San Francisco: 5 best June values

Alcatraz Island—the infamous former prison that was home to inmates such as Al "Scarface" Capone, and "Birdman" Robert Stroud—is a huge part of the Bay's landscape. If you've been to San Francisco, you probably have a stunning photo of the island from afar. But if standing on Fisherman's Wharf for a photo op isn't enough, try an Alcatraz tour to get up close. Alcatraz Cruises, the island's only tour operator, offers three types of tours, starting at $26 for adults ($16 for kids ages 5 to 11). All tours pick up and drop off at Pier 33, just off The Embarcadero and near other marquee attractions like Pier 39 and the Aquarium of the Bay. Here are our handy tips for getting the most of your Alcatraz tour: BUYING TICKETS Plan to buy tickets at least several days in advance—they're actually available up to 90 days out. You can buy online at alcatrazcruises.com or by calling 415/981-7625. Cruises almost always sell out, especially in the busy summer season. Allow two-and-a-half hours for the visit. Touring Alcatraz at night is a great way to see the lit-up city skyline—and the dark makes the prison extra spooky. The night tours (from $33, Thursdays-Mondays) have smaller group sizes and include extras like a personally narrated boat tour around the island and guided tours from the dock to the main prison building. WHAT TO BRING Wear comfortable shoes: The quarter-mile walk to the prison is a steep climb of about 13 stories, and you'll be on your feet during the whole tour. Note: There are golf-cart transportation options for the disabled. Also bring a jacket or a sweater: Even when temperatures are warm, the island gets chilly because of the water and wind. And don't forget sunblock! Ticket purchasers, even those who print out their tickets at home, need to bring their photo ID. You can bring food to eat at the dock, but beyond that, food isn't allowed, and there isn't any for sale on the island. But bottled water is allowed everywhere. WHEN TO GO Get an early start: The 9 a.m. tour is the least crowded. Alcatraz is popular enough that it sells out regularly, but you might see fewer people in the middle of the week. The island is actually a haven for colonial nesting seabirds. Especially during the late winter and in the spring, you could spot cormorants, pigeon guillemots, and waterbirds like snowy egrets and black-crowned night herons. But beware—many guests get a "white badge of honor" courtesy the seagulls, and late June brings the nesting season, which makes the island a little smelly. AND MORE! The audio headset tour, featuring the voices of former Alcatraz guards and inmates, is highly recommended and included with all tours. Hear stories about escapes, surviving solitary confinement, and sound effects of the cell doors. For iPhone owners, you can also download the Geoki Alcatraz Tour App ($1.99) which features an audio tour as well as photos and videos.

The 1846 landmark Episcopal church that once housed the Limelight, one of New York City's most notorious nightclubs in the '80s and '90s, reopened earlier this month as Limelight Marketplace, a three-story intimate shopping experience. A $15 million renovation has left the exterior of the Gothic Revival-style church largely untouched, but has transformed the interior into a European-style festival of shops, inspired by London's Covent Garden, Dover Street Market, and Burlington Arcade. Located at the corner of 20th Street and 6th Avenue, Limelight Marketplace is 14 short blocks south of Macy's flagship store and the Empire State Building. (If you're feeling adventurous, hop a pedicab to get there.) Retail developer Jack Menashe brought in designer James Mansour to restore the building to its pre-club luster. During the renovation process, the design team uncovered original elements of the church, including several 19th-century stained-glass windows. Spread out along the somewhat maze-like layout (a remnant from the Limelight club) are dozens of shops you can't find in suburban malls. Some are flanked by stained-glass and ornate, carved pattern windows; there are even two "window shops" set in the actual lancet-arch windows. The shops showcase a mix of established brands, like LeSportsac (chic handbags) and Havaianas (Brazilian flip flops), and up-and-comers using the unique format to either set up their first brick-and-mortar location or to try their hand at the Manhattan market. Some highlights: Whisk: The 1.5-year-old family-owned Williamsburg, Brooklyn-based store stocks loads of exclusive merchandise for the kitchen, including, yes, whisks ($6). Cool find: a jar of bacon marmalade ("great on grilled cheese"), $10. whisknyc.com. CupcakeStop: The dessert truck and its rotating cast of 60 flavors has become a gourmet street food staple in just a year and a half on the scene. The company's first freestanding location is a welcome addition for those who don't have the time to chase the truck around town. Note: You'll still score the best deals by following the mobile location via its Twitter feed. Signature flavor: red velvet. Cupcakes $3. cupcakestop.com. WannaHavaCookie: Buoyed by a booming online business, the 2-year-old company brings its all-natural portion-controlled whoopee pies (think Oreo Cakesters, only freshly made and without the post-consumption guilt) to Manhattan. Signature