Let's Connect!

...

Saturday, September 7, 2013

Travel to New England for a Spooktacular Halloween

Halloween is possibly my favorite day of the year. I love to decorate and dress up and it’s exciting when other people share my love of the day. This year, we’ll be spending Halloween at Disneyland Paris. Unlike the Disney parks in the U.S., Paris only has one celebratory night for the season. I’m happy to say I got tickets to that party on the 31st and will be trick-or-treating along with everyone else. I’m a little sad to be missing things happening here at home, but it also means I’ll be on vacation on my wedding anniversary (Oct 28th), which is always fun.



While I was thinking about the cool ways to spend Halloween in the future, I decided to check out what there was to do in New England, because when I think spooky, it conjures up witches and Stephen King, both of which hail from the Northeastern states. Did you know there are crazy amounts of things to do the whole month of October? It’s true! Whether you want to be scared witless or just learn the history behind this fun holiday.

Photos of Lake Compounce, Bristol

This photo of Lake Compounce is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Connecticut
The Haunted Graveyard at Lake Compounce is Southern New England’s largest Halloween attraction. It has evolved from Ernie and Carol Romegialli’s creative yard decorations 22 years ago. The decorations grew more elaborate and eventually outgrew their yard and they have been occupying a larger area ever since. Donations go towards their upkeep and diabetes research, which is pretty awesome if you ask me. They are open Friday through Sunday, October 4-27.

Witch’s Dungeon Halloween Classic Movies Museum - For just a $2 donation per person, you can visit the longest-running Halloween attraction in the country. Opened in 1966, you can view memorabilia from your favorite classic horror and sci-fi films and also watch them on the silver screen. Open Friday through Sunday from October 4 - Nov 3.


photo credit
New Hampshire
Nightmare New England is 40 acres of non-stop scary-thrills, located in Litchfield, NH. Along the Merrimack River, the landscape plays its part in making the six themed areas even spookier. There’s so much to do in this “scream park” including zombie paintball, five haunted attractions, tarot card readings and even a restaurant. I wouldn’t expect normal fare, but this is a place that tries to scare you the moment you step out of your car. Nightmare New England wants to make Halloween a destination. Open selected days and weekends from September 28 - November 3.

Keene Pumpkin Festival - Keene townsfolk plan all year to break the record for the most jack-o-lanterns in their downtown square. They have done it, too! 8 times! Enjoy food, fun and music during this one-night family-friendly celebration on October 19. The food and craft court sounds like a place I would be happy to lose myself in. Candy apples and handmade Halloween decorations are pretty high on my list of things that make me go “Yes please!”.
Massachusetts
Salem – Where better to celebrate Halloween than witch-central? All October long you’ll find themed festivities and attractions including a carnival, haunted house, spooky tours and more.  Every day of the month you’ll find something going on. This is my kind of town.  Where else can you hit the farmers’ market during the day and then see the Crucibal at night and get your palm read and shop witchcraft shop in between? There might be some places, but I doubt many. And there are even fewer places where you can visit the actual places where witch trials took place. This is definitely on my list of must-see places.

Six Flags New England Fright Fest is fun for the whole family, with daytime and nighttime activities to please everyone. During the day, families will be able to fill their bags on the trick or treat trail and then get up close and personal with creepy crawlies like snakes and lizards. Once the sun goes down, the scares come out with a haunted house and scare zones. All rides stay open during Fright Fest, but beware, you might find yourself sitting next to a ghoul. Fright fest runs on weekends from September 21-November 3.


photo credit: Corbis Images

Vermont
The Haunted Forest - A more family-friendly Halloween activity, the Haunted Forest takes visitors down a jack-o-lantern-lighted path to view a dozen different scenes presented by community theater performers. It’s just spooky enough for older ones and tame enough for little ones. The “performance” runs on various times October 24 - 26.

Looking for deals to get to and stay in the area? Check out these travel merchants:

  • Airbnb - For a great deal on an apartment/condo/house, browse what's available from private renters through Airbnb. I've used them to book my lodgings in London and Paris this fall and I feel like I'm going to be really happy, and not just because I save a bunch of money.
  • HomeAway - Not quite brave enough to deal directly with a homeowner? Then go bigger with HomeAway. They also have competitive pricing on private rentals and a really big selection anywhere you want to go.
  • Hotels.com - If you want someone to clean up after you and overall feel a bit pampered, then you might be interested in the rebate deal going on at Hotels.com. Earn up to $100 cash back on stays from 3 to 12 nights.
  • Expedia - Save big with a package deal where you bundle your airfare and lodging together. Using Expedia, you can save up to $525 when you book this way.
  • CheapOair - Save more over their lowest rates with promo code FALL15, which will knock an extra $15 off on hotel and airfare rates.
If New England doesn’t sound in the (tarot) cards for you this year, FareCompare has some ideas for trips to scare you. You can also look back at my post from last year on trips to theme parks that have special celebrations as well as other places around the world you might want to visit (including the Paris catacombs, which I will be venturing into in November). What are your favorite fall/Halloween activities?

