The local college campus might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a sightseeing trip, but the Nationality Rooms at the University of Pittsburgh are a notable exception. These 26 functional classrooms in the towering Cathedral of Learning display the rich ethnic heritage of the Pittsburgh area, each architected and decorated in a style that exemplifies the country they represent. Where else can you visit 26 countries in one day?

It wouldn't be Mother's Day in Pittsburgh without the annual Susan G. Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure, where neighbors come together at Schenley Park to raise money for breast cancer research. If your Mom likes flowers and pampering, then special Mother's Day events are on tap at Hartwood Acres, the National Aviary and the Pittsburgh Zoo among others. For a different type of Mother's Day tribute, why not take Mom to the 2008 Wings Over Pittsburgh Air Show or the Penguin's home playoffs game against the Philly Flyers?

In addition to the round up of traditional Mother's Day events, other options this week in Pittsburgh include the kickoff of the third annual Silk Screen Film Festival, comedian Tom Foss at the Rostraver Ice Garden, the grand reopening of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, West Side Story at the Byham Theater and the Pirates at home against the Atlanta Braves. Read more...

My family took a trip out to Johnstown last summer to spend some time exploring the Johnstown National Flood Memorial which tells the story of the tragic 1889 flood that became one of the worst natural disasters ever seen in the United States. While there, we also took in the sites of Johnstown, visited Johnstown's Grandview Cemetery, where 777 unidentified flood victims are interred, and took a side trip to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville which our children had never seen. While it was a bit educational, our children very much enjoyed the day's adventure.

Johnstown was actually one of the few historic sites near Pittsburgh that we hadn't yet visited. From the Meadowcroft Rockshelter that provides the earliest evidence of people in all of North America to the first successful oil well in the United States was not drilled in Texas (the Drake Oil Well in Titusville), Western Pennsylvania is a mecca for great hands on history. Have you seen them all?

It's that time of year again -- opening day at Kennywood, this Saturday, May 3. For you Gold Rusher fans who are still mourning its retirement, a new state-of-the-art dark ride called Ghostwood Estate is now open in its place. The eight-room haunted house features a trackless conveyance system with cars programmed and monitored by a computer. Guests can compete with others in their car to hit the most haunted characters with the provided laser blasters. Kennywood has also added a neat Make-Your-Own-Slushie machine, along with some new games.

Following opening day on Saturday, May 3, Kennywood is next open from Thursday, May 8 through Sunday, May 11. Kennywood will be open on a daily basis beginning Wednesday, May 14, 2008.