When I first saw Cheekwood advertise their Enchanted Castles event, I knew my princess-loving 4-year-old daughter would be overjoyed to go, and I couldn’t have been more right. Now through Aug. 17 at Cheekwood, there are five charming castles erected on the grounds, each with its own unique look and distinctive attributes.
Our Mom Reporter, Hilary Hansen, took her girl to Cheekwood’s newest summer exhibit and had a blast!
The first castle is the “Formidable Fortress,” which has a ladder and a rope wall to climb up, as well as a throne inside. There’s a slide down from the top, but note, it’s quite steep and fast for the littlest tots. As you continue, the next castle is dubbed “Crow’s Nest,” which has spyglasses on the tower to look out at the gardens and birds, as well as a swing.
Across the road, you will encounter “Dragon’s Den,” (our favorite of the bunch). There’s a climbing wall, bridge, slide, multiple levels to visit with some fun surprises inside including a treasure chest and a dragon’s nest complete with unhatched eggs at the top.
Next, we headed to the “Flower Fairy Palace” with a slide down from the tower. Lastly, we arrived at the “Wizard’s Watchtower,” which also features a swing and throne. All of the castles are equipped with something to climb, though getting down may be more of a challenge for the 2-and-younger crowd, especially when there’s only one way up and down and lots of kids. You will definitely have to keep a close eye on the littler tots because you can’t always see them once they climb up.
Cheekwood Enchanted Castles Engage the Imagination
There’s plenty of time to visit multiple times this summer and my daughter absolutely wants to return. It’s an experience that is ripe with ways to engage your child’s imagination and sharpen their motor skills. The downside is that there aren’t many swings, so children have to work on taking turns and sharing.
The backdrop of Cheekwood is so perfect for these castles. It creates a whimsical ambience that transports you straight into a fairytale. I thoroughly enjoyed the tranquility of the surrounding nature while my daughter played. I recommend spending about one-to-two hours to have enough time to play on each castle and walk around the gardens. And don’t forget to stop by the TRAINS exhibit!
Timed-entry tickets can be purchased on the Cheekwood website here.
Hilary Hansen is a mom, Vanderbilt graduate and Nashville Parent Mom Reporter.
