Directions

Sewanee is located on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, roughly halfway between Chattanooga and Nashville on I-24.  

Hotels

We have rooms blocked off for wedding guests at the Sewanee Inn (family only), the Smoke House Inn, and the American Eagle Inn.

Smoke House

850 W. Main Street
Monteagle, TN 37356
800-489-2091
Expedia

American Eagle Inn

509 W. Main Street
Monteagle, TN 37356
931-924-8880

While we do not have a block there, the Monteagle Inn is another great option for guests.  There are only thirteen rooms, so if this is your first choice, we suggest booking early.

Monteagle Inn

204 West Main Street
Monteagle, TN 37356
931-924-3869

Rental Properties

While renting may not be for everyone, it is arguably the best way to experience Sewanee and its surrounding areas.  Many of the properties are within walking distance to the wedding sites and a variety of local activities.  These houses are often vacation homes for alums and friends of the Sewanee community.  A list of available rentals can be found on the Sewanee Alumni Gateway. 

Situated on the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee is a nature-lover's paradise.  The campus itself consists of 13,000 acres and is bordered by over twenty miles of hiking trails, many of which traverse the Plateau's bluff line.  These trails lead to stunning waterfalls, caves, natural bridges, and many other areas of natural beauty.  That being said, there are plenty of viewpoints that are accessible by car, notably the Cross, Morgan's Steep, and Green's View. 

The "town" of Sewanee consists of a few restaurants and shops, each with its own unique personality and local flavor.

Below you will find some suggestions for activities and restaurants.  Since Sewanee is a quirky place, we have also compiled a list of local terminology that may be helpful when asking for directions or speaking with students and members of the community.  With a little luck, the weather will be beautiful and the fall colors in full swing - hopefully you'll begin to understand why we love this place and consider it to be our home.

Finally, here's a campus map and a trail map.
 

Activities

Hiking

The Perimeter Trail, or "PT" for short, borders Sewanee's campus and offers a great opportunity to explore the area.  There are many access points, so you can easily complete short or long hikes.  The Sewanee Outing Program (located in the Bishop's Common at 204 Georgia Avenue) offers free trail maps.  You may also purchase the "Go Take A Hike" guide from the University bookstore.  Here are a few of our favorite hikes:

Morgan's Steep to the Cross:  This mile-long portion of the PT will give you a good sense of the natural beauty offered by this area of the world.  Start at Morgan's Steep, one of the best overlooks on campus, and go left (down the stairs) to the trail, which will wind through the cove.  Eventually, you will come upon Proctor's Hall, a natural rock formation with a large tunnel where former Sewanee Proctors (like RAs at other universities) have carved their initials.  Some of the carvings date to the late 1800s.  Climb through Proctor's Hall and continue on the trail until you come upon the Cross, a war memorial that offers another overlook of the Tennessee Valley.

Shakerag Hollow: Another portion of the PT that winds down into Shakerag Hollow and heads toward Green's View (another overlook that offers fantastic views of Roark's Cove).  The best place to start is from the parking lot just inside the University gates.  If you keep your eyes open, you will find evidence of the coal mining industry in the form of old mine shafts that run beneath the Domain.  This trail is more strenuous and is about 1.4 miles one way.

Abbo's Alley: This is a very "Sewanee" walk to take.  It is located on central campus and meanders through land cleared by former English professor, Abbott Martin.  You can either enter through the wrought-iron gates on Texas Avenue (just west of the Fowler Center) or from University Avenue, directly across from All Saints' Chapel.  This walk is quite level and is suitable for all ages.

Piney Point: Our favorite.  Technically, this is its own trail, though you start on the PT.  Once again, park just inside of the University gates and walk down the PT trail until there's an opportunity to go right and follow the signs for Piney Point.  You will briefly emerge by the St. Andrew's Sewanee tennis courts, but just walk along them until you find the next portion of the trail.  This is one of the easiest hikes on campus, but you are rewarded with incredible, secluded views of Roark's Cove and Shakerag Hollow.  Roughly two miles round trip.  

