Your Guide to Cheekwood Estate & Gardens in Nashville

Cheekwood is one of my favorite places to go in Nashville. The 55-acre Belle Meade historic estate includes numerous gardens, art trails, children’s areas, and a historic mansion. I’ve gone on dates here, taken my grandparents and out-of-town family, and now I bring my daughter. There’s something for everyone at Cheekwood. Here’s my guide to getting the most out of your visit.

🌷 The Gardens

Cheekwood is home to 13 distinct gardens and numerous garden displays. Meandering trails guide visitors through the various areas, and you can either grab a map to plan your trip and make sure you hit every garden, or wander aimlessly, which is what I do with my kid leading the way. My favorites are Howe Garden, which feels like a little fantasy village; the Bradford Robertson Color Garden right by the welcome center, an explosion of color and perfect for photo ops; and the Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden.

🏛️ The House

Cheekwood was built between 1929 and 1932 by architect Bryant Fleming, inspired by country estates in Britain, and was home to Leslie Cheek, Sr. and Mabel Wood in their later years. Leslie died shortly after it was finished, and Mabel lived there until 1944, when she deeded it to their daughter, Huldah. Huldah turned the estate into a center for art and nature, and opened it to the public on May 31, 1960.

Visiting the mansion costs extra, but it’s worth doing at least once. The inside is decadent and sprawling, with beautiful rooms, furniture, architectural details, and art. I confess I’ve only been inside a few times, preferring to roam the gardens instead.

🧒 For Kids

I have literally spent all day, from open to close, with my kid at Cheekwood. There is so much to see and explore. Head down the paved trail across the road from the welcome center to find a storybook trail of “The Little Engine That Could” before coming to a truly enchanted toy train area. Kids can zip and zoom beneath tracks and inside a little house to follow the children’s trains. Beside it is a wooden toy train play structure.

The second children’s area is farther in and has an outdoor obstacle course, water features great for cooling down in the summer, a little tea house, and much more. It’s two acres of fun, and probably the only way you’ll get your kids to leave the train area is by promising them you’ll head here next.

🎨 Art

My favorite part of Cheekwood is the Ann & Monroe Carell Jr. Family Sculpture Trail. The 1.5-mile trail weaves through unique nature-themed sculptures, from wind harp chairs to glass bridges and, of course, the giant hare pictured above.

Rotating exhibits and permanent collections are located inside the mansion, and include pieces by Edgar Degas, William Edmondson, and John White Alexander.

🍽️ Where To Eat

Café 29 is located at Cheekwood inside the Frist Learning Center Courtyard and has a Southern-themed lunch menu. Lately, there are food trucks almost every time I’ve visited. I usually pack a picnic, though!

🫖 Special Events

Cheekwood has continuous events throughout the year, from its current tulip extravaganza to live music and holiday lights. Here’s what’s happening this spring.

🎟️ More Details