Our children, especially the two gymnast/dancers, are always super excited to hear when Cirque Du Soleil is coming to town (we last attended Alegria at the Petersen Events Center in 2009). This year's brand new performance of TOTEM is no exception, of course! TOTEM, which traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly, is coming to the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) in the Strip District for two weeks, May 12-29, 2011. The whimsical circus/acrobatic troupe features a cast of 52 artists from 19 countries.

Tickets range from $38.50 to $275 for children and $55 to $350 for adults. A special VIP experience called Tapis Rouge includes a special VIP tent with fine cuisine, drinks and multimedia entertainment for before the show and intermission, plus the best seats under the Big Top.

TOTEM - Cirque Du Soleil

The extreme mountain biking trails that loop, wind, and carve their way through the woodlands, country roads and breathtaking scenery of Pennsylvania offer thrill-seeking mountain bikers the ride of their lives. So oil those chains, pump up the tires and get ready to test your skill on one of these 5 Fabulous Mountain Bike Trails near Pittsburgh.

If you're in need of something a little tamer than mountain biking, check out one of Pittsburgh's great Rail Trails!

It's hard to believe another year has passed, but Easter is once again upon us. For those of you with children, there are plenty of Easter related activities and events to keep them happy, from the Zoo Hop for Spring at the Pittsburgh Zoo to the Bunny Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. The zoo is featuring its popular Breakfast or Lunch with the Easter Bunny, and the Easter Bunny is stopping by at the National Aviary as well. At the Carnegie Museum it is time for another Egg-cellent Scavenger Hunt. On the Gateway Clipper, there's the annual Bunny Fun Cruise. And, of course, the assorted community and business Easter egg hunts and festivities!

Part of Pennsylvania's celebration of Earth Day 2011, the 8th annual Pick it Up PA Days are scheduled from April 16 to April 30, 2011, as part of the 2011 Great American Cleanup of PA. Register as a group or individual to spend part of your day picking up trash in your community. During the past three years, the Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania has yielded more than 25 million pounds of collected trash, involved 486,620 volunteers and resulted in 48,545 miles of highways cleaned.

Local Earth Day events and celebrations include special Earth Day activities at the Carnegie Museum and the Frick Environmental Center, Party for the Planet at the Pittsburgh Zoo, a cleanup of the South Side Riverfront Trail with REI, and a number of local community cleanup events - scheduled at various dates between Saturday, April 16 and Saturday, April 23, 2011.