Summertime may be winding down, but that does not mean an end to the fun.

August is National Family Fun Month, and I encourage southwest Michigan families and out-of-state tourists to celebrate the month by taking advantage of a wide variety of Michigan outdoor activities — such as visiting one of our historic lighthouses or taking in a round at one of the state’s world-class golf courses.

We are blessed to have natural and cultural resources in Michigan that make our state such a great place to live and raise a family. A good way to have fun and support your local community is to get out and enjoy all the activities in our own backyard.

There is plenty of time left to visit one of more than 40 Michigan water parks or aquatic centers, spend a day in the sand at one of Southwest Michigan’s beautiful beaches or take a family bike ride along miles of bike trails throughout our state.

Local fairs support our communities and offer old-fashioned fun for the entire family.

The Cass County Fair in now underway until Aug. 5 at the Cass County Fairgrounds in Cassopolis, and the Berrien County Youth Fair will run from Aug. 13 to 18 at the Berrien County Fairgrounds in Berrien Springs.

Visit michigan.org/fairs-festivals to discover more upcoming Michigan festivals and fairs. The site includes useful links to help you plan a Pure Michigan vacation, including details on places to eat and stay.

Also available to help plan a family outing is the Pure Michigan 2018 Spring/Summer Travel Guide, which can be downloaded for free at michigan.org/travel-guide.

In just a few weeks, summer vacation will come to an end and our kids will again begin returning to school. Thankfully, August offers us a chance to have a great time with our families before our kids go back to school.

It is not just about having fun. Spending time together strengthens family bonds, improves academic performance in children and helps kids develop positive parenting skills.

I hope you have a great summer and have a chance to get out and enjoy all the awesome activities available throughout our state and region.

JOHN PROOS, R-St. Joseph, represents the 21st District, which includes Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph counties.