They have fall in England, too.

School is in session, football is on TV and leaves are starting to fall.  It would appear that autumn is upon us, and all that it entails.

Fall is one of my four favorite seasons.  In fact, it may be my overall favorite.  The days are cooler and the nights are crisp.  Outside every window is a canvas of color.

There are darker beers in the fridge and heartier meals on the table.  Ballparks are filled with dreams of pennants.

Get out and see it! This land is your land, and it is beautiful this time of year.

Ah, school in session fall.

For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays.

Photo by KJHughes

Fall foliage

Contrary to the thermometer outside my window, which at this second is reading a balmy 108 degrees (September in Arizona – gotta love it!), the fall weather will soon be upon us. Nothing says fall to me more than the round of upcoming harvest fairs and festivals, scheduled for September through November.

The Arizona Expo and State Fair is being held from October 16th through November 8th (closed Mondays). Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children and seniors, and kids under five years old are free. Parking in all fair lots is $10. The fairgrounds are located at 26 W. McDowell Road in Phoenix, just off of I-10. This year’s concert series includes Stone Temple Pilots, Bob Dylan, Lady Antebellum, The Black Crowes, David Cook, and Kelly Clarkson. The fair is entering its 64th consecutive year and features the traditional round of carnival rides, fried foods, craft and livestock displays and contests, and rodeo events.

Read More »

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