53 comments:

  1. I have to admit...I'm not much of a Halloween person, but Halloween at Disneyland in Paris that sounds amazing! I can't wait to see the recap:)

    Raj
    Pink Chai Style

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm sure it will be hard to choose pics to share when I get back. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  2. I LOVE halloween! My husband and I usually host a party every fall. I am so looking forward to doing this again now that we are in a new area.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Halloween parties! I'm almost a little bummed I won't be in town to throw one or decorate my yard. Good luck!

      Delete
  3. I love halloween! I'm so excited for the holiday! I've never been to New England but it looks like a fabulous time in the fall! Thanks for sharing! Love the pics!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've never been to New England either, but I think it's not far off, since my husband went to college in Boston and his aunt lives there. Thanks for stopping by :)

      Delete
  4. My husband and I had our first date in October and went to a "haunted" wood on Halloween as one of our first dates. This brings back good memories. :) I'd love to go to New England this time of the year!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's awesome, Jane! I would love to go this time of year, too. I'm sure I'll make it there some day, as it seems crazy I haven't been to Salem, Mass. yet :)

      Delete
  5. Spending Halloween at Disneyland Paris sounds exciting! Really spending anytime there would be amazing! Thanks for the travel tips.
    I love the fall & Halloween. Although, I haven't dressed up in years, I love to see my kids dress up. One of the best parties we have ever hosted was a Halloween Party. We had friends & neighbors asking every year if we were planning to do it again! Have fun & Happy Anniversary!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Going to the theme parks is a good excuse to dress, but I do it even if I'm at home handing out candy. I love it. If your neighbors are asking, your party must have been AWESOME. Thanks for stopping by!

      Delete
  6. Lucky me, I already live in New England. :] I've always wanted to go to see the jack-o-lanterns in Keene, but haven't made it so far. Won't be this year, either--I'll be in San Diego for Halloween, lol Doesn't it just figure?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, there's always next year :) Sea World has their Halloween Spooktacular for the kids, though. Have a great time, whatever you do!

      Delete
  7. Lucky me, I already live in New England. :] I've always wanted to see the pumpkins in Keene, but haven't made it so far. Won't be this year, either--I'll be in San Diego, lol. Doesn't it just figure?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am not much of a Halloween person either. But these options do sound very creative.
    Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's always leaf-peeping, apple cider farms and wine fests going on in the area, too. New England is pretty diverse, even if you aren't into being scared :)

      Delete
  9. I am not a big halloween fan but I always wanted to travel to New England.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There's so much to do there, that I bet any time of year would be pretty fun.

      Delete
  10. I love Halloween! I think it would be great to visit all of thes places.

    - April

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not a fan of haunted houses or mazes. Weird, since as much as I love the holiday, I don't like being terrified, but I think I would adore Keene and Salem. Have a great Halloween!

      Delete
  11. It's been on my Bucket List for as long as I can remember to visit Salem. It would be so cool to go there on Halloween!

    ReplyDelete
  12. YAY for New England! AS a lifelong New Englander this was a super fun read for me. And GREAT recommendation on using airbnb.com. They are my new favorite travel website. So happy to have discovered your blog through Blogelina! XO, ellie

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the design of your blog..especially the telephone booths on the sides...looks like England for sure......

    Your post surely looks scary....I am not a fan of haunted houses or scary places in amusements...I am too chicken, lol

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have had a major case of wanderlust going on, lately, and this just makes me want to drop everything and run off to New England! Thanks for the inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays ever! I would love to travel east sometime and I would imagine fall would be the perfect time to do that. Ill be putting that on my bucket list!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow! Halloween at Disneyland in Paris sounds so fun! Enjoy it!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a great list of spooctacular haunts - thanks so much forsharing

    ReplyDelete
  18. This was super fun to read as a native New Englander, currently living in Connecticut :) One of my favorite parts about this area of the country is the history. It's so rich, and I feel so blessed to live here. I'm not a huge Halloween person, but I LOVE autumn, and it's exceptionally gorgeous in New England. I'm really excited to visit some local farms, apple orchards, and fall festivals.

    Thanks for getting the word out about how great New England is!

    ReplyDelete
  19. I wonder how many of these places my friend in Connecticut has been to?

