The harvest at Cheekwood Estate and Gardens is scheduled Sept. 19 to Nov. 1. As the leaves turn to stunning reds and yellows and the semester begins to devolve into test after test, this outdoor venue is the perfect opportunity to escape the mundane Vanderbilt bubble.
Located within city limits, Cheekwood’s 55-acre property features botanical gardens, a pumpkin house exhibit, a mansion museum and a learning center reminiscent of a different world. If you are like me and got sent home from study abroad last semester, you’ll understand that the various fountains and calm atmosphere made me feel as though I was actually fulfilling my European experience.
Spending hours on end socially distancing has surely left the student body in need of some lightness and adventure. Cheekwood provides the perfect respite for this. At these botanical gardens, fall is a full-body experience. No detail is left to chance, as the flower beds and regular displays are made to look entirely autumnal with rogue pumpkins and mums positioned throughout. If pumpkin spice season were a place, it would be the two elaborately constructed pumpkin houses situated near the front entrance of the property (did I mention the killer photo op?)
Another plus to visiting Cheekwood during this season is the bewitching Chihuly glass blown exhibits intricately weaved into the scenery. The juxtaposition of nature and man-made pieces turn out to be perfect complements, as the various walking paths allow you to stumble upon the art in its full magnificence. For the night owls among us, there are Chihuly Night exhibits at Cheekwood that focus on illuminating the glass blown structures after the sun goes down.
And if these features were not enough, there is a large mansion and reflection pool at the outskirts of the property that do not disappoint. The rolling hills and stone statues made me feel as though I was the main character in a Jane Austen novel. Make a wish and throw a penny into one of the many fountains overlooking the 55 acres.
Whether you’ve had a hard week, a great week or just an average one, Cheekwood is the ideal venue to level-up your Saturday afternoon. Hurry and grab a ticket to enjoy the estate in all its glory, at a daytime price of just $15 for students.
