This post brought to you by PA Tourism. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the summer season right around the corner, you may be wondering what to do on your well-earned vacation and where to take your family this year.  Pennsylvania is a wonderful destination and home to some of the most beautiful country in the United States.  I've always been a fan of the roadtrip, but in order to have truly successful roadtrips, there's a LOT of research and planning that's required.  If you're not from the area you're traveling to, finding the best places off the beaten path can oftentimes prove impossible.

That's why I'm so glad to let you in on a little secret if you're wanting to travel to Pennsylvania this year.  It's called the Roadtrip-a-Matic and is developed by the official tourism department of the state.  You can't get a travel source more "in-the-know" than that!  They have planned 15 of the coolest road trips imaginable which take all of the headaches out of planning your vacation.  Everything is mapped out for you, including great places to eat, where to stay and of course, all of the must-see sights and attractions to visit along the way.

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Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start to summer as well as warmer temperatures, pool parties and barbeques.  On Wednesday, May 30, Dr. Sears, pediatrician and co-host of the Emmy Award-winning syndicated daytime talk show, THE DOCTORS, provides expert advice on how to start the summer off right with safe and healthy holiday celebrations:

• Sparklers – They may be a festive touch to a night-time gathering, but these handheld fireworks should be left to adults or professionals.  Did you know that the tips of sparklers can reach temperatures of 1800 degrees?  They can cause a third degree burn in just 30 seconds.

• Bug Repellent – To protect against bites from mosquitoes, repellents containing DEET are most effective.  They have been tested and approved as safe for kids, but be sure to choose a repellent with no more than 30% concentration of DEET.  Use a lower concentration if kids will be outside only for an hour or two, and do not apply more than once a day.  Or, make your own natural bug spray using one of the following: citronella oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, cinnamon oil, castor oil, rosemary oil, lemongrass oil, cedar oil or peppermint oil.

As kids, Valentine’s Day was all about sending out the funniest cards to your best friends or maybe receiving a carnation from a secret admirer, but this friendship-filled holiday can easily be turned into a celebration of reading for the younger set.

“Valentine’s Day and reading might not be an obvious connection, but tailoring a child’s reading to the big events that are already occurring in their lives is one of most effective and fun ways to increase their enthusiasm about literacy,” said Erin Jackman, Director of the Brooke Jackman Foundation. “For Valentine’s Day, tap into children’s eagerness to swap heart-shaped cards with their classmates by introducing them to a book based on the holiday.”

The Brooke Jackman Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes literacy for at-risk children in the greater New York area. Since its inception in 2001, it has donated over 100,000 books to the children through the Foundation and has established four libraries throughout the city, as well as numerous after-school and family literacy programs.

Just what are some of the best books to get children clamoring to read on this amorous holiday? Spanning from the silly to the sentimental, below are the Top 10 Valentine’s Day Children Books selected by the Brooke Jackman Foundation:

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It's time to set sail for Memorial Day deals! You'll want to be ship shape first, however, so invest some prep time to make the most out of special events offered by stores. Read on for a few tips and get the most bang for your buck:

1. Make a List

Memorial Day sales aren't just about preparing for the summer. This is a good time to buy items needed for the next school year or even as Christmas, wedding and birthday presents. A comprehensive list will allow you to make the most of deals often offered by stores for just one weekend.

2. Scan Circulars

Stores frequently advertise early in Sunday or Wednesday circulars, so make sure you check your local paper to determine which merchants will offer the best buys. Websites like MainStreet and SavvySugar offered roundups for last year's Memorial Day sales, so check online resources for information as well.

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Dog and cat owners receive the rarest form of affection -- unconditional love that is more worthy of Cupid's arrow than any well-matched couple.

No wonder pet lovers go hog wild over gifts for their four-legged friends during the holidays -- and Valentine's Day is no exception. In 2011, the National Retail Federation expected consumers to spend 54% more on their pets than in 2010. Naturally, this represents yet another opportunity for retailers to make a few bucks, so consider these frugal gift ideas to please your precious pets without blowing your budget.

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A recent rash of news stories highlights the positive in society’s youngest members: "Child Saves Kids from Bus Crash;" "Child Saves His Brother from Possible Abduction;" "Child Saves Family from House Fire."

But all too often, the news involving children indicates a dangerous lack of morality: 7- and 8-year-olds stealing cars; a 9-year-old's recent shooting of a school classmate; a 12-year-old charged with armed robbery. A particularly bad one nearly 20 years ago shocked sisters Debbie Burns and Patty Cockrell. Two 10-year-old truants abducted a toddler in England, tortured the little boy and beat him to death.

It prompted the women to begin work on Tukie Tales: A New Beginning for a Better Tomorrow (www.tukietales.com), a series of five children’s books designed to help parents teach young children important values.

"There is something especially senseless in reading about small children committing sadistic crimes," Burns says. "We wanted to be part of a positive push in the right direction."  The younger the child, the more impressionable they are, she says. We wanted to help busy parents scrambling to make ends meet teach children empathy, compassion, environmental awareness and other values.

"I don’t think parents are bad," she says. "But with all the economic worries, the job losses and home foreclosures, many are focused on working and worrying. It’s hard to also be thinking, 'What value will I teach my child today?'"

Burns and Cockrell offer tips for parents to help positively shape children:

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