Hotel bathtubs are an endangered species

These revisionist takes on a classic summer treat will probably upset Popsicle purists. To which we say: Chill out! They may not look like the stuff of many a childhood brain freeze, but your mouth will love them all the same. 1 New York Most new-wave ice-pop artisans acknowledge at least some debt to the paleta—a frozen fruit treat sometimes made with nuts, milk, and spices that gained popularity along Mexico's Pacific coast in the 1940s. Former pastry chef and Mexico City transplant Fany Gerson of La Newyorkina has a special connection to the confection: In fact, she's publishing a book of recipes (titled Paletas) this month. There's a store in the works, too, but for now, the best place to get ahold of her avocado, hibiscus, or cajeta (caramelized goat's milk) pops is her stall at the Hester Street Fair. Hester St. at Essex St., lanewyorkina.com, from $2. 2 Atlanta Launching a cold-sweets business in a city nicknamed Hotlanta? Now that should be a no-brainer. Mining Southern culinary touchstones for his inspiration, Steven Carse has more than earned his King of Pops moniker—and his loyal following, who visit his cart in the Poncey-Highland neighborhood (a.k.a. Atlanta's burgeoning street-food center) weekdays from 3 to 8 p.m. and weekends from 12 to 8 p.m. His stick shtick? Frosty takes on Georgia peaches, Arnold Palmers (sweet tea and lemonade), and banana pudding—complete with frozen hunks of Nilla Wafers. 1079 North Ave., kingofpops.net, $2.50. 3 New Orleans It takes something truly refreshing to lure the French Quarter crowds away from Bourbon Street's slushy-dispensing daiquiri stands. At Meltdown, Michelle Weaver creates sophisticated botanical combinations—pineapple and cilantro, saffron and rose water, blackberry and sage—that are nevertheless appealing to (and healthy for) ice pop fanatics of all ages. The shop's decor also hits a wholesome note—how very un-Big Easy!—with white paper lanterns, cheery green walls, and a chalkboard in the front window listing each day's specials. 508 Dumaine St., $3. 4 Raleigh, N.C. Summer Bicknell did not open her ice-pop business on a whim. In 2004, she traveled 2,000 miles to Tlazazalca, Mexico, for an intensive, three-month paleta-making apprenticeship. She hasn't stopped moving since. In 2005, Bicknell opened the first Locopops in a tiny space near the Duke campus and has since expanded to Chapel Hill and Raleigh. Her flavors cover plenty of ground, too—crowd-pleasers like chocolate brownie share the stage with wilder styles that incorporate black truffle, olive oil, and even bacon. 1908 Hillsborough St., locopops.org, from $2. 5 Los Angeles Personal chef Michelle Sallah can take the heat, but she still likes to get out of the kitchen once in a while. So last summer, Sallah and her partner John Cassidy started L.A.'s mobile Popcycle Treats as a weekend project. With the help of a custom-built freezer bike, the pair pedal their wares through Silverlake's farmers market each Saturday and the Holly-wood farmers market on Sundays. They're clever locations in a way, since the ingredients for their next batch of salty cucumber-lime or coffee-cardamom coolers are always just a farm stall away. Twitter @popcycle treats for locations and flavors, $3. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Gourmet food trucks: Track 'em down with these four Web tools San Francisco: Sweet treats to try before you die Why cruise ships almost never stay in port overnight

Since opening in 2009, the High Line Park has quickly become one of New York City's most popular sites. It's a rare Manhattan gem: a tourist attraction that manages to be just as popular with locals as it is with tourists. The elevated walkway, built on a former rail line 30 feet off the ground, provides stunning views of the Hudson River and lower Manhattan skyline—for free—and the flowering gardens and big wooden benches offer up a quiet reprieve from the see-and-be-scene Meatpacking District, directly below. Starting today, there will be even more High Line for everyone to love. The park will double in size to one full mile long with a new section, which runs between West 20th and West 30th Streets, midway between 10th and 11th Avenues. Mayor Michael Bloomberg marked the occasion in a special ceremony yesterday. "The second half-mile adds different views and new features, making it distinct from the first section but no less remarkable," Bloomberg said. Some of those new features include unique views of the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and the New Yorker Hotel. You can access the new addition to the High Line at West 23rd Street, West 26th Street, West 28th Street, and West 30th Street, which are open during the public park's summer hours, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. More from Budget Travel: New York City: Why You Should Visit the High Line New York City: 5 Best June Values New York: Secrets and Savings in Central Park

