As the days get cooler and kids head back to school, the realization sets in: summer is really over. If you are mourning the long, sun-soaked days of summer, maybe one of these five top picks for fall credit card rewards will ease the change of season transition:

• If you’re hitting the books this fall with the start of a new school year, take a trip to the bookstore with a Barnes & Noble gift card. If you have a Citi card, you can get a $25 gift card to the book superstore for just 3,500 ThankYou points. Make it $100 for 10,000 points and get all the hottest fall reads for free, courtesy of your credit card rewards points.
• Book a weekend getaway at your favorite hotel with a co-branded credit card that offers free stays, room upgrades, and VIP treatment when you use reward points. Sign up for a credit card that partners with the Hilton HHonors or Marriott Rewards program and get a sign-on-bonus that could get you a free night in a luxury suite or a long weekend in a cozy room for two. Every dollar your spend at the hotel of your choice will net you extra rewards so go ahead and splurge on room service.
• Surprise friends or relatives with a visit when you sign up for a frequent flyer rewards credit card and get a free flight with your welcome bonus points. Many co-branded airline cards offer enough reward points to get you a round-trip within the continental U.S. when you spend a certain amount on the card in the first three months. Use the card for all your everyday purchases and you’ll earn even more, so your points take you further.
• Fatten your wallet with good old-fashioned cash back credit cards that offer up to 5% cash back on purchases. Look for a rotating rewards card that gives 5% back in different categories each quarter. This fall, rewards include cash back at department stores, on electronics purchases and at movie theaters. See a show, get a new outfit or upgrade your computer and get rewarded with a check in the mail or direct deposit to your bank account.
• Go for an online shopping spree at a credit card online mall and get rewards two ways: by using your existing reward points to get discounts on merchandise, and getting bigger rewards for every dollar spent. Credit cards that offer a maximum of 5% cash back on purchases in stores give up to 20% cash back when you make your purchase through their online shopping portal. Just log on to your card issuer’s web site to find out what your card offers.

With the wide variety of rewards offered by credit card issuers, you can actually earn money from using your credit card. Before the holiday season is in full swing, treat yourself to one –or more – of the great rewards offered by the credit card you already carry, or the new one you apply for today.