Couples looking for a mid-week romantic summer getaway can leave the urban jungle behind by heading to the seaside town of Beach Haven at the south end of Long Beach Island. Here you'll find a quaint 1886 Queen Anne style Victorian B&B, pristine wetland with kayak launches, sandy beaches, bike paths, public tennis courts and fine dining.

New Yorkers who are carless or leery of rising gas prices can escape the city heat and head to the Northern Jersey Shore via NY/NJ Transit. Until September 1, 2008, purchase round trip ride and beach passes for travel from Penn Station, New York to select Shore sights. Sit back and relax, but make sure to transfer at the Long Branch train station. In less than two hours, you will be exploring a Victorian town, soaking up the sun, shopping along the famed Asbury Park boardwalk and of course, reveling in the New Jersey music scene.

From exploring Central Park to riding the Staten Island Ferry and shopping at FAO Schwartz, New York offers endless options for family fun.

On a sunny Saturday, history buffs and archeology enthusiasts', can head to Lower Manhattan and traverse the winding historical streets where the city was first settled by the Dutch in the 17th century and explore where the modern city meets its pre-revolutionary era past. Add a tour that takes a unique peek at history that you'd probably miss on your own and dinner in one of the city's oldest watering holes and you have the makings for a truly experiential day.

As an art Mecca, New York City shines with world class museums, countless galleries and other art offerings scattered throughout the five boroughs. While an art connoisseur could spend a lifetime luxuriating in this city's vibrant and dynamic culture, today is an exploration of four timeless treasures that can be experienced at a discount thanks to the CityPass program available for purchase online.

Chicago offers many solutions for those in need of a comedic fix. With outstanding comedy options like the Improv Olympics, showcasing long form improvisation shows, to the Annoyance Theatre where one can find innovative and often comical shows. Chicago's rising stand-up comedians can be seen at the Lincoln Lodge, a restaurant with top notch stand-up comedy on Friday and Saturday nights or Chicago Underground Comedy, a stand-up comedy showcase on Tuesday nights at The Beat Kitchen. But it is another group that has put Chicago on the comedy map: The Second City.