I promise to come back to Bowling Green and its surrounding towns next week, because I’ve heard there’s a new deli downtown and new eateries in both Glasgow and Franklin, but this week I ventured out again – this time to the Pineapple Room Restaurant at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Art Museum in Nashville.

I’m also thinking that if you’re opting to skip an actual vacation this year, as I have, these day trips can make you feel as if you’ve visited someplace new and exciting, right in your own backyard.

The Pineapple Room is a great place to dine on sweltering hot Southern days, because there is a full view of the stunning landscape from every table via a wall of windows, yet you can be indoors where it’s cool. The Pineapple Room also has an appealing wood deck patio, but it was too hot the day I visited to even consider eating outside.

What I did do is enjoy the gardens and art, then meandered into the restaurant for the atmosphere, multiple-star menu and amiable wait staff with character and knowledge.

The menu is full of summer delights like soups, salads, sandwiches and a quiche of the day. Some have a European flair, like the Tuscan bread bowl salad, or more often unique Southern twists like a Fried Green Tomato Salad, Shrimp and Grits or Pulled Pork Quesadilla.

I opted for the caesar salad with grilled salmon. I always wondered why caesar salads were so plain, but at Cheekwood they break the mold. Along with the usual hearts of romaine and croutons, the salad was served with sundried tomatoes, pine nuts and a black peppercorn dressing that was smooth and tangy at the same time. Cheekwood also offers a choice of a grilled chicken or salmon – a small, but delicate piece of salmon enhanced my salad greatly as did the other one-of-a-kind ingredients.

It was a hot day for eating light and my dining companions also opted for salads. The spinach salad was full of cooling summer treats: strawberries, mandarin oranges, goat cheese and spiced almonds. The sesame dressing definitely took this salad to the four-star level. That lingering, almost smoky flavor of sesame oil complimented the sweetness of the fruit and almonds.

Finally, what would a meal at the Pineapple Room be without an order of the pineapple boat salad? This is an even lighter fare. Chicken salad served with pineapple and other seasonal fruits in a hollowed out pineapple half with a citrus vinaigrette. Wow. Cheekwood’s chicken salad is abundant with unique ingredients, including Granny Smith apples, pecans and celery with a touch of mayonnaise. A delicious combination with the fruit and citrus dressing.

I had no intention of having dessert, but a scoop of nostalgia on the menu swayed me to the other side. Peppermint ice cream was my favorite as a child and there on the menu was a peppermint ice cream sundae. Two scoops of peppermint ice cream with chocolate sauce, a wafer cookie and topped with whipped cream and a cherry!

Cheekwood Art and Gardens is 55 acres of horticultural diversity and an abundant collection of art housed in the Cheek family mansion. You can visit its Web site to view both the permanent and temporary art collections at Cheekwood.

So if you’re looking for a summer day trip that actually feels like a vacation of culture and fun – with the bonus of a delicious meal – I recommend the Pineapple Room and Cheekwood Art and Gardens.

— Our anonymous food reviewer gives new restaurants a six-week grace period before reviewing. To comment, contact Managing Editor Mike Alexieff at 783-3235 or e-mail malexieff@bgdailynews.com.

PINEAPPLE ROOM

@ Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Art Museum, 1200 Forest Park Drive, Nashville

(615) 356-8000

• www.cheekwood.org

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday

Cuisine: American

Price range: $6.95 to $11.95

Libation situation: Wine

Smoking: No