You know summer is coming when you start to see great fall and winter airfare deals to Europe. Check out these low round-trip airfares to Europe (and beyond!), starting at just $598, with taxes included. These flights from New York City on Finnair and Turkish Airlines are available on select dates, September 24, 2013-January, 2014. Many more dates in spring and summer are available for more.

These are unadvertised fares, so they’re likely to disappear fast. Take advantage while you can. Here’s a sampling of round-trip fares:

• Riga…$598
• Budapest…$617
• Oslo…$618
• Gothenburg…$618
• Berlin…$639
• Helsinki…$697
• Milan…$700
• Rome…$768 (travel November through January)
• Tel Aviv…$787 (travel January)
• Paris…$795 (travel October through January)

Book directly through Finnair and Turkish Airlines to get these great rates!

1. Enjoy a Drive-In Cinema: Open-air movie screenings take place every summer at the Parc de la Villette. But this year, the city is abuzz about a brand spanking new film extravaganza. From June 10–21, the Grand Palais will be transformed into an American-style drive-in cinema where 1,000 movie-goers can watch cult classics (like Pulp Fiction and Taxi Driver) while seated in Fiat 500 convertibles. There will also be an American-style diner and a night club. The glass-roofed pavilion is a majestic setting for “Cinema Paradiso.” Access to the event is 10 euros; catch a flick, too, and the price bumps up to 19 euros.

2. Lounge on Paris Plages: For over a decade, the city has set up an artificial beach along the Seine in the summer months, complete with oversize beach lounges, palm trees, ice cream stands, water misters, and mini golf. Taking place from July 20–August 18, Paris Plages has two locations: a two-kilometer stretch near the Hotel de Ville, plus the Villette basin in the 19th arrondissement. Tip: Avoid the afternoon crowds by hitting up the beach in the morning; you’re guaranteed your own lounger with views of the passing boats.

3. Cheer for the Yellow Jersey: This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tour de France, and if you’re lucky enough to be in the city when the cyclists finish the race on July 21, make a beeline for the Place de la Concorde, where a giant screen is set up. In the final sprint, the riders do laps around the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, so you’ll get to see the peloton speed by a number of times. The best vantage point is the elevated end of the Jardin des Tuileries facing the Place.

4. Stroll the Seine: New for 2013: The city has pedestrianized two kilometers of riverside quays on the Left Bank between the Musée d’Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. Permanently closed to traffic, the area will open this summer with a bevy of cultural events, open-air cafes, plus a floating garden spanning five islands.

5. Attend Fête de la Musique: France marks the summer solstice on June 21 in a big way: musicians take to the city streets and set up impromptu concerts for passersby. Amateurs and professionals alike delight the crowds with free performances. For specific concert details, check out the website.

6. Shop ‘Til You Drop: Pick up French fashion for a fraction of the price during the semi-annual sales (June 26–July 30). Get your elbows out, though: Even the most well-mannered Parisians are ruthless when it comes to scoring 70% discounts at the city’s chic establishments during Les Soldes.

7. Picnic in the Park: In the summer months, the Parc des Buttes Chaumont resembles the French Riviera beaches with sun-worshippers sprawled on the grassy hillsides. Located in the northeast of Paris, this park has amazing topography because it was built on the site of a former quarry. A Greek-style temple sits atop a massive stone butte, with a large lake beneath. There are even secret grottoes and waterfalls. Grab a brew at Rosa Bonheur before staking a claim to your picnic spot.

What are your favorite things to do in Paris in the summer?

Many of these classes are focused around food, a pleasure that connects us no matter where we call home. Not only do the following classes teach us something new and provide the framework to connect with locals, but they are also delicious. With every class there is the reward of tasting what you made and feasting with new friends. Here are four of my favorite ways to get your hands dirty around the globe.

1. Chinatown Shop and Cook, New York City

Chef and owner of Camaje in Greenwich Village, Abigail Hitchcock, runs an incredible series of cooking classes out of the kitchen of her neighborhood bistro. Topics range from knife skills to best of brunch and specific themes like how to cook with Moroccan spices. Particularly special options include classes that start with shopping for ingredients. One option involves gathering ingredients at the famous Square Greenmarket, while another kicks off in Chinatown, buying fish and produce from markets that even some locals find intimidating. Chef Abby demystifies shopping in the neighborhood and then brings participants back to Camaje for a cooking class and fish feast.

