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Neighborhood Favorites: Belle Meade

Belle Meade, Nashville, TN

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Belle Meade

Belle Meade is the ritziest area of Nashville - the homes are huge and gorgeous, the streets are fun to cruise on whether by car or bike, and the atmosphere is peaceful, lush, and green.  There’s a lot to do here though, even for visitors, with the main commercial strip on Highway 100 and the main outdoor/green attractions being Percy Warner, Edwin Warner, and Cheekwood’s Botanical Gardens.

 

Head for the Hills

Only nine miles from Downtown Nashville, Percy Warner is loaded with trails and makes you feel like you're further removed from the city than you really are. In nice weather, you’ll see folks laying out in the grassy field and, in the fall, the foliage is stunning.

My ‘go-to’ route is the Belle Meade Trailhead and I typically park right on the boulevard. There is s a two-mile loop that starts at the top of the stone steps (a favorite spot for family photos!). You can go either way around the loop, but I prefer to head right. The white loop is a little over two miles and is challenging for my 4-year-old, but she can do it (no huge hills). My 3-year-old goes on my back and the dogs are in heaven. There are several other, longer trails as well, including the 4.5-mile red trail.

My children love passing the horse trails as there are often equestrians crossing our path. You do cross a couple of roads (not many cars but still accessible for drivers), so make sure the kids don’t get too far ahead. In summer, you'll need to keep an eye out for ticks and snakes – I’ve seen both. Overall, the hike is perfect in all seasons and helps me get my nature fix when I can’t get further out of the city. Though you are supposed to keep dogs on leash, there are always a few off-leash so be aware of that.  

 

Eat Locally

Whitt’s BBQ is a locally owned Nashville chain and it’s delicious.  You can pick up a family pack, (Feeds 4) which includes 1 lb of meat, 1 pint of any side item, & an 8 pack of buns (Pork $14.53, Turkey $16.12).  You might get it to go and head for a picnic at Parmer Park.

For a sweet treat, you won't want to miss Hey Sugar for delicious custard and baked goods.

 

Play

Parmer Park is a beautiful neighborhood park and it’s located at the former site of a historic school (the brick archway is a remnant of said school).  There is TONS of green space, as well as a playground and basketball court.

 

Explore

Cheekwood – a vast and expansive botanical garden set on 55 acres – is worth a visit. It’s a beautiful, old mansion set in the heart of the Belle Meade neighborhood (once the home of the Maxwell House family) and numerous seasonal activities are hosted here throughout the year, which includes Cheekwood Lights – a stunning display of winter holiday lights, Cheekwood in Bloom, which might even rival the Netherlands for its expanse of tulips. There's also Cheekwood Harvest, El Dia de Los Muertes, and more.

Both indoors and outdoors, there's always new and interesting art installations and exhibits for adults to enjoy, and my girls love watching the huge, outdoor (and permanent) Trains exhibition with its fairies and woodland theme, complete with waterfalls, a walking bridge, a children's Tunney, sounds, and more.

It’s fun to bring a blanket and read to your kids in the shade overlooking the gardens, and there’s a newly-constructed, casual cafe and activities building in addition to a more upscale restaurant and gift shop near the entrance.  Newest to the Cheekwood scene is the Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden that boasts “private garden rooms, secret nooks, hidden spaces and water features, including a Turtle Pond, Wishing Well, Art Studio, Labyrinth, and Adventure Walk designed especially for toddlers with a Tea House, Story Tree, Fairy Garden and more.”

 

Grab a Treat

Pop by Phillip’s Toy Mart which is Nashville’s loveliest locally owned toy store.  Pick out something for your crew or come to just look at the enormous train display in the back of the store.  It’s impressive!

Features

Green Space Hiking Playground
Thoughtfully captured by:
Emily O'Grady
Emily O'Grady lives with her daughters Eloise (5) and Charlie (3.5), husband Mick, and their two senior dogs Porter and Francie, in Nashville. They’ve called Music City home for 7 years this September. After Emily and Mick met in New Zealand over 15 years ago, they’ve hiked and backpacked extensively across the globe for months at a time. In their new roles as parents, they’ve hit pause on their most extreme adventures for now, but they are consciously raising their daughters to love and appreciate nature, getting outside and exploring as much as they can in the hills of Tennessee and beyond. During the weekdays, you can find Emily leading teams across Asurion’s Product Development team, bringing the company’s service strategy to life across carrier clients. Before joining Asurion, Emily was an Engagement Manager for McKinsey & Company for 4 years, as well as held Analyst roles with Telephia (Nielsen) and Bank of America Global Corporate and Investment Bank. Emily holds a BBA in Finance, French and European Studies from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management.
More activities by Emily
An impressive waterfall a short drive east of Nashville.
An urban zoo that feels out there.
A friendly, neighborhood barbecue spot.

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