Cheekwood

This place is truly magnificent. We could have spent the entire day here just wandering through all the differerent paths in the garden. My sister and I loved finding all the trolls on our walk! We also loved going through the art museum. Part of it was closed when we went because they were setting up for a new exhibit

Cheekwood is honestly one of my favorite places in Nashville. I think it's because it's so close to everything, and yet a world away from honky-tonk row. This botanical garden is tucked into the Belle Meade(ish) neighborhood just southwest of downtown Nashville. It's a botanical garden, arboretum and museum all rolled into one. And it's especially great for families! The Bracken Foundation Children's Garden is where you will want to visit first if you have young children. This is a hands-on outdoor space for the whole family that invites kids to play and learn at every turn. The children's garden is perfect for younger children to explore nature, stroll along a storybook path, follow an obstacle course that weaves through the garden, and lots more. This is also where you'll find the Turtle Pond, with 20 native turtles swimming and basking in the sun.Follow the storybook path to the TRAINS! outdoor exhibit and the Enchanted Express, a space for train lovers to play. This garden features a train station that kids can play inside, and a huge model train track. Kids can climb through the children's tunnel to an observation dome for an up-close and immersive view of the garden and forest.They also have rotating outdoor art exhibits. When I visited, all along the Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail were huge trolls. The "Trolls: Save the Humans" exhibit was installed here, featuring six giant trolls displaying good stewardship toward the earth and its resources.The property used to belong to the Cheek family, who lived in the huge estate that's still on the grounds. It's now a museum, and you can go inside and peek at all of the lovely furniture and artwork they amassed over the years. The upstairs area of the house/museum was being used as a gallery for permanent and rotating exhibitions.Cheekwood is a wonderful place to visit for the day. I had so much fun just wandering around the gardens and looking at the flowers and landscaping. It's really peaceful and beautiful, and I highly recommend visiting when you're in Nashville.

Absolutely amazing. A must when visiting Nashville. Make sure you give yourself about 2-3 hours of time to explore the estate/gardens. The mansion is a definite must to check out (different price than just going around the grounds). It is not only a well "preserved" example of the architecture/lifestyle of the 18th-early 19th century but it is also equipped with an art gallery inside the mansion. They have a beer garden that's only open on the weekends but there's a cafe that's usually open, it wasn't when I came because of a private event. It's kid friendly and they have a cute little interactive area with trains running (weather depending). These grounds are a wonderful place to take a stroll, relax and listen to the birds sing. Gorgeous flowers, greenery and art installations all over. They even have events and seem to rotate some sculptures/artist year round. Such a peaceful place and I couldn't recommend this place more. Definitely takes you out of the city life and gives you a tranquil feel that you definitely won't regret. I understand why it's the top ten botanical gardens in the US. Lots of history and they really take care of the grounds. It is the perfect pairing of Mother Nature and man made art. This place is simply exquisite.

I've been to cheekwood a handful of times whenever they have special events. And every time I've gone I've had a wonderful time! The exhibits they schedule are fantastic and are perfect for everyone. It's very easy to navigate around the grounds and there's things to see everywhere you look. I will say when it's hot you don't seem to get much of a breeze even though you're in open space, so bring a little fan with you and water.

Cheekwood Gardens:Cheekwood with its picturesque 1930s estate, with the 30,000 sq foot mansion and 55 acres of cultivated gardens, includes 13 distinct gardens and many trails. The Cheekwood Botanical Garden is a three-time USA Today Top 10 Botanical Garden winner. Walking through the 13 gardens and woodland sculpture trail truly gives a sense of reflection and peace. If you have children, make sure to go to the Turner Seasons Garden with the model trains. When I visited in May-Sep 2024 season, they had the trolls: save the humans by Thomas Dambo, features six young trolls who have noticed that the "small people" (what the trolls call humans) are disconnected from nature and have started harming the planet! The goal of the tribe is to help the humans rediscover nature and inspire them to be good stewards of earth. A unique outdoor installation, the TROLLS exhibition blends art, nature and messages of sustainability. Six giant trolls are intertwined with Cheekwood's unique gardens, trees and historic landscape for a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience.

