Tennessee Backroads:  Collegedale

With a population of about 6500, Collegedale is close to Chattanooga, but for a tourist, it feels like it's worlds away, tucked behind hills far from the roar of I-75. 

Many of Collegedale's citizens are Seventh Day Adventist, celebrating Sabbath on Saturdays and keeping to a vegetarian diet. 

So businesses tend to be closed on Saturday and open on Sunday, while vegetarian selections predominate in the grocery stores and restaurants.

Southern Adventist University and McKee Foods Corporation are the two biggest influences on the town.

Southern Adventist University follows the tradition of keeping a quiet Sabbath from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday --  not your typical college campus!

 McKee Foods – home of Little Debbie® snack cakes – doesn't offer tours, but there's an outlet store on site.  Visitors can stock up.  Try my favorite, Nutty Bars.