This week marks the start of the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park season in New York City, with free performances of All's Well That Ends Well and Measure for Measure playing through July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Since the program began in 1954, the Public Theater's famous—and famously free—productions have attracted stars like Anne Hathaway and Al Pacino. And all you have to do to snag a seat is wake up early and wait in line. In fact, an online lottery system has made the system even easier—simply sign up, enter the drawing in the morning, and check back at 1pm to see if you've been selected for a free seat for the evening. But you don't have to come all the way to New York City to see exciting live outdoor theater this summer! Last month, the New York Times compiled a comprehensive lineup of summer theater across the country. Here are some regional standouts from their list: Houston Houston Shakespeare Festival July 29–August 7 Othello and Taming of the Shrew houstonfestivalscompany.com San Diego The Old Globe May 29–September 25 Much Ado About Nothing, Tempest, and Amadeus oldglobe.org Santa Cruz Shakespeare Santa Cruz July 18–August 28 Henry IV, Part 1 shakespearesantacruz.org Spring Green, Wisconsin American Players Theater June 4–October 16 Taming of the Shrew, Tempest, Glass Menagerie, and Of Mice and Men americanplayers.org Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts Vineyard Playhouse July 20–August 14 Comedy of Errors vineyardplayhouse.org Check here for other shows in your area. SEE MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Video: How to Get Broadway Tickets for Less Finally! Affordable hotels in New York City have arrived London: Pop-up theater

How about a walk around a city led by a local who knows all the hidden wonders, free of charge? That's the premise behind Global Greeter Network, which believes the best way to get to know a city is to get to know a local. It's active in more than twenty cities across the globe and is now continuing its freebie visits in Moscow, one of Global Greeter's newest iterations. From Argentina to Australia and Houston to Marseilles, greeters show visitors the "other" side to their city, filled with hidden alleyways and lesser-known landmarks. They aren't professional tour guides, rather enthusiastic volunteers who love their city and apply, interview, and then go through orientation if selected to become a greeter. The first Greeter site was New York's Big Apple Greeter in 1992, which sought to rid travelers of the pre-set NYC itinerary and script, and instead supply them with informal visits of New York through the eyes of actual New Yorkers. Meaning, skip the Empire State Building, ditch the Statue of Liberty, and head to Chinatown, Brooklyn Heights, Greenwich Village, or Harlem. Big Apple Greeter then joined forces with the Chicago, Houston, Fairbanks, and Toronto sites to create the Global Greeter Network in 2005. And now, Moscow Greeter leaves out the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral and takes visitors to markets, hidden courtyards, and even hospitals and schools. All visitors need to do is fill out a request form at least two weeks prior to the desired tour date and stay in Moscow for at least two days. Visitors list the places they want to visit, as well as their preferred language, and are put into groups with no more than six people. The local greeters—who are usually foreign language students or retired teachers or professors—then take visitors on a walking tour lasting two to four hours, depending on what the visitors want to see and do. The tour can only be used once per stay while in Moscow. All Global Greeter sites are free of charge, while some are non-profits and greatly appreciate donations (like Big Apple Greeter) and others are a part the regional tourism office (like Chicago). To see if there is one near you, click here, or Google "Global Greeter" and your city. Does a free-of-charge walking visit with a local interest you? Tell us below. MORE FROM BUDGET TRAVEL Tours led by the homeless One guy, one bicycle, one cross country tour Strike a (yoga) pose in Times Square