flavor: chocolate with vanilla filling. Whoopee pies $3.50. wannahavacookie.com Butterfly Bakeshop: This is the first brick-and-mortar venture for the bakery, which was conceived of a year ago after chef-owner Orlando León's daughter requested he make her a butterfly cake for her 6th birthday. The buzz over the finished product, covered with colorful sugar butterflies, was so great that starting a bakeshop was a no-brainer; every cake now features a sugar butterfly. Signature flavor: guava and dulce de leche with vanilla cake and vanilla buttercream. Mini cakes (similar in size to a generous slice) $4.25. butterflybakeshop.com. Brocade Home: The latest venture from West Elm founder Lisa Versacio, Brocade Home has taken over nine vendor spots on the second floor and transformed them into a whimsical wonderland full of lace-patterned wall coverings and metallic quilted cube chairs. Check out the first-floor kiosk for merchandise all under $49. Cool find: a set of four nesting bowls in shades of gray that together form the shape of a rose, $29. brocadehome.com. Silly Souls: The first store for the San Francisco-based baby apparel outlet specializes in supercute, funky baby shoes, like metallic silver kicks decorated with stars and crisscrossing straps that say "Rock Star" ($20). Cool find: a baby beanie that says "No Hair Day," $13. sillysouls.com. Soapology: Limelight hosts the second outpost of this 3-year-old all-natural and organic skin care company. Signature item: Walnut Polisher ($35), a body buffer and facial scrub made with finely ground walnut shells that provides a microdermabrasion effect. soapologynyc.com. Caswell-Massey: Not every vendor in the venue is new: At 250-plus years old, this personal care brand has been around longer than the church itself. Signature item: Almond Cold Cream Soap (three hand-size soaps, $18). The soap has cold cream built into it and was used by the Eisenhowers in the White House. caswellmassey.com. Thérapie New York: Founder Renee Chow describes Thérapie New York, an offshoot of the Upper West Side shop, as "a very edited department store." From fun kids' stuff to bath and body and health and beauty merchandise, the focus is on cute and functional items. Cool find: screen wipes for computers in the form of plush giraffes and tigers, $10. therapieny.com. Petrossian: The caviar connoisseur takes its decadent treats downtown. Among the edible gifts is a special blend of green tea ($19); Alexandre Petrossian, managing director and grandson of the company's founder, explains that his mother wanted her sons to drink green tea, but they thought it was gross, so they asked her to make them one that tasted good. "So she mixed it with flowers, fruit, and spices, so her sons would drink it," he says. Cool find: Vodka Chocolate Pearls (fine dark chocolate laced with Petrossian vodka), $46. petrossian.com. It'Sugar: The irreverent candy stop boasts the World's Largest Gummy Bear, five gooey pounds of sweetness ($45). Cool find: nostalgic candy packs with a selection of treats from a specific decade ($8); the Vintage '50s Candy pack has candy cigarettes, candy lipstick, a Tootsie Roll, and Necco Wafers. itssugar.com. Baci Gelato: The Albertson, N.Y.-based gelato maker decided it was time to introduce its Italian treats to the city. The smooth and creamy gelato is made fresh on-site, with varieties including a special blend of vanilla that's a mix between Madagascar and Tahitian vanilla bean. Signature flavors: panna cotta, stracciatella, and the Ferrero Rocher-esque chocolate hazelnut. Gelato from $4. bacigelato.com. Mari's New York: Run by Mari Tuttle, former director of bakery operations at NYC brunch standard Balthazar, this is the first retail store for the 3-year-old business. Unique flavors of artisanal baked-from-scratch brownies spill over into the coffees and teas also on hand. According to Mari, the "sleeper" brownie is Heat, made with chipotle peppers, smoked ancho, and cinnamon. Signature flavor: caramel sea salt. Brownies $2.50. marisny.com. Sophie & Teddy's Doggy Delights: Named after the owner's two dogs, this window shop is dedicated to high-quality, inexpensive eco-friendly offerings for pets, namely spa products like natural shampoos, pretty and fun accessories, and baked goods. (Feel-good aspect: The owner's Queens, N.Y.-based pet salon also grooms shelter dogs.) Cool find: a package of happy birthday treats decorated like cookies with fun shapes like a bone and a dog, $15. (No website or phone yet.) Barbra Scott Flowers: The other window shop features the creations of Barbra Scott, who's been providing floral designs for over 20 years—but she doesn't use just any flowers. Scott preserves actual flowers, so you get quality, long-lasting arrangements of the real thing, not cheap imitations. Cool find: preserved orchid in glass, $49. barbrascott.com. Still to come: The first Manhattan outpost of the legendary Brooklyn pizzeria Grimaldi's, which will be open 24 hours; Cana Wine Bar, with 20-plus wines by the glass and a small-plates menu by chef Nicola Maurello; and a bi-level gastropub. Limelight Marketplace, 656 Avenue of the Americas, limelightmarketplace.com, Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. MORE 5 Best Free Things to Do in New York City in June Find additional tips from Newyorkology and Manhattan User's Guide.

