Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Museum of Art

Art aficionados and nature lovers alike should plan on making a stop at the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art. You can tour the garden's roses, peonies and magnolias, not to mention several greenhouses and a woodland sculpture hiking trail, the Botanical Garden offers sanctuary from Downtown's raucous atmosphere. The art museum is just as beautiful: Housed in the original Georgian-style Cheek family mansion at the heart of the grounds, the museum houses an impressive collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, as well as period furniture and artifacts from around the world.

Located approximately eight miles southwest of Downtown Nashville, the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. During the summer, it stays open until 10 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Admission is about $10 for adults, although prices may vary depending on the season. The museum also hosts numerous festivals -- for more information, check out the Cheekwood website.