Southwest® flights from Nashville to New York (LaGuardia) from $89

In this cultural hub, you’ll find attractions that showcase some of the world’s greatest art and scientific achievements. Wander the halls and take in the master works housed within Museum Mile stalwarts like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim Museum. Likewise, you can catch more contemporary creations at the Museum of Modern Art, prehistoric pieces at the American Museum of Natural History, and get lost in the stacks of the New York Public Library, the third largest public library in the world.

Should you find yourself in need of a break from the relentless pace of the city, you can always find refuge in any of the city’s parks. Central Park, home to a stunning array of flora and fauna and the famous Great Lawn, is the perfect picnicking venue, while Washington Square Park with its iconic arch is conveniently situated amidst the effervescent atmosphere of Greenwich Village, the onetime cradle to the Beats and bohemia of the 1960s and current center for shopping, cuisine, and nightlife. With over 1,700 parks carved out within the city, there’s sure to be a greenspace nearby.

You don’t have to stay on the ground to take in all that this city has to offer. Those who don’t mind a climb can ascend the 300-plus stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty and see New York City from Lady Liberty’s enviable vantage point. Meanwhile, those that would prefer the aid of an elevator can take in the spectacular citywide views from the open-air deck atop of the Empire State Building or the observation deck at One World Trade Center, the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. Any of these perspectives offer an unforgettable panorama of a city you won’t soon forget, either.