios
a day ago
- Axios
Michelin may have dinged Virginia's food scene, docs suggest
The $120,000 a year Michelin wanted to charge Virginia to be in its forthcoming Southern restaurant guide was steeply discounted compared with what other Southern states are paying. Why it matters: Virginia's rate may have been a statement on the state's restaurant scene's lack of "maturity," suggest records from the Louisiana Office of Tourism obtained by Axios New Orleans. The big picture: As we reported in April, Virginia opted out of being included in the Michelin Guide to the South largely due to the price tag. The state tourism office would've had to pay $120,000 a year for three years to be included. Yes, but: Six other Southern states opted in — to the tune of $1.65 million a year in a three-year contract, Axios New Orleans' Chelsea Brasted reports. That includes an annual $350,000 each from Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. And $125,000 annually each from Mississippi and Alabama. Zoom in: Why the different amounts? Michelin tells Axios in a statement that the state rates were set by Travel South USA, a regional marketing agency that contracted with Michelin to bring the guide to the South. Travel South USA then subcontracted with tourism agencies across each of the states, including city partners, to pool the funds and hammer out the details. Travel South USA didn't return Axios' request for comment on the rates. Behind the scenes: A slide included in the trove of Michelin documents and emails about expanding to the South may offer a clue. It shows a map of states across the South in varying shades of blue. The colors emphasize each state's " culinary maturity," according to an email from Michelin. That's a key standard for determining whether the guide enters a market, The New York Times reported. Notably, Michelin has Virginia in a medium shade of blue — lighter than the dark blue for Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee — suggesting the group views the state's restaurant scene as not yet fully mature. The intrigue: Michelin didn't comment on Virginia's medium-blue shade or its view of the state's scene, but its anonymous chief inspector for the Michelin Guide North America did offer some insight into what makes a scene culinarily mature. "Destinations that prove worthy of establishing a Guide have a high-quality culinary scene along with a density of restaurants," per a statement from the chief inspector. Specifically, when inspectors go out, they're "looking for restaurants that embody the five universal criteria," which are, according to the inspector: Quality products. Harmony of flavors. Mastery of cooking techniques. Voice and personality of the chef as reflected in the cuisine. Consistency between each visit (each restaurant is inspected several times a year) and through the menu as a whole. Plus, according to the inspector, Michelin won't enter into partner conversations if it doesn't think a dining scene — in this case a state — has "the gastronomy maturity to warrant further exploration." The bottom line: It appears Virginia's discounted rate may have come with a side of shade.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Where to eat: 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach include Ocean Grill, Penny Hill Subs
When in Vero Beach, eat as the locals do. Bucket-list restaurants in Vero Beach are legendary and beloved, whether it be for the food or for the views — or both. They can be found downtown, on the beach by the Atlantic Ocean, on the water by the Indian River Lagoon. When you think of Vero Beach, you think of these restaurants. The city has too many must-visit restaurants to include them all, so TCPalm plans to publish more of these lists in the future. If you have a restaurant you think should be included in the next round — for Vero Beach or any other Treasure Coast city — email Here are 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach. Owner Casey Steil opened Casey's Place in 1981 near State Road A1A in Vero Beach. The restaurant is a block from the beach and the Atlantic Ocean. It has walk-up window service and outside patio tables with umbrellas. It serves sandwiches, fries, salads and even breakfast items, but it's best known for its burgers. Choose from seven different kinds, including chili cheese and bacon blue cheese. They're all 6 ounces of USDA choice Black Angus chuck, cooked to order, and you can make it a double or triple. Expect a wait at this popular spot, especially during season. 917 Azalea Lane, Vero Beach; 772-231-4790; C.J. Cannon's Restaurant and Lounge opened in 1984 at the Vero Beach Regional Airport, allowing diners to watch planes take off from and land on the runway. It's run by owners Chuck Cannon and his mother, Pat. It's described as a casual restaurant with an American-Southern menu specializing in comfort foods. The decor includes retro aircraft memorabilia, celebrity autographs, pictures and history scattered on the walls. The restaurant would be the best view to see the Navy Blue Angels fly during the Vero Beach Air Show, but it closes during the event, held every two years. 