Sewanee Natural Bridge: Another easy walk that features a 27-foot-high natural sandstone bridge.  To get there, take University Avenue toward the "town" of Sewanee.  When the road joins 41A, go right, then turn left onto TN Highway 56 (Sherwood Road) and follow the signs for about 3.5 miles.  Well worth the short drive. 

Fiery Gizzard: Off the Domain, but widely considered to be one of the best trails in the country.  To get to the Grundy Forest trailhead, take 41A toward Monteagle, then turn left on Highway 41 to Tracy City.  Follow the brown signs to Fiery Gizzard.  Sycamore Falls are about 1.3 miles into the trail and are worth the short hike.  Please note, this trail may be closed, as a private landowner has decided to restrict access.  There are rumors of plans to reroute the trail around the landowner's property, but we are currently unsure of the outcome.  If we hear more, we will update this post accordingly.  Hopefully it will be open, as it is a remarkable trail.

Golf

The Course at the Sewanee Inn: Recently renovated and designed by Gil Hanse (designing the course for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics), the Course was named as one of Golf Magazine's best renovations in 2013.  It is a nine-hole course, but can be extended to 18 via a different set of tees.  Tee times are made through the Golf Shop, which can be reached at 931-598-1104.

William Ralston Music Listening LIbrary

Located in DuPont Library, the Ralston Music Library has been described as "perhaps unique in the world."  It features an extensive collection of records and CDs and has the best available listening equipment.  Anyone should be able to visit, but if you need help, just ask one of us and we can arrange access for you.

Excursions

Tennessee Aquarium: Located about 40 minutes from Sewanee in Chattanooga, the Tennessee Aquarium is worth the trip.  It is situated on the Tennessee River and downtown Chattanooga has some great restaurants.  Even though it is in a landlocked state, it's one of the better aquariums we've visited.

Jack Daniels Distillery: Ironically situated in a dry county, the Jack Daniels Distillery is a fun day trip.  They offer tours of their facilities, including a sampling tour.

Nashville: While a little farther afield (over an hour), Nashville is a great city with booming music and restaurant scenes.  If you are interested in having lunch, stop at Bella Nashville for artisanal pizza.  Our friend and groomsman, Chris Jackson, runs the pizzeria, which has been mentioned in the New York Times.

Restaurants

Shenanigans
12595 Sollace M Freeman Highway, Sewanee, TN 37375
931-598-5774

Our local bar and grill.  It's a great place to grab a beer and sandwich.  Try the Skinny Bob Meat Melt or the Spicy Turkey Melt, though you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu.  Shenanigans was recently listed on Thrillists' list of the best college sandwich shops in America.

Blue Chair Bakery, Cafe, and Tavern
41 University Avenue, Sewanee, TN 37375
931-598-5434

Blue Chair is a great place for breakfast and has a nice patio if the weather is good.  Their tavern now serves beer and bar food.

Stirling's Coffee House
241 Georgia Ave, Sewanee, TN 37375
931-598-1963

Stirling's is Sewanee's on-campus coffee shop.  They also serve pastries and some sandwiches.
 

Mountain Goat Market
109 E Main Street, Monteagle, TN 37356
931-924-2727

Another new addition to the area.  Great for breakfast or lunch.

High Point
224 E Main Street, Monteagle, TN 37356
931-924-4600

High Point is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its role as a safe house for Al Capone.  Today, the house is a higher end restaurant that is great for dinner.  We'd suggest making reservations.

Ivy Wild
36 Ball Park Road, Sewanee, TN 37375
931-598-9000

Ivy Wild is a relatively new addition to the Sewanee community, but it has already received rave reviews from numerous magazines and newspapers.  They are open Thursday-Sunday and reservations are a must, as the dining room is quite small.  Please note: the rehearsal dinner will be occurring here on Friday, so the entire restaurant will likely be closed.