2. Reypenaer Tasting Room, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

You may already love Dutch cheeses – Gouda, Edam – but have you sampled them at the source? Overlooking one of Amsterdam’s most charming canals, the Reypenaer Tasting Room is a cheese shop and classroom that offers the chance to taste and learn. Sign up online in advance for a class (in English) that includes a vertical tasting of aged cheeses (from youngest to oldest, or longest aged cheese) along with wine pairings. A cheese expert helps students articulate what they like about certain cheeses and why. Tip: This class is a fabulous alternative to lunch.

3. Fabulous Food Trails, Dublin, Ireland

If you prefer to nibble on a variety of foods while getting to know a destination, check out local food walking tours instead of classes. One great option is the Dublin Walking Tour from Fabulous Food Trails (they offer options outside of Dublin, too). You’ll burn off some calories during a 2.5 hour walk through scenic downtown Dublin, earning your snacks from markets, bakers, bread shops, and cheesemongers along the way. All of the most delicious bites in Dublin are brought together with this well thought out food trail, led by local experts.

4. Persimmon Provisions, Bristol, Rhode Island

Outside of Providence, Rhode Island the seaside town of Bristol is home to many culinary hotspots. One of the best is a bistro called Persimmon, where James Beard award winning chef Champe Speidel cooks up a seasonal menu that is beloved by locals and draws visitors from afar. The chef recently opened a sister store, Persimmon Provisions, a butchery and artisanal food store. Butchery classes are offered here, providing students with expert advice on cuts, quality, and how to prepare meat with the special touch and knowledge of a professional chef.

What has been your favorite hands-on class you’ve taken?

While the Grand Prix is arguably the world’s most famous Formula 1 race, Monaco isn’t the only global destination car lovers should consider. From Germany’s legendary Autobahn, to Model T mash-ups in Cuba, here are four other spots where fans can get their fix.

Havana, Cuba: For the majority of the 20th Century, Cubans only had access to cars purchased before the country’s 1959 revolution. As a result, drivers got creative, trading and repurposing vintage car parts to make existing vehicles last for some 50 years. These elegant, one-of-a-kind Model T mixtures now chortle through modern-day Havana in a moving museum of automotive ingenuity. Thanks to licensed tour operators like Insight Cuba, Americans can now legally see it for themselves.

Stuttgart, Germany: The birthplace of the automobile, Germany has plenty of automotive attractions to boot. Cruise the high-speed Autobahn to Stuttgart, where the Mercedes-Benz museum has two-hour tours amongst the hillsides of Germany’s picturesque Baden-Württenberg. In the north of the city, the Porsche Factory is a veritable altar to analog assembly, where vehicles are produced entirely by hand. Porsche also has a small, recently remodeled museum displaying 80 vintage cars.

Detroit, Michigan: Motor City is an imperative stop on any automotive itinerary. Check out the Henry Ford Museum and its accompanying Ford Rouge Factory to understand Detroit’s significance in both automotive production and the industrial history of 20th Century America. The museum houses 200 vehicles, including the Goldenrod racecar and the 1961 Lincoln Continental in which JFK was assassinated. The Rouge plant, now a tourist attraction, was once a 15 million-square-foot assembly complex, with 93 buildings and 120 miles of conveyor belts producing a new car every 49 seconds.

Modena, Italy: Every year, almost 200,000 car lovers trek to northern Italy to see Ferrari’s birthplace and bat cave corporate complex. While the official museum, Galleria Ferrari, has 40 contemporary and vintage vehicles, the real attraction is the exclusive Maranello company headquarters. Designed by Jean Nouvel and Renzo Piano, the company headquarters is open only to employees, the Ferrari family, and customers looking to create their own, entirely customized new car. Hey, all you need is $200,000 and a dream.

What are your ultimate automobile destinations?

To start your cocktail tour of New Orleans, witness the evidence of liquid inventiveness at the Museum of the American Cocktail. The cocktail shrine has a treasure of libation learning, especially for the Sazerac – the Official Cocktail of the City of New Orleans.

The blend of rye whiskey, bitters (Peychaud’s Bitters is the New Orleans-made brand of choice) and a hint of absinthe (or Herbsaint pastis) is said to have originated with a brandy-based drink made by Antoine Amadie Peychaud in the early part of the 19th century. The Creole apothecary first made the beverage in his shop in the French Quarter, and legend says that the cup in which he used to serve it (a coquetier) was what coined the term “cocktail.” Never mind that the term, having been first used in print in 1803, predates this event. It’s a good story, nonetheless.

Take your scholarly appetite to the Sazerac Bar at the Roosevelt Hotel. This bar was once in a different location, and called the Sazerac Coffee House – which is how the drink got its name. If there’s any bar in the world that does it right, it’s here, so watch your bartender concoct yours and then sit back and enjoy.

