Best Outdoor Fun

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Oct 8, 2026
11 hrs ago

Stone pathway cuts through the rolling grassy hills of Cheekwood — Cheekwood Estate and Gardens
Photo: Daniel Meigs

Best Outdoor Fun: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Second Place: Nashville Zoo

Third Place: Cumberland Kayak

Past Best of Nashville wins: Cheekwood Estate & Gardens also took Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners (2026, 2024, 2022, 2019), Best Wedding Venue (2026, 2025, 2024), Best Art Happening (2025), Best Outdoor Fun (2025, 2024, 2019) and Best Summer Camp (2025, 2024) in the Readers' Poll.

Winners

Holly Street Daycare

Best Daycare

Holly Street Daycare

People and dogs wander the outdoor area of Urban Dog Park, winner of Best Dg Park and Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant.

Best Dog Park

Urban Dog Bar

Kym Iffert

Best Dog Trainer

Kym Iffert

People and dogs wander the outdoor area of Urban Dog Park, winner of Best Dg Park and Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant.

Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant

Urban Dog Bar

St. Bernard Academy

Best Elementary School (Public or Private)

St. Bernard Academy

Nachos at Nectar Urban Cantina, voted Best Family-Friendly Restaurant 2026

Best Family-Friendly Restaurant

Nectar Urban Cantina

The exterior of Father Ryan High School, which was voted Best High School (Public or Private) and Best Private School in Nashville

Best High School (Public or Private)

Father Ryan High School

Racks of clothes on the display inside of Plaid Rabbit, which was voted Best Kids Clothing in Nashville

Best Kids Clothing

Plaid Rabbit

Saint Matthew School

Best Middle School (Public or Private):

Saint Matthew School

Stone pathway cuts through the rolling grassy hills of Cheekwood

Best Outdoor Fun

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens

Dr. Lisa Storrs

Best Pediatrician

Dr. Lisa Storrs

The exterior of a Yardstick location; the franchise was Best Pet Boarding/Day Care in Nashville in the Nashville Scene’s 2026 Best of Nashville Readers’ Poll

Best Pet Boarding/Day Care

Yardstick Dog Hotel

Gabby the Groomer

Best Pet Grooming

Gabby the Groomer

Modern Dog

Best Pet Store

Modern Dog

A one-eyed dog in a room at Nashville Humane Association, which was voted Best Place to Adopt a Pet in Nashville

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

Nashville Humane Association

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Best Place to Have a Baby

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Music Sippy Social

Best Place to Have a Birthday Party

Music Sippy Social

Museums exhibits for kids with signs reading "circulatory system" and "skeletal-muscular system"

Best Place to Take Kids When It’s Raining

Adventure Science Center

The playground at the Nashville Zoo was voted Best Playground and Best Summer Camp in Nashville in the Nashville Scene’s 2026 Best of Nashville Readers’ Poll.

Best Playground

Nashville Zoo

Saint Matthew School

Best Preschool

Saint Matthew School

The exterior of Father Ryan High School, which was voted Best High School (Public or Private) and Best Private School in Nashville

Best Private School

Father Ryan High School

The playground at the Nashville Zoo was voted Best Playground and Best Summer Camp in Nashville in the Nashville Scene’s 2026 Best of Nashville Readers’ Poll.

Best Summer Camp

Nashville Zoo

YMCA

Best Swim Lessons

YMCA

A phot of the sign for Christ the King school, where Stephanie Wyatt was voted Best Teacher (Public or Private) in Nashville in the Nashville Scene’s 2026 Best of Nashville Readers’ Poll,

Best Teacher (Public or Private)

Stephanie Wyatt — Christ the King

A shelf with children's books at Wonderland, which was voted Best Toy Store in Nashville in the Nashville Scene’s 2026 Best of Nashville Readers’ Poll

Best Toy Store

Wonderland

Veterinarian Marc Smith stands in front a mural of a cat and dog watching the sun set over Nashville's skyline

Best Veterinarian

Dr. Marc Smith