Spooktacular Fun for the Entire Family

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

04 Oct 2008 04:44 PM

Halloween-themed amusement parks are spirited places for the entire family to get their scream on, but with the economy in the dumpster not all clans have the funds to pay hefty admission prices.

If you are looking for more affordable ways to spend a haunting weekend together consider the wide variety of Halloween-themed travel packages being offered by select visitors' associations throughout the country.

For example, the New England Inns and Resorts Association is currently offering its annual "Ghoulish Getaways," which includes a slew of fall activities - apple-picking, hayrides, corn mazes, train rides, pumpkin-picking, and ghost stories - combined with hotel accommodations for one low price.

In Newport, Rhode Island the Admiral Fitzroy Inn is running its "Mazes, Ghosts, and Fall Fun in Newport" package from now through October 23rd. For just $354 you get two nights accommodation, breakfast buffet and tickets to Newport's "Old Town Ghost Walk." Meanwhile, the Orleans Inn in Orleans, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, has a "Hannah's Haunting Escape" package, named for the hotel's very own resident ghost. It's available throughout October, starting at $175 a night, and includes breakfast, a book and DVD about local ghosts.

Legendary Salem, Massachusetts, which is the No.1 destination in the country for all things witchy, goes all out this time of year. The city where real witch trials were held in 1692 holds its annual "Salem Haunted Happenings" from October 2nd through November 2nd. This year marks the event's 28th anniversary and to celebrate the city is planning a costume parade for children, and a costume ball at the Hawthorne Hotel for adults. Other activities include "Festival of the Dead" nighttime parties for grown-ups and Harry Potter-themed daytime events for kids. In addition, the House of the Seven Gables mansion and historic site will be offering tours and dramatic presentations about the families who inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous novel.

Michele Cheplic writes about red-hot celebrities in POP CULTURE, fiery topics in PARENTS, sizzling recipes in FOOD, calorie burning exercises in FITNESS, and hot new kid-friendly crafts in FUN. Check out all of her articles here.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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