For the next history lesson, head to the French Quarter’s Hotel Monteleone and grab a seat at the Carousel Bar, built from parts of an old carousel, where the bar stools revolve around the circular bar. Unless you’ve had too much to drink, it’s slow enough that you won’t get dizzy. The bar’s signature cocktail is the Vieux Carré, invented in 1938 by the man who was then the head bartender, Walter Bergeron. The name of the drink comes from the French name for the French Quarter, but don’t pronounce it as you would in French class. Here, you say “VOO ka-RAY.”

Born at Antoine’s Restaurant in the 1890s, the Café Brûlot Diabolique is an ideal after-dinner drink. Made tableside at the restaurant, the concoction starts with cascading flaming brandy down a twist of clove-studded orange rind into spiced coffee. It’s certainly showy, but with substance, much like the layered cocktails that resemble magic tricks more than bartending. Take a taste, and you’ll find out why drinking and dining go hand in hand in New Orleans.

Let’s wind up the New Orleans cocktail class with one important lesson about a well-known (and much-imbibed) Crescent City drink – the Hurricane. Especially popular at the legendary Pat O’Brien’s Bar in the French Quarter, this potent blend of rum and artificially colored fruit punch is far from its origins in the 1940s. The beverage was originally created with passion fruit syrup, fresh lemon juice, and rum. It’s incredibly sweet and stealthy. You can’t taste the rum, and before you know it, you’re hammered. While Pat O’Brien’s is worth a visit if it’s your first time to New Orleans, give this drink a wide berth and focus on quality.

What are some of your favorite cocktail spots in the Big Easy?

Bohemian but not too edgy, St. Mark’s Place has a smattering of tattoo and body piercing parlours and off-color boutiques, but any anti-establishment vibe you get from these places fizzles as you notice that Chipotle, Pinkberry, 7-11, and the like have elbowed their way onto the street in recent years. Fortunately you can still get a dose of counterculture that’s also kid-appropriate at St. Mark’s Comics (11 St. Mark’s Place), which is packed with sci-fi models, figurines, and comic books of every era and genre. Each of my kids emerged with a favorite comic and I was tempted by a set of Star Fleet Command cuff links, but that’s no doubt too much information.

Continuing on to 99 St. Mark’s, all my kids were drawn to East Village Books, where the musty smell of used books had an almost intoxicating effect on them. The store has multiple editions of many classic paperbacks, which prompted a nice opportunity for me and my usually-reticent teen to chat about the dystopian novels she and her friends are reading.

Just as retro and charming is 8 Bit and Up (35 St. Mark’s Place), which I would have missed had my son not darted up the steps. With all due respect to GameStop, 8 Bit is how a video game store should look – orderly but slightly disorderly at the same time, with walls of current games alongside boxes of cartridges for gaming systems gone but hardly forgotten. A highpoint was watching my 10-year-old suspiciously eyeball a once state-of-the-art PC, the Commodore 64. We snagged three Wii games for $25, a bargain.

While we had already begun scouting restaurants, we couldn’t resist ducking into Macaron Parlour (111 St. Mark’s Place) for pre-dinner treats including the store’s popular and tasty candied bacon macaron. Almonds are a key macaron ingredient, so if you have a tree-nut allergic kid in your family as I do, the store carries nut-free blondies among its other confections.

Restaurants ranging from small ethnic joints to chains are plentiful in this neighborhood, but the low ceilings, wall-to-wall wood paneling and old world feel of Ukrainian East Village Restaurant (140 2nd Ave, bet. 9th and St. Mark’s) were impossible to resist. The surprisingly delicate lamb chops ($15.95) were a favorite among the kids, and the least colorful plate of food I’ve ever ordered – boiled beef with horseradish sauce ($14.95) – was as tender as slow-cooked brisket. The crowd was an even mix of twentysomethings and over-60s couples with a few families thrown in, so my brood blended in nicely.

Afterwards we doubled back to Spot Dessert Bar (13 St. Mark’s Place), where we were the only family among a gaggle of twentysomethings and younger. The young patrons and staff are super-friendly, plus everyone is pretty much focused on dessert ($8.75, with combination plates available). Understandably, the top seller is the luscious Chocolate Green Tea Lava Cake, but our personal favorite was the French-toast style Golden Toast, whose not-so-secret ingredient is a lot of butter. When I asked my teen what she thought the secret ingredient was, she said “love” in a uncharacteristically dreamy way, and I think she meant it.

