Fall doesn't officially begin for a few weeks. But, because the new school year starts on Tuesday, this is the last weekend of summer for many area residents. And with three days of weekend to spend, there's no better time than now to soak up the sun and summer fun—whether you're a parent of school-aged children or not.

My son is 17 months old, so my family won't be affected by the start of the school year. But, because there are several months of cold weather on the horizon, the following five outdoor activities are on our to-do list.

1. Family Canoe Trip

In my opinion, there's nothing better than floating down a river on a lazy summer day. We've got plans this weekend to take our son on his first canoe trip on the Huron River. We typically rent from Heavener Canoe Rental Inc. They have two launch sites and 10 pick-up sites, allowing renters to customize their trip.

2. Glorified Bike Ride

Instead of taking a spin around the neighborhood, we plan to pack up the bikes and head to one of the area's parks. We love Island Lake Recreation Area's paved bicycle trail. It's a smooth four-mile ride that's perfect for riders of all ages. We also plan to take the picnic basket and make a day of it.

3. Ice Cream Treat

Dairy Queen is often the go-to ice cream shop, but we do our best not to forget about Brighton's local businesses. On Main Street alone, there are four places to grab a scoop or two: Jack's Custard, Yum Yum Tree, Two Brothers Coffee, and Mainstreet Cheese Market. Because it's been fun to try their ever-changing flavors, our current favorite is Jack's Custard. They've got mud pie (espresso ice cream with caramel and fudge swirls) on hand this weekend, and it's absolutely delicious.

4. Local Beach Getaway

Nothing says summer like a trip to the beach on a hot day. There are a handful of beaches close to Brighton, but our favorite is Martindale Beach at Kensington Metropark. Admission to the beach is free with admission to the park, and there's a mini water park on site. We can easily accommodate our son's short attention span by going back and forth from the beach to the waterpark.

5. Backyard Camp Out

Summer isn't complete without at least one camping trip. But in today's hectic world there isn't always time for a full weekend spent sleeping under the stars. We never got around to planning and prepping and packing, so we decided to pitch our tent on our deck. It's the best of both worlds. We've got the tent, the fire, and the stars as well as the toilet, grill, and great indoors in case of rain or toddler tantrums.