    I work the espresso stand at a huge pumpkin farm our friends own. I love the switch over from full families with young kids during the day to the haunted stuff at night and all the big kids.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Awesome post! I love traveling and finding great deals to visit these wonderful places! Thanks for sharing and I will be back to your site!

    Daou @ CarMeCrazy

    http://carmecrazy.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Not really into Halloween but it would still be a blast to travel to these places. One day!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Pumpkins and hayrides are my favorite part of Halloween, so the display at Keene sounds amazing! One day we will have to get up there and experience New England in the fall!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love halloween! It makes me feel like a kid again and now I get to be a kid again through the eyes of my own children. My favorite part are jack o lanterns for sure. There is no such thing as too many pumpkins and our home is always full of them in the fall! These attractions look like so much fun! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love seeing the events and plans for different areas this time of year. We are looking forward to our Fall and Halloween events in the South.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Halloween in Paris sounds so awesome! I wish you a great trip. The rest of your post made me a little homesick, as I am currently living down in South Florida although hailing from up north. The fall season is what I miss most!

    ReplyDelete
  26. I LOVE New England, but I've never visited during Halloween. If I ever get the chance to do so, I'm going to try to visit some of these places you've recommended. Thanks for sharing, I'm going to keep this blog post bookmarked!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Here in the Midwest the massive corn mazes are a huge draw. And every Fall, there is always some story of someone getting lost for hours... Great ideas.

    Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
    www.thejennyevolution.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Interesting post. Never been to New England (the closest I got was NY) but some of these sound like cool activities.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh I've been wanting to take a trip to New England for such a long time. It looks so great with so much to do. I'll have to check out these sites.

    ReplyDelete
  30. What fun! I'd love to spend Hallowe'en in Salem!

    New England is so gorgeous in the fall.

    I currently live in Southern California where the season changes are subtle at best... definitely no blaze of red and gold trees around here.

    You have me dreaming.

    ReplyDelete
  31. I am not much of a Halloween person but I LOVE Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween party! We went last weekend. http://themommaven.com/2013/09/mouse-house-memories-mickeys-scary-halloween-party-2013/

    ReplyDelete
  32. I used to love Halloween as a kid! Especially all the Disney Halloween shows! It changed as I got older - it was a night for partying! Now with a baby, I get to go back to the old ways of celebrating, which is exciting!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I don't really get into Halloween that much, other than to ooh and ahh at costumes and laugh at people at work. I was in Wal-Mart today and purchased a can of purple hair spray; I think I may make a purple bang! LOL

    ReplyDelete
  34. I've never been that into Halloween, but I would love to go to Salem!

    ReplyDelete
  35. I've wanted to return to Salem for quite a while after we found out one of my husbands ancestor was burned as a witch there. Makes it interesting. We just spent the weekend in Ohio's Cedar Point and their halloween activities. lots of fun

    ReplyDelete
  36. I haven't done anything fun on Halloween in about 10 years...I really miss it! There are some wild and truly scary things to do for Halloween around here (Philadelphia) but I can't find anyone to go with me! :(

    ReplyDelete
  37. Halloween really kicks off my favorite time of year. I love the Fall and the Winter. I love Halloween, Thanksgiving and especially Christmas.

    One of my dreams is the travel all throughout New England. I would love to retire one day to Maine.

    I never really thought about Halloween and New England - but what an awesome idea to travel there during the Halloween season. I might actually love it more than the kids!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I really avoid Halloween. I have a huge phobia of people in costumes (masks and all), and this is the worst day of the year for me. It is best for me to just stay home, and sometimes I have my own holiday called, "I don't have to do anything I don't want to day." I do lover your zest for finding neat things to do and I will come back for another holiday!

    ReplyDelete
  39. We discovered a really cool Halloween cave tour near us so that's going to be a new tradition for sure. It's my favorite time of year and we go to every Halloween event we can make Have fun at Disney Paris. I am so jealous!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I am not really a Halloween person. However, these activities sound fun. Disney Paris on any holiday sounds like a great time to me!!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I've never been to Europe but if I ever go you have made the trip that much more interesting. Thanks for sharing!

    Crystal @frugalscout

    ReplyDelete
  42. We love Halloween but our kids are grown so we don't do much anymore. I would love to start decorating or visiting places just for the fun of it. It's just a great time of year for scary fun! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  43. I spent a Christmas at Disneyworld one year. I can only imagine what Halloween will be like at the one in Paris!! Enjoy your time!!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I used to love Haloween, but I stopped enjoying as when I had kids. Sounds backwards, right?
    Some of those places sound awesome. It would be so fun to go.

    ReplyDelete

Pin It button on image hover