What are your favorite family-friendly spots on St. Mark’s?

Chor Bizarre
If you’re coming across the pond, it’d be a shame to miss out on the fine Indian cuisine that London has to offer. I’d recommend skipping out on the numerous upscale options that have peppered the city over the last decade and settle into Chor Bizarre in the Mayfair neighborhood. The tchotchke-decorated restaurant originated in New Delhi and cooks up a flavorful tandoori sampler and fantastic dal – it’s worth missing a fish or chip for this place, and kind on the wallet too.

Tramshed
Mark Hix’s ultra-hip Shoreditch warehouse restaurant pays homage to the cow and chicken by housing the duo in a formaldehyde tank on display at the entrance – a carnivorous greeting for diners and an interesting introduction to easily understand what’s for dinner. While there’s a small selection of fresh starters to whet the appetite, it’s the free-range fowl from Woolley Park Farm and British cattle aged in a Himalayan salt chamber, that earn this place solid acclaim. Each meat is served with crispy fries (or chips), and create the perfect British version of a chicken-steak frites.

Yalla Yalla
Tuck into one of two Yalla Yalla locations (Green’s Court in Soho or Oxford Street) for a quick bite while shopping the streets of London. I was starting to scoff at the site of scones when I found this terribly quaint café that serves up Beirut street food in mix and match mezze like baba ghanoush, Lebanese sausages, and gooey, baked Halloumi – each pairing nicely with an affordable glass of crisp, white wine or something savory with your afternoon tea.

The Zetter Townhouse Cocktail Lounge
Put two geniuses together and what do you get? Something even better than before. Tony Conigliaro, the godfather of cocktails, collaborated with The Zetter Townhouse’s chef, Bruno Loubet, to create the ultimate dining and drinking experience at the Cocktail Lounge at the Townhouse. Lovely antique furniture, petite vases filled with fresh flowers and kitschy taxidermy, like the kangaroo donning boxing gloves, make up this incredible space. But it’s the house cocktails that have been carefully curated by Tony that won my heart. If I had to choose a favorite, it’d be the Rose Petal Gimlet crafted with Beefeater gin and homemade rose petal cordial. There’s something decadent about sipping this cocktail while lounging in a Queen Anne’s chair, next to a crackling fireplace. It’s almost as if I felt like royalty – now, that’s quite a cocktail.

What are some of your favorite food and cocktail spots in London?

Fragrant with jasmine and verdant with gardens, the island has been coveted by marauding invaders for centuries: Genoese pirates, swashbuckling Spaniards, and the Moors, not to mention the passing mega-yachts, whose cruisers get serious real estate envy when they spy Saint-Honorat. But the enterprising monks who inhabit the island have laid claim to it since the 5th century. Legend has it that Saint Patrick even stopped to study at Saint-Honorat’s monastery while island-hopping in the 400s. Frère Marie-Pâques, the jolly Commercial Director, used to be a beekeeper near Montpellier before embracing the island life. Another monk, Romain, channels his former Baywatch days as a Riviera lifeguard by swimming every morning in the crystal clear sea. The newest addition to the Abbaye de Lérins’ team is Vincent, who hails from Italy.

Now, back to the winery: The product from these wind-swept vines isn’t any old swill; the monks’ Saint-Césaire and Saint Salonius wines were served to 26 heads of state at the G-20 summit in Cannes in November 2011. “I’m ambitious. These wines will soon rival Romanée-Conti!” Frère Marie-Pâques told me, referring to the famous Burgundy Pinot Noir that can fetch up to 13,000 euros per bottle. And he isn’t joking. After publishing a book about the business last year, Marie-Pâques went on a book tour all over France, marketing their wine and signing copies at superstore chain FNAC, while sporting his friar’s habit.

Getting there is a breeze. A 20-minute boat ride from Cannes and you’ll be strolling the island paths, ogling the ancient fortified monastery, partaking in wine tastings, and sitting down for a lingering lunch at La Tonnelle. On the menu at the monks’ resto? Freshly caught fish, Mediterranean vegetables, seared foie gras, and even Lérins mojitos. Pick up some lovely gifts at the monks’ boutique, where their top-notch herbal liqueurs are also sold. Need an even longer escape? You can even do weeklong retreats on the island.

Boats depart almost every hour in the summer months from the Saint Pierre pier next to the Quai Laubeuf parking lot in Cannes. The ticket price is just 14 euros per person. Are you going to Cannes? Tell us about it below!

