These adventures are scary good
Do ghosts, goblins and ghoulish events thrill you? Here are five frightful places to visit: 1. The Ghosts of New Orleans: Wander through cemeteries and voodoo shops in a city known for celebrating the spookiest of holidays. Tour a swamp by torchlight or gardens known for mysterious residents that sometimes appear and disappear. Are there vampires lurking in the French Quarter? Look for the blood-curdling answers on the vampire tour while gleaning a little New Orleans history. You’ll return home haunted by the eerie legends that surround these creatures of the night.
Contact: 1-888-644-6787; hauntedhistorytours.com
2. Ghost Train, Hampshire, England: Hop aboard a steam train located in one of England’s most popular gardens for families. On it, you’ll get a hair-raising ride through pitch-black tunnels and past ghouls and scary skeletons. Your hosts for the harrowing journey, Batty the Vampire and Napoleon Bone-aparte, will point out local greenery including the Chinese Coffin Tree and the Devil’s Walking Stick. They might also tell tales of recent visits by members of the royal family.
Contact: exbury.co.uk 3. Albuquerque, N.M.: Visitors to this Southwest city will find more than a dozen festivities.
These celebrations and events mark Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, an ancient holiday during which friends and family gather to honour those who have passed on. Among the choices is the seventh annual Day of the Tread, Oct. 27, a family-focused event including bike rides, walks and runs along a pumpkin-lined course as well as music, entertainment and contests.
Contact: 1-800-284-2282; itsatrip.org 4. Knott’s Scary Farm, Buena Park, Calif.: If you dare, enter the “atmosfear,” where more than 1,000 free-roaming monsters lurk in the shadows throughout the 160-acre Southern California park. A visit to the self-proclaimed Halloween Capital of the World is sure to be a ghastly good time
With five new mazes and an Elvira stage show, it’s sure to be a ghastly good time. Children younger than 13 are encouraged to check out Camp Spooky, where not-so-scary shows, activities and trick-or-treating are under way.
Contact: 714-220-5200; knotts.com 5. Anoka, Minn.: If you’re a fan of this ghoulish holiday, then a pilgrimage to the self-proclaimed Halloween Capital of the World has to make your list.
Back in the day, circa 1920, a group of concerned parents concocted a plan to divert their children’s attention from pranks.
Today, the all-volunteer-led event includes fun runs, parades, chili cook-offs, house-decorating contests, pumpkin carving and ghostly walking tours.
There is even an official candy for Anoka Halloween.
Contact: anokahalloween.com Lynn O’Rourke Hayes is the editor of familytravel.com: lohayes@FamilyTravel.com The Dallas Morning News