Local Attractions

Restaurants Within Walking Distance from the Conference

Bread & Company (Inexpensive to moderate)
Open for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, this is a great spot to pick up to-go items or grab a quick bite to eat inside. Design-your-own salads and sandwiches, soups of the day, deli case offerings, and an array of baked goods are all tempting options for your choosing.
Located at 2525 West End Ave, alongside the Marriott.
(615) 329-1400

Bricktops (Moderate to moderately expensive)
Their lunch and dinner menus are highlighted by items such as seasonal soups, salads, fresh fish, specialty burgers, steaks, flatbread pizzas, and sandwiches. Wait times are moderate and reservations are accepted.
(615) 298-1000

Fleming’s Steakhouse (Moderately expensive to expensive)
New York strip, filet mignon, and numerous other steak selections are the main draw here for the dinner crowd. Not to mention the spectacular view of Nashville’s prized Parthenon in Centennial Park.
Located at 2525 West End Ave. (615) 342-0131

Grins (Inexpensive to moderate)
Pronounced "Greens", this café is located on Vanderbilt University’s main campus (in the Schulman Center, at the corner of 25th Avenue and Vanderbilt Place) This kosher vegetarian café has gathered rave reviews. Open 10:30-8pm M-TR; 10:30-2pm F. (615) 322-8571

Latitude (Moderate to moderately expensive)
Offering upscale dining in a contemporary atmosphere, this restaurant is located on the second floor of the Marriott, overlooking Centennial Park. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (615) 340-5152

P.F. Chang’s (Moderate to moderately expensive)
Serving family-style Chinese cuisine with a contemporary flare, this restaurant is located just steps away from the Marriott. Word of caution … it gets very busy after 6pm but reservations are accepted.
Located at 2525 West End Ave. (615) 329-8901

Pancake Pantry (Inexpensive to moderate)
This breakfast spot, still a local favorite after 40 years in business, is notorious for its selection of out-of-this-world pancakes, waffles, omelets, and other goodies to start your day off just right. While a little further than “walking distance” it never hurts to stroll the extra distance through the heart of Vanderbilt’s campus … and to walk off those pancakes! An insider tip … locals know that the entrance line grows quickly on weekend mornings. (615) 383-9333

Starbucks
Need we say more about this mainstay in American culture! Just around the corner from the Marriott, enjoy your favorite caffeine indulgence any time of the day.
Located at 2525 West End Ave. (615) 341-0093

Ted’s Montana Grill (Inexpensive to moderately expensive)
This casual and cozy restaurant features made-from-scratch dishes including all 100-percent natural premium Harris Ranch beef, National Bison Association-certified bison, Springer Mountain Chicken and seafood. Open for lunch and dinner. (615) 329-3415

Attractions Within Walking Distance from the Conference

Belcourt Theatre
Nashville’s nonprofit venue for theatre, music and events, the Belcourt offers two theatres, one of which is the original 1930s movie house. The venue features music, film, events and forums on a daily basis, and is situated in the heart of Hillsboro Village, which in and of itself offers a selection of unique boutiques and dining venues. (615) 383-9140

Borders Books
Located just around the corner from the Marriott, you’re sure to find your favorite read in this expansive bookstore. Grab a snack or coffee drink from the café located on the first floor.
Located at 2525 West End Ave. (615) 327-9656

The Parthenon at Centennial Park
Nestled just across the street from Vanderbilt University, the Parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, Nashville’s premier urban park. The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena brilliantly mirrors the original in ancient Greece. Not to mention, Centennial Park offers spacious green lawns and walking trails for those seeking some time in the crisp February fresh air. (615) 862-8431

Vanderbilt University
Take a stroll through the heart of Vanderbilt University, acclaimed as a national arboretum since 1988. The campus is home to more than 300 tree and shrub varieties, and buildings date back to its founding in 1873. It is sure to offer an enjoyable experience for those seeking an expense-free, scenic excursion.

Additional Nashville Attractions and Dining

Bluebird Café
Among musicians and music-lovers, the Bluebird is world-famous and the place to see and hear well-known and up-and-coming songwriters and musicians. This treasure is but a hole in the wall, tucked away in a stretch of boutiques in the heart of Green Hills, just miles away from downtown Nashville. Be forewarned: go to hear music, not for conversation. Customers who talk during performances are commonly shushed. (615) 383-1461

Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art
Within its 55 acres, Cheekwood features a botanical garden and a museum of art, which is recognized as a center for contemporary art in the Southeast. The Cheekwood mansion, with the original boxwood gardens, has been named to the National Register of Historic Places. (615) 356-8000

Country Music Hall of Fame
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has been the home of America’s music since 1967. Located on the west bank of the Cumberland River, the Hall of Fame is just a few steps from the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Schermerhorn Symphony Center and the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway. (615) 416-2001

Frist Center for the Visual Arts
The Frist Center has hosted a spectacular array of art from the region, the country and around the world as well as become a magnet for Nashville’s rapidly expanding visual arts scene. With an exhibitions schedule that has new art flowing through the magnificent Art Deco building every six to eight weeks, there is always something new and exciting to see in the spacious galleries. Current exhibits include Monet to Dali: Modern Masterpieces from the Cleveland Museum of Art and Aaron Douglas: African American Modernist.
(615) 244-3340

Grand Ole Opry
The six-foot circle of dark, oak wood in the Opry House stage is shiny but clearly well worn. Cut from the stage of the Opry’s famous former home, the Ryman Auditorium, this circle is the heart of the stage, the Opry’s heart is its music and its members — a broad scope of styles by a wide range of artists. (615) 871-6779

Nashville Originals
Nashville’s finest independent restaurants

Nashville Public Library – Main Library
From its historic Nashville Room to the public art galleries to the café to the fountain-filled center courtyard, the main branch of Davidson County’s public library system is a perennial favorite. (615) 862-5760

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere
Located just six miles south of downtown Nashville. In addition to its exhibits, crowd favorites include the Grassmere Historic Farm, the Jungle Gym (the largest of its kind in the country), and the Wild Animals Carousel. (615) 833-1534

Ryman Auditorium
Known as Nashville’s premier performance hall, the Ryman Auditorium was the home of the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. Today the renovated space still features wooden church pews and music that can’t be beat. (615) 458-8700

Schermerhorn Symphony Center
The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is home to the critically acclaimed Nashville Symphony and is located on a full city block in downtown Nashville. (615) 687-6500

Tennessee State Capitol
The majestic Tennessee State Capitol, completed in 1859, is located on a high hill in downtown Nashville near the Bicentennial Mall, the Farmers’ Market, and the Tennessee State Museum. The Capitol, still in use by state government, features numerous works of art, historical murals and frescos, portraits, massive chandeliers, the House and Senate chambers and library, and the Governor’s Office. The grounds also include the tomb of President and Mrs. James K. Polk. (615) 741-2692 or (615) 741-1621