Kayak the Hudson (June 17, 19, and 21 at 12–1pm) Pier 66 at 12th Ave.
Take in the NYC skyline from a new angle – in a kayak on guided tour on the Hudson River! Dress to get wet and bring a waterproof camera. Trust us, you won’t want to miss any photo ops!

Storytelling: Adventures with Melanie Hamlett (June 17 from 7–8:30pm) St. Mark’s Theater, 94 St. Marks’ Pl.
Join NYC-based storyteller and travel writer, Melanie Hamlett, for a night of laughter around the “campfire.” Comedians who have appeared on The Daily Show with John Stewart, Chapelle’s Show, and The Moth will share their adventures and shoot the breeze with you.

Daily Yoga (June 17–23 from 7–8am) Central Park’s Sheep Meadow, 72nd & Central Park West
What better way to start your morning in a busy city than with a calming hour of yoga in the Central Park? Take in the summer breeze and smell of fresh cut grass as you relax your mind and body.

Breakneck Ridge Solstice Hike (June 21 from 4–10pm) Grand Central, 87 East 42nd St.
How do you shorten the longest day of the year? With a quick five mile hike up Breakneck Ridge, of course. Toss some trail mix in your backpack and leave Manhattan behind for a beautiful sunset. If you choose to take the train up with the group, please note that the time of departure is 4:15pm and costs around $26 round trip.

Volunteer: Garden Day at Van Cortlandt Park (June 22 from 10am–1pm) Van Cortlandt Park Horse Stables, Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway and Mosholu Ave, Bronx
Spend the morning offering up your green thumb at the Friends of Van Cortlandt Park’s Compost Site and Garden houses. Volunteers will help weed, water, and maintain the site while learning how the garden operates and grows healthy, nutritious fruits and veggies. Closed toe shoes and long pants are recommended as is plenty of water, a snack, and sunscreen. Don’t forget to bring the kids! Children seven and up are encouraged to come, just list the ages of those under 18 when you sign up to register.

Where the Wild Things Grow: Drawing the Urban Wilderness Children’s Art Class (June 23 from 10–11:30am)
Prospect Park, Prospect Park 9th St. Entrance, Brooklyn
Painter and naturalist Grace Markman teaches children how to draw by observing the nature around them. Your little artists will be inspired by the colorful flowers, trees, and birds on a bright summer’s day. Children five and above are welcome and must be supervised throughout the activity. All art materials will be supplied.

Registration is easy! Simply choose the date and event you want to participate in and add it to your calendar. But, register soon because events sell out fast! Each event page provides a detailed description of the activity and displays a map of the area you’ll be exploring.

Are you signing up for anything? Tell us how it goes!

EAT:
St. Elmo is a downtown tradition in Indianapolis (they’ve been serving meals since 1902!), and while it’s technically a steak house, there’s plenty of other options for those who’d prefer to dodge the house specialty. Seafood, chicken, and salad are equally outstanding.

If you’re in a hurry, Tavern on South is within walking distance of the Indianapolis Convention Center. There’s a light and open atmosphere that makes it ideal for drinks or a quite bite, but it’s certainly capable of hosting a client dinner as well. Burgers, fish, salads, and pizzas abound, and if that’s the kind of fare you’re in the mood for, you really can’t go wrong.

DO:
I’m a big fan of city parks, and Indianapolis has one of the better ones. White River State Park is a quick 15 minute stroll from the convention hall, and as the state’s only urban park, there’s gobs to do. You can cruise the green area on a Segway, pedal a boat down the 1.5 mile canal, visit a zoo, or refresh your memory at the NCAA Hall of Champions Museum. Regardless of whether you’ve just got an hour to clear your head or a solid half-day to enjoy things, you’ll find a lot of interesting options here.

If you do happen to be in town surrounding a race, you’d obviously be doing yourself a favor to find a ticket. But, in the event that prices are too rich for your blood, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway offers grounds tours that sate the appetite for most. There’s also a Hall of Fame Museum to visit once you’re inside, and it’s likely that even non-racing fans will find plenty to appreciate. There’s oodles of history to be soaked in here.

DRINK:
A visit to the New Day Meadery serves two main purposes. One, there’s an outstanding tasting bar here that should please just about any wine connoisseur. Second, it’s located in the historic Fountain Square district, which is a joy to walk around in. So, feel free to enjoy your final evening in the city by shopping and enjoying a glass. You’ve earned it.

This is a recurring feature exploring must-visit locales in a variety of cities. If you find yourself traveling to a place for business, why not venture out and enjoy your surroundings?

What are some of your favorite things to do in Indy?