The media buzz surrounding the opening of Skydeck Chicago at Sears Tower has focused on how scary it is to stand out on a ledge 103 floors above Wacker Drive in Chicago.

Celebrate the founding of our country at these free and fabulous fireworks displays for an explosive encore to an affordable family vacation.

Adventure is my life. I travel all over the world looking for my next adrenaline rush. When I find adventure close to home, that’s an added plus, especially in today’s economy. It‘s even better when I can turn it into a family travel adventure.

Give up the guilt. Be in the moment. That is the sage advice given by Liz Lange, founder and creative director of Liz Lange Maternity whose life as a traveling entrepreneurial mom has taught her about balancing works and family.

Like many people, we’re watching our dollars this year, so our family vacation this summer is going to be a family staycation in our Colorado backyard. After some intensive research, I drafted up an itinerary for my family’s staycation Tour de Colorado this summer.

Professional golfer Maria Hjorth is back on the LPGA circuit after having her first baby. Hjorth, who originally hails from Sweden, is ranked No. 34 on the tour and has earned more than $4 million since the start of her pro career in 1998.

Where can a couple of Northeast girlfriends getaway for some quirky museums, rich history, eclectic food, funky shops and an energized nightlife? Baltimore. Let the cobblestones charm you, but don’t let them fool you. This city’s personality is anything but old or colonial.