Summer is winding down and school is – or soon will be – back in session for kids across America.  And so ends the season of summer vacations.

But there’s no reason that your family’s travel experiences have to stop with the start of the school year.  Sure, you may find less time for week long excursions.  Trips to far away lands are difficult to squeeze in between Fridays and Mondays.  But exposing your kids to new sights and cultures is a way of life that can and should be encouraged year round.

How can you keep vacationing during the school year (and long after you’ve exhausted your paid vacation days)?  Embrace the weekend trip!

5 Weekend Vacations To Take With Your Kids This Fall:

1.  Go fishing - You don’t have to be in a swimsuit to enjoy the water.  Grab your jeans, sweatshirts and a tackle box and head for your nearest river or lake.  Teach your kids how to bait a hook, respect the environment, and throw back the little ones.

2. Go camping – Even if you’re not fishing, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy the great outdoors without the oppressive summer heat.  Fall and spring are great times to camp, because you won’t spend your weekend longing for air conditioning.

3.  Visit a new zoo – There may not be a zoo in your neighborhood, so get in the car and take a weekend trip to the closest metropolis with an awesome zoo.  Take the time to let the kids wander around, have lunch in a nearby park, and spend the night at a cheap hotel nearby.

4.  See the big city – Cities provide excellent learning opportunities for children who spend most of their time in suburbs.  It lets them get comfortable in – and learn the safety rules of – big crowds.  Are you a few hours drive from a city you don’t visit nearly enough?  Spend a weekend seeing the sights and the lights with your kids in tow.

5.  Find the colored leaves – Every part of the United States offers its own unique signs of autumn.  It may be changing leaves, apple orchards or regional harvest festivals.  Think about how your part of the country marks the fall season and spend a weekend observing and celebrating.

The end of summer brings with it the return of busy schedules and hectic routines.  Remember to take the time to take a break and show your kids a new piece of the world around them.

Photos: Tuppus on Flickr, daveelmore on Flickr, flasporty on Flickr, Peter Kaminski on Flickr, *Micky on Flickr