Pearl's Foggy Mountain Cafe
15344 Sewanee HWy, Sewanee, TN 37375
931-598-5770

Widely considered to be the best place for brunch on the Mountain, Pearl's also serves dinner.  Like High Point, it's more on the higher end of the price spectrum, but it is very good.  We'd suggest making reservations.

Sewanee Angel

According to legend, when Sewanee was created the angels found it to be so beautiful that they opted to live there themselves.  Today, everyone who sets foot on campus is given a Sewanee angel for protection.  To "grab" your Sewanee angel, simply tap the roof of your car as you leave campus through the University Gates and it will protect and watch over you until you return.  Next time you are in town, tap your car's roof again as you pass through the gates to release your angel back into the Domain.

Passing Hello

This is a University tradition that involves saying "hello" to everyone you see on campus.  It can be as simple as a nod of acknowledgement or it can be a verbal one.  Don't be surprised if everyone says "hey" to you!

Gowns

Members of the University's honor society, the Order of Gownsmen, are given black academic gowns as a symbol of their achievement.  This is a tradition that Sewanee borrowed as a form of homage to Oxford and Cambridge, both of which donated our first library after the Civil War.  You may see students wearing these gowns as they walk from class to class.  The same gowns are worn at commencement and are frequently handed down from generation to generation.

Dress Tradition

Don't be surprised if you see the students dressed up in coat and tie/dresses - this is part of Sewanee's student-enforced dress tradition.  The idea is that by dressing up for class and for events, you are showing respect for your professor, classmates, and the academic pursuit.

Yea, Sewanee's Right

Frequently abbreviated as "YSR."  This is the last line of a University cheer that was originally used as a slight against Vanderbilt (the "heathens" listed below).  Now it is used at all sporting events and anytime there is a gathering of Sewanee alums.  You'll hear it at the wedding. 

Tigers, Tigers leave 'em in the lurch
Down with the heathens, up with the Church
Yea, Sewanee's Right!

SAVE SEWANEE

While this phrase is not frequently heard on campus anymore, when Ruth and Robbie were students it was ubiquitous.  The notion behind it is that Sewanee is such an amazing and secluded location that one should experience it unencumbered by modern technology (i.e. cell phones).  As Robbie's father said when he dropped him off for the first time, "You will never live in a place like this again - make sure you enjoy it."  "Save Sewanee" was/is used as a phrase of derision - you might shout it at a freshman as they walk through the quad while on their cell phone.  As a freshman, it was hard to understand, but as time wore on you began to put down your phone, look around you, and actually experience Sewanee.  Both Ruth and Robbie used their cell phones as glorified alarm clocks as students and we encourage you all to do the same while in Sewanee.

Sewanee Dogs

You'll probably see quite a few dogs wandering throughout campus without any human attendants.  This is completely normal.  Sewanee is a sleepy town and dogs run free.  Some will even accompany their professorial masters to class.  If reincarnation is a thing, coming back as a Sewanee dog wouldn't be a bad outcome!

The University Seal in All Saints' Chapel

As you enter All Saints' Chapel, you will see the University's seal on the floor of the entranceway.  Tradition requires all undergraduates to avoid stepping on the seal, as doing so will curse them and prevent them from graduating.  The only way to lift the curse is to "streak" the quad.  Once you've graduated, you may step on the seal, though most alums don't - perhaps out of fear that the University will take back their diplomas!

Up the "Down" and Down the "Up"

If you stand at the northwest corner of the quad, you will notice two spiral staircases - one with "Down"  on the ground in front of it and the other with "Up."  When Sewanee had a military academy, the cadets found that their sabers knocked against the metal railing when they followed the instructions placed on the ground in front of the staircases.  To avoid this problem, they started going "up the Down and down the Up," a tradition that is carried on today.  Allegedly, there is a ghost of a cadet who will correct you if you are caught using the incorrect staircase.