Sewanee, Tennessee
[ OVERVIEW ]Sewanee, Tennessee sits high on the Cumberland Plateau, about an hour and a half southeast of Nashville, surrounded by forests, sandstone cliffs, winding trails, and long views across the Tennessee landscape.
Home to the University of the South, Sewanee has a distinctive sense of place—part mountain village, part college town, part wild refuge. It’s a place where the pace naturally slows: where you can spend a morning walking beneath a canopy of trees, linger over a good meal, watch the light change across the plateau, or simply sit still long enough to notice what you might otherwise miss.
Sewanee offers the perfect landscape for stepping away from the everyday and making room for work, wonder, and what comes next.
Experience Details
Trip Duration
3 days 2 nights
Pricing
TBA
Spring 2027
Next Dates
[ HIGHLIGHTS ]Experience the beauty of Tennessee throughout the seasons.
Hiking
Hiking in Sewanee offers a chance to experience the Cumberland Plateau on foot, with trails for both adventure and quiet reflection.
Explore the dramatic overlooks and rugged terrain of the Fiery Gizzard Trail, wander the forested Perimeter Trail around the Domain, or follow the gentler Mountain Goat Trail, a former railroad corridor connecting Sewanee and Monteagle. Each trail offers its own way to slow down, notice the landscape, and let the natural beauty of the plateau become part of the retreat experience.
Food & Drink
Sewanee’s small but thoughtful food scene offers plenty to savor between hikes and time outdoors.
Enjoy seasonal, locally minded fare at LUNCH, a chef-driven café and market in the heart of the village, or gather for an evening at Judith, a New American tavern from James Beard–nominated chef Julia Sullivan. Both were included in the inaugural MICHELIN Guide American South selection, a remarkable recognition for this small mountain community. Add locally roasted coffee, craft beer, cocktails, wine, and other relaxed gathering spots around town, and meals become another way to experience the character and community of the Cumberland Plateau.
Sightseeing & Culture
Sewanee offers a wonderful mix of natural beauty, history, and creative culture.
The historic campus of the University of the South, visit the University Art Gallery, wander through the charming village, or take in the panoramic views from scenic overlooks along the plateau. The surrounding communities of Sewanee and Monteagle offer galleries, local makers, music, and a rich Appalachian and Cumberland Plateau heritage. There’s plenty to discover, but the pace remains unhurried—inviting guests to wander, look a little closer, and experience a place with a strong sense of history and character.
Lodging Enhancements
Lodging
Clifftops offers a beautiful setting for a retreat, with private homes tucked into the forests and along the dramatic edge of the Cumberland Plateau.
Settle into comfortable, residential accommodations that make it easy to gather, slow down, and enjoy the landscape—whether sharing a home with the group or having a quiet space of their own. The community’s wooded setting and proximity to Sewanee’s trails, shops, restaurants, and natural overlooks make it an ideal home base for a few days of connection, reflection, and wonder.
Rooted in Nature
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Day One: Arrival and Unwind
Arrive in Sewanee, settle into your Clifftops accommodations, and let the pace begin to shift. Take some time to unpack, wander the property, or simply enjoy the quiet of the plateau. As the afternoon unfolds, gather for a casual welcome, a shared meal, and an introduction to the days ahead. No agenda, no rush—just space to arrive fully, connect with the group, and begin.
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Day Two: Explore and Connect
Begin the morning with coffee, a slow breakfast, and a little time to yourself before heading out to experience the landscape. Spend the day exploring one of Sewanee’s trails or scenic overlooks, with time for conversation, reflection, and discovery along the way. Return to Clifftops in the afternoon for rest or unstructured time, then gather for a shared dinner and an evening experience designed to deepen connection—to the place, the group, and the work you’re here to explore.
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Day Three: Reflect and Depart
Ease into the final morning with coffee, breakfast, and a little time to reflect on the experience. Gather for a closing conversation—sharing what surfaced, what you’re taking with you, and how the time together might shape what comes next. Enjoy one last walk or quiet moment on the plateau before packing up and heading home, carrying a little more space, perspective, and wonder with you.
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Your Guide
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Melinda Britt
Melinda Young Britt is a contemplative spiritual director, facilitator, and guide based in Columbia, Tennessee. Her work centers on creating space to slow down, listen deeply, notice what is often overlooked, and make room for reflection and discernment. With a natural connection to the outdoors and a love of hiking and time on the land, Melinda brings a grounded, thoughtful presence to experiences that invite people out of the noise of everyday life and into greater awareness of themselves, one another, and the world around them. For Birdwing, she offers an invitation to pause, pay attention, and discover what becomes possible when we make room for wonder.
Retreat through the seasons
Spring
March 27’
Summer
June 27’
Fall
Sept. 27’
