Making Schools Work Conference Explore New Orleans

Overview

Explore New Orleans

Nashville Skyline

We are excited you are joining us at the 2026 Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville!

To ensure you make the most of your time here, we’ve gathered some resources to help you plan your trip.

From figuring out the time zone to knowing where to go and how to get discounts, we hope you find this a helpful resource.  

Local Time

Nashville is located in the Central Time Zone. Make sure to set your watches correctly!

Food

Nashville Hot Chicken

Do you know what to eat while you are in Nashville? Eat like a local with these tips.

Food to Try in Nashville

Make sure to try some of these famous fares while you are in town.

  • Nashville Hot Chicken – basically fried chicken with a lot of spice
  • Southern Barbeque
  • Fried Pickles
  • Biscuits and Gravy
  • Banana Pudding

Places to Eat in Nashville

Want to eat at some of the best places in Nashville? Here are some popular local spots that also happen to be near the Opryland Hotel.

  • Noko – Asian inspired
  • The Aquarium – eat inside the aquarium 
  • The Hampton Social – known for its coastal food
  • The Midtown Cafe – casual, rated a top 50 southern restaurant
  • Caney Fork River Valley Grille – southern 
  • The Wild Cow – vegan

Attractions

Music City Hall of Fame

Nashville is known for its love of country music, but what else is there to do while you are in town?

Here are some of the area’s biggest attractions:

For Music Lovers

Grand Ole Opry

  • The Country Music Hall of Fame 
  • The Grand Old Opry
  • Local Honky Tonks 
  • The Johnny Cash Museum
  • National Museum of African American Music 

For Nature/Animal Lovers

  • The Nashville Zoo
  • Cheekwood Estates and Gardens

For Sports/Adventure/Fitness Fans

Tennessee Titans Stadium

  • GEODIS Park (professional soccer stadium, home of the Nashville Sparks) 
  • The Pedestrian Bridge
  • First Horizon Park (minor league baseball stadium, home of the Nashville Sounds)
  • Soundwaves (Opryland Resort’s water park)

Discounts

You don’t have to pay full price to see Nashville’s great attractions. 

As the conference grows near, we will add discounts to many of the great Nashville attractions here.