Watermelons have given way to pumpkins and hot cocoa is brewing rather than iced tea. Long summer days and picnics are for memories and photo albums – it's time to put on long pants and a sweatshirt.

Even with the shorter days and colder weather, fall has an undeniable energy all its own. Costumes, turkeys and the promise of winter wonderlands are on the horizon. So put down the Frisbee and pick up the football. Stop mowing the lawn and start raking the leaves. It's time for your family to have some cool weather fun!

Eric Takeuchi of Saber Springs, Calif., actually looks forward to hitting the beach once the weather cools off. Along with wife, Katherine, he takes his 2-year-old daughter Megan and 6-month-old son Kevin to the coast. "The weather is crystal clear, and the air is crisp," he says. "The summer crowds are gone and you can walk along the water in sweats." Megan especially enjoys chasing and catching the sand crabs dotting the shoreline. "When she gets to feel them tickle the palm of her hand, she giggles as only a 2-year-old girl can," says Takeuchi.

Of course, "cool weather" is relative. Living in Las Vegas, Nev., Chris Ford finds fall offers him the chance to enjoy activities with his 13-month-old daughter they had to skip earlier due to the summer heat. A stay-at-home dad, Ford looks forward to spending lots of time with his little girl. "The longer I'm a dad, the more I realize that every day my daughter changes a little bit, and the moments I have with her are precious but fleeting," he says. "The quality of the time you spend with your kids is whatever you make it, and the more time you're able to spend together, the better it is for both of you."

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