Time your visit to Manhattan wisely and you'll get the best entertainment…for free. Whenever my friends and family want to come visit me in New York, the first piece of advice I give them is always the same. It's my one simple money-saving tip that never fails: Come in the summer. True, it's sweaty and a bit crowded here then, but as soon as Memorial Day rolls around, many of the classic NYC experiences—ones you'd typically dish out big bucks for—are suddenly available for no cost. Free concerts, plays, and food fests litter our summer calendar, open to locals and visitors alike. Mark your calendar for these five freebies, starting in June. Shakespeare in the ParkThe NYC Public Theater's annual production of two of the Bard's plays have featured celebs like Anne Hathaway, Denzel Washington, and Kevin Kline. This year, The Winter's Tale and The Merchant of Venice runs from June 9–Aug. 1. Queue up in the morning, on the day of, at Central Park's Delacorte Theater to pick up tickets to the evening show. Night at the MuseumsOn Tuesday, June 8, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., bustling Fifth Avenue shuts down to traffic, musicians and artists set up along the sidewalks, and nine of the city's most enticing museums—including the Metropolitan and Guggenheim —offer free admission at the annual Museum Mile Festival. Entrance lines can be long, but don't lose patience: They move pretty quickly. Rib it All the best barbecue restaurants in the city—and many from across the country—come dish up their best at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, held this year on June 12–13, in Madison Square Park. Admission to the fest, with live music and cooking demos, is free, and loaded tasting plates are a bargain $8. Check out the moves This year, in its 25th annual season, SummerStage Dance will put on thirteen free performances in everything from ballet, modern, jazz, and hip hop. The best part? Prior to most shows, the pro dancers give free lessons. This season runs from June 4–Aug. 14 (summerstage.org/dance). Rock out by the waterfront Every Friday evening, from June 26–Aug. 6, up-and-coming acts play free concerts on Pier 17 at the Seaport Music Series. I've discovered some great bands here—and the views of lower Manhattan from the pier are spectacular. MORE Check out Budget Travel's New York City page for tips and Q&As;

Although Amsterdam is as much of an experience as it is a place, the city of Utrecht—the fourth largest in the Netherlands and an enclave for students and artists alike—provides an idyllic setting for families. With at least 16 festivals year-round, this first-century city proves that there's much more to Holland than windmills and tulips. Culturele Zondagen: Cultural Sundays is a series of monthly events supported by local art institutions to create a theme relevant to Utrecht, from the passion of voetbal (soccer) to performances at the Oudegracht (Old Canal). Many disciplines—from opera, literature, street culture, and storytelling—are professionally represented during the events divided amongst dozens of locations. June 5–6, July 4, Sept. 12, Oct. 29–31, Dec. 19, , 011-31/302-323-080, free. Festival de Parade: A roving festival that travels from Rotterdam to Amsterdam, the circus-like setting highlights street-theater performance, dance, musicians, and filmmakers both young and old. To really feel like you're part of a carnival, dinner is served in a mini ferris wheel. The Parade's reputation precedes itself, so when the sun sets and the party rises, there's a special section set aside for the younger members of the family. July 16–Aug. 1, Moreelsepark, 011-31/334-654-555, free to $10. Festival Oude Muziek: The internationally renowned Early Music Festival has been an area institution for nearly three decades, with more than 60 classical concerts performed in church venues. This year's theme centers around music from the eras of the four Louis (XIII-XVI), including both instrumental and vocal French Baroque. Aug. 27–Sept. 5, Muziekcentrum Vredenburg and other locations, 011-31/302-329-010, free to $55 including lunch. MORE Europe: Day 4, Amsterdam Utrecht: City Guide Top Travel Blogs: Alltop