3414 Cherokee Drive, Vero Beach; 772-567-7727; Cobalt is an oceanfront restaurant at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa. It's just steps from the beach with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean from inside the restaurant or outside, especially around one of its fire pits on the outdoor patio during its popular weekend brunch or happy hour from 3-5 p.m. daily on draft beer, house wines and appetizers. Chef Matt Lange's menu features fresh and local ingredients paired with a selection from its extensive wine list or cocktail menu. 3500 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach; 772-469-1060; Chef Mitchell Weiss and his family, who have been in the restaurant industry for over two decades, opened Fishack bar and restaurant in 2011. It specializes in what it calls "hook-to-table" seafood cuisine. The atmosphere is casual and colorful with indoor and outdoor seating. The made-from-scratch menu has a variety of seafood dishes, po' boys, tacos, chowders and raw oysters. Specialties include crab cakes, shrimp and grits, crusted sea scallops, fish and chips, and the "Shackterranean" mahi. 1931 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-770-0977; Linda Moore and Rick Norry opened Kilted Mermaid in 2011 on Old Dixie Highway. It's a neighborhood bar with live music where diners can choose between a warm, cozy atmosphere inside and a covered patio outside. It features over 25 local and global wines by the glass and over 80 craft and import beers. Pair them with artisan cheeses or cheese and chocolate fondues, as well as flatbreads, sandwiches, salads and small plates. It serves classic Irish staples year-round, including shepherd's pie. On St. Patrick's Day only, it doles out hundreds, maybe thousands, of Irish hot pockets: corned beef, cabbage, stone-ground mustard and Swiss cheese in a puff pastry. 1937 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-569-5533; Ocean Grill, a steak and seafood restaurant, is one of Vero Beach pioneer Waldo Sexton's historic landmarks. It was built with mahogany, pecky cypress, wrought iron and Spanish antiques, and it opened on New Year's Eve in 1941. Three generations of the Replogle family have been running the restaurant since 1965. In addition to an upscale menu, there's a gift shop that sells appetizers, dressings, seasonings, desserts and to-go drinks. It's known to get decked out for the holidays with Christmas trees, lights and decorations. 1050 Beachland Blvd., Vero Beach; 772-231-5409; Penny Hill Subs has been serving subs, salads and gyros since 1993. The sandwich shop's location on Beachland Boulevard closed in 2022, and its location on Old Dixie Highway came under new ownership in 2024. It bakes its own bread fresh daily and uses local ingredients. Popular subs include the Italian, the California club and the Monte Carlo, as well as the "Healthy Habit" with turkey breast, alfalfa sprouts, grated carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, blended oils, vinegar, salt, pepper and its unique cherry pepper relish. 1179 Old Dixie Highway, Vero Beach; 772-567-0043; Riverside Cafe is a waterfront restaurant on the Indian River Lagoon at the base of the Merrill P. Barber Bridge, where people can dock and dine and watch the sunset. It's country music star Jake Owen's favorite hometown hangout. He got his start singing at the cafe and has remained friends with owners David and Ellen Lane. He shot scenes there for his "American Country Love Song" music video, and he often stops unannounced at the restaurant when he is in town. Its menu ranges from comfy finger foods and classic sandwiches to semi-formal entrees of fresh fish and steaks. 3341 Bridge Plaza Drive, Vero Beach; 772-234-5550; Chef Leanne Kelleher opened The Tides restaurant in 2000 on Cardinal Drive in Central Beach on the barrier island. It's moving temporarily to a new office complex next to the 7-Eleven on South A1A while her old restaurant is razed and rebuilt. The fine dining restaurant features a distinct menu of Floridian and New American cuisine with Southern, Latin, Caribbean and classical French influences for the freshest seafood and the finest quality meats, as well as locally grown and organically raised vegetables and fruits. Waldo's Restaurant & Bar, located inside the historic Driftwood Inn, is one of Vero Beach pioneer Waldo Sexton's historic landmarks. Sexton first came to Vero Beach in the 1920s and started building the Driftwood Inn out of the timbers of a dairy barn destroyed in a storm. Finished in 1935, it was supposed to be a family beach house. However, after many requests for rooms because of limited hotel options in the area, it expanded into the Driftwood Resort with an oceanfront restaurant and bar. It has indoor and outdoor seating with a guest-only pool in the middle, live music on the weekends and a wooden deck that sits on the beach. 3150 Ocean Drive, Vero Beach; 772-231-7091; Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Email her at Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Where to eat: 10 essential restaurants in Vero Beach for food, views