Cheekwood Botanical Gardens is a site to behold. You could easily achieve your 10,000 step daily goal, here. The site has a beautiful mansion,, which you could tour, and there are plenty of staff members throughout the site, to answer any questions. When we arrived, Cheekwood was preparing for their Christmas season. Workers were stringing lights, as far as the eye could see. They do a great job at preparing different themes, as you make your way through each section of the gardens. I was impressed with the landscaping and their cleverness, with how they constructed areas so ornately. You definitely have to dedicate some time and visit Cheekwood. You will be amazed at the beauty, ingenuity, and charm of these gardens.

I was really excited to visit Cheekwood, all the pictures I saw online looked beautiful and I thought it would be nice to spend an afternoon walking around their gardens. It wasn't.Honestly, I don't even know how big this place is, we were there barely 40 minutes. Upon entering, directly to the right were some paths with "scarecrows" everywhere. They were all made by the local elementary school children. There were some flowers and plants along the paths, but nothing special. As we kept walking down these paths and passing hoards of kids, we decided to ditch this area and go somewhere else. I think there was a toy train at the bottom of the hill for kids to look at?We walked over to the pumpkin area, and while the pumpkin houses were cool, once you've seen them, there isn't anything else to do. This place seemed to be geared towards kids. Pretty much everybody there were moms or grandparents with their little ones running all over the place screaming.It cost $44 for us to get in, seemed like a total rip off to me.

Cheekwood was the residence of the late founder of the Maxwell House Coffee brand. Now a small art museum, the home has many of its original fixtures and, on this latest visit, is displaying a rotating exhibition of art. The grounds offer a vast array of native flora and fauna. The animals we saw were birds and rabbits. I have visited Cheekwood on several occasions. They put on a good show of holiday lights and decorations for the holiday season. During spring, the flowers bloom, and the rest of the year, they have varying events, including music, shows, and family-friendly activities. Cheekwood does keep a very active calendar. Usually, these events have food trucks, live music, and an onsite cafe. Pricing is inflated at the cafe.The administration to get into the gardens and house varies. They do offer discounts for age groups, military, and students. You can purchase tickets online, but it is highly recommended to purchase them in person. This is especially applicable when they host large-scale events. You do not have to print the ticket; you can take the QR code on your mobile device and show it to the window attendant when you arrive at the gate, and they will scan you in. It is a seamless process. Saves paper, too!Parking can be a royal pain. Cheekwood is located in a very hilly area. If you need extra assistance with mobility, ADA accommodations, or any other reason, call ahead to find out what services they provide to make your visit easier. Going around the house and gardens is accessible but could be very strenuous for some. Use your best judgment. ADA parking spaces are available, yet, they are limited. I hope you can check out Cheekwood! It is a lovely place. Pending the weather, I would recommend planning 3 hours for your visit if it is only adults. If you bring children, it may vary depending on their age. Strollers are welcomed and they do have some children activities. Check the website for more information.

No matter the season, Cheekwood will "light up you life" in many, many ways.While most of our trips have been during daylight hours throughout the seasons and the years....with flowers blooming in a rainbow of colors, trees displaying their greens, and yellows, and ochres, and reds....this week we decided to visit "Holiday Lights." So, during this visit...even in the dark of night, we were presented a gift of dazzling and sparkling lights throughout the grounds. From the red and whites of the entry area to just about every other color imaginable in a multitude of configurations on the ground to eye-level to far above your head, Holiday Lights glimmered and glowed with the magic of the seasons.Cheekwood Staff also displayed their unmatched courtesy and assistance from providing timed entrances via a very well-orchestrated operation that went smoothly and kept crowding to a very tolerable level. Parking assistants politely directed me to Assisted Parking near the entrance (my mobility is limited these days). Clearly visible arrows in circles painted on the paved walkways guided visitors throughout the acres of magical displays. Patrons spaced themselves fairly well throughout the venue. The only lines (short as they were) cropped up periodically at the Hot Chocolate and Concession stands. Thus, for our family...the Holidays started Merry and Bright.

Beautiful blooms in March! We had a great day exploring at Cheekwood. What a peaceful and beautiful little piece of heaven right here in Nashville! It was not too crowded on a weekday and quiet enough where you can hear the birds sing. Loved the tulips in bloom and can't wait to come back in a few months when the trees and grass add a lush green backdrop to the already beautiful views.