Halloween doesn’t have to mean staying home to hand out candy. Across the country, cities and towns celebrate the spooky season with everything from haunted historic sites and elaborate costumes to pumpkin displays, fall festivals, and family-friendly festivities. And if you’re looking for a destination that really gets into the season, there are plenty of places where Halloween can be the centerpiece of your entire getaway.
We’ve previously rounded up some destinations to match different types of fall travelers, including a few picks for travelers who love a good ghost story. This time, we’re taking things a little further and whether you prefer your Halloween genuinely spooky, delightfully festive, or somewhere in between, these five destinations know how to celebrate the season.
Salem, Massachusetts
If there’s one destination that screams Halloween, it’s Salem. The Massachusetts city is famous for its connection to the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, and every October, that history takes center stage during the city’s month-long Halloween celebration. And all of this means that Salem draws lots of crowds during October, so if that’s not your jam, jump to the next destination suggestion.
Salem’s Haunted Happenings brings everything from costume parties and parades. To haunted attractions, special events, and other family-friendly activities throughout the city. Spend the day exploring historic sites and museums, shopping along Essex Street, and plan on taking a ghost tour once the sun goes down for that extra spooky cherry on top!
Estes Park, Colorado
For a Halloween getaway with a mountain backdrop, head to Estes Park, Colorado. Located at the entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park, this destination combines spectacular fall scenery with a particularly famous haunted hotel. The Stanley Hotel famously inspired Stephen King’s, The Shining, and has a big reputation for paranormal activity, offering ghost tours and other experiences to guests.
Other than the spooky happenings at the Stanley Hotel, there’s plenty to do in Estes Park. Fall brings colorful foliage and opportunities to spot elk throughout the area, with being at Rocky Mountain National Park’s doorstep, you’ll have to take a scenic drive or go for a hike during your visit. For Halloween specifically, Estes Park holds a huge downtown trick-or-treating event you won’t want to miss!
Orlando, Florida
Adrenaline seekers who just so happen to love Halloween, love Orlando. Throughout the spooky season, the theme park capital of the world celebrates with elaborate haunted houses, themed attractions, and lots of special events. One of the more popular events is Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando Resort, where teenagers and adults looking for a serious fright can enjoy scare zones and more. Want to dress up without being afraid someone—or something—is following you? Walt Disney World’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party truly lives up to its name and offers a family-friendly alternative with fun entertainment, trick-or-treating, and more.
Sleepy Hollow, New York
Few places have a strong Halloween identity as Sleepy Hollow. Made famous by the classic tale, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” by Washington Irving, this Hudson Valley village embraces its literary history every fall. With the coming of October brings pumpkin displays, seasonal events, and plenty of opportunities to encounter the legendary, Headless Horseman. Sleepy Hollow makes for a great seasonal road trip and a good choice for families or anyone who would rather enjoy the Halloween spirit than be scared by it.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Halloween takes on a distinctly different personality in New Orleans, where centuries of history, legendary cemeteries, and the city’s famous nightlife create a spooky setting for the season. Visitors can take ghost and cemetery tours, hear stories of the city’s most haunted locations, and explore the French Quarter after dark. And while there are Halloween celebrations that also include events for families, the city’s restaurants and bars offer plenty of ways to make a weekend of it if nightlife is a priority.