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Severe G4 geomagnetic storm sparks northern lights across US and beyond (photos)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Wow, what a show! Our planet is currently reverberating from the impact of a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth head-on in the early hours of June 1 — and the resulting auroras were absolutely stunning. The CME erupted during an M8.2 class solar flare eruption on May 30 at 8:05 p.m. EDT (00:05 GMT on May 31) and has been racing toward Earth at nearly 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph. When it slammed into Earth's magnetic field, the impact triggered a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, which in turn led to striking auroras deep into mid-latitudes. CMEs carry electrically charged atoms, known as ions. When these ions collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms — major disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere. During such storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light. This light is observed as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere. Geomagnetic storms are classified using a G-scale that measures their intensity, ranging from G1 for minor storms to G5, the most extreme. The severe geomagnetic storm conditions reached last night were relished by aurora chasers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres (those who were still awake anyway). It's likely that the active geomagnetic storm conditions will continue for some time, which is good news for those in Europe, where the sun was already up when this G4 storm began. "G4 storm conditions reached! We are still in the early part of the CME and the ongoing geomagnetic storm, more to come. 12 hours to go for Europe," aurora chaser Jure Atanackov wrote in a post on X. While we wait to see what's in store for tonight, let's first sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning show from last night captured by avid aurora chasers around the world. Terry Griffin captured some beautiful aurora pillars during the geomagnetic storm with his Samsung S24 Ultra. "The white pillars stood out to the naked eye more so than the colors," Griffin told in an email. Griffin captured this impressive photograph at 2:39 a.m. local time from St. George, Kansas, U.S. "Sat the phone on the ground and tilted it up. Easy peasy," Griffin continued. Aurora chaser Brendon captured some fabulous shots of the aurora from the North side of Cheyenne, Wyoming. "Ok, so that was a show," Brendon wrote in a post on X. Aurora photographer Derick Wilson captured a stunning hyper-lapse of the northern lights dancing over Farmington, New Mexico, at 2:15 a.m. local time. "Visible aurora this far south is such a rare occurrence I knew to keep an eye on the solarwind data," Wilson told in an email. "When the expected solarstorm arrived early I knew I had to get far from city lights. And it's amazing what cell phone cameras can capture these days." "Discreet rays occasionally drifted eastward but went diffuse and faded.... For now," Wilson wrote in a post on X. The thick smoke from wildfires was no match for the northern lights above Minnesota, U.S. "Smokey auroras tonight in Northern Minnesota. It was strong enough for the aurora to completely visible to naked eye. As well tint of red color to the naked eye," Gabe Zogo wrote in a post on X. Auroras were also spotted over San Diego, California, during the early phase of the solar storm. "Nice catch! Confirmed #aurora visible on webcams as far south as San Diego, California, USA during the early phase of this ongoing #solarstorm," Space weather physicist Tamitha Skov wrote in a post on X. Southern Hemisphere skywatchers also got quite the treat last night, with vibrant red and pink auroras documented above Queenstown, Tasmania. Sai Shankar captured these stunning photographs from Kaikoura, New Zealand, around 9:35 p.m. local time (5:35 a.m. EDT or 0945 GMT). Image 1 of 2 Image 2 of 2 "I saw similar Auroras in May and October of last year, from Banks Peninsula, near Christchurch. This is the first time I've imaged from further north - I happened to be in Kaikoura photographing whales in the morning," Shankar told in an email. Amateur astronomer and photographer Paul Stewart captured a striking red aurora show above New Zealand. "Bit of an #Aurora going on in New Zealand tonight," Stewart wrote in a post on X. Photographer Mitch Young took these beautiful photographs of the southern lights above Metung, Victoria, Australia around 7:50 p.m. local time. Young used 10s exposure on an iPhone 16 Pro Max to capture these shots. Editor's note: If you snap a great picture of the northern or southern lights and would like to share it with readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@
