Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art

Cheekwood Botanical Garden & Museum of Art is 8 mi. s.w. on Harding Rd., s.e. on Belle Meade Blvd., then s. on Page Rd. to 1200 Forrest Park Dr. This 55-acre estate was built by the family of the Maxwell House Coffee fortune and is an example of the Country Place Era of landscape design. An herb garden, a Japanese garden, a water garden and a wildflower garden constitute the botanical area. The Museum of Art, housed in a Georgian-style mansion, includes collections of American and contemporary painting and sculpture, English and American decorative arts and traveling exhibitions.

The 1-mile Carell Woodland Sculpture Trail features works by national and international artists among native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. A garden-scale train made from natural materials operates on the grounds. Seasonal events include Cheekwood in Bloom, featuring a display of more than 150,000 tulips, Cheekwood Harvest featuring some 5,000 mums and an 11-foot-tall pumpkin house, and Holiday LIGHTS featuring more than one million lights and live reindeer.

Guided tours are available. Food is available. Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.