Embrace the Halloween spirit with a visit to one of the spooky destinations listed below. From haunted historic sites to family-friendly thrills suitable for younger or more cautious travelers, your ideal October adventure awaits.
Discover Haunting History in the Nation’s Oldest City
For those seeking spine-tingling scares or just a mild fright, St. Augustine, Florida offers a perfect blend of spooky experiences. With over 450 years of history, narrow ancient streets, two historic cemeteries featuring graves from centuries past, a somber Spanish fortress, and countless tales of wandering spirits, this city is an ideal setting for thrilling adventures.
Numerous tours are available, each enhanced for the Halloween season. Here’s a glimpse of the fun that awaits in the Nation’s Oldest City this October:
- The Tasting Tours introduces the “Ghost with the Most Cocktail Tours” starting in September, exploring ancient burial grounds on guided tours of Tolomato Cemetery and Huguenot Cemetery.
- Adventure Boat Tours offers their “Boo Cruises” every Friday and Saturday evening in October, delivering spooky fun on the water.
- The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum, which has housed generations since 1798, will showcase “Mortality and Mourning—A Century of Death,” focusing on 1800s medicine and mourning customs from late September through October. They will also host their annual safe trick-or-treating event on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 1-4 p.m., complete with games, crafts, and candy.
- The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park will feature the annual “Creatures of the Night” from October 18-20, with late-night access to view eerie insects and other creatures.
- At Marineland Florida, enjoy “Monster Mash 2: Trouble Behind the Mask,” which includes performances featuring bottlenose dolphins and haunted house attractions throughout the park.
- Join the festivities at the World Golf Village Annual Halloween Bash on Oct. 5, or take the kids to Ancient City Kids Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, featuring games, giveaways, bounce houses, and live entertainment.
- For a unique Halloween experience, check out “The Dracula Ballet” presented by The St. Augustine Ballet on Oct. 11 and 12, or create your own Sanderson sister-inspired lipstick at the Salem-themed Hocus Pocus Beauty event on Oct. 17.
- The 8th Annual Headless Bangers Costume Ball on Oct. 26 promises hair bands and outrageous costumes.
- If you’re looking to burn some calories before indulging in treats, don’t miss the Ancient City Brewing’s Annual Boos and Brews 5K Race on Saturday, Oct. 26, starting at 5 p.m. followed by an adult costume contest!
With countless haunting adventures waiting, planning your spooky outing is a breeze. Use the trip planner or the new AI Assistant at FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
Listen to Ghost Stories along a Paranormal Trail
If camping at the Devil’s Tramping Ground or ghost-hunting on a battleship excites you, today is your lucky day! Visit North Carolina recently launched “First in Fright,” showcasing supernatural points of interest from the misty Great Smoky Mountains to the Graveyard of the Atlantic.
This initiative includes an 8-part “First in Fright” podcast, a new Haunted Trail, and hotels known for encounters between the living and those from beyond. The podcast invites daring travelers to explore places with enduring mysteries and unexplained stories. Visitors can walk through Mountain Mysteries, the Paranormal Piedmont, and the Creepy Coast, and discover Spooky Stays in hotels with lingering guest spirits.
As Tuttell, who stayed in the “Pink Lady Room” at Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn noted, “For anyone intrigued by ghosts, stories are the starting point. The podcasts bring the mysteries to life, allowing listeners to form their own beliefs.” Some of the stories awaiting visitors include:
- The Devil’s Tramping Ground: A strange, barren clearing near Siler City where curious campers can camp close to a site some believe is cursed.
- Battleship North Carolina: This WWII ship in Wilmington is the site of frequent paranormal reports—witnesses have noted lights flickering on and off and a ghostly young sailor appearing in the restroom. Special tours are available this fall.
- Brown Mountain Lights: Over Linville Gorge, mysterious lights have been seen rising above the peaks for centuries, with varying size, shape, and color. Viewer guides can be found at the Discover Burke visitor center.
- Madison Dry Goods: This downtown shop, with roots as a funeral parlor, has haunting connections tied to a family murder in 1929.
Take a Candlelit Tour of an Enchanting Historic Estate
At Filoli historic house, guests can embark on an enchanting journey with a candlelit tour through the property, where gothic-inspired scenes revive tales from the past. The grounds will glow with an impressive display of flickering jack-o’-lanterns, providing a magical backdrop. Visitors can engage in festive games, capture seasonal moments at designated photo spots, and enjoy seasonal beverages at “Jack’s Bar” alongside Halloween treats.
Kara Newport, CEO & President of Filoli, shares, “Our Nightfall event offers a unique way to experience the enchanting beauty of Filoli after dark. We welcome families, couples, and friends to immerse themselves in this magical Halloween celebration.”
Tickets and further details are available at filoli.org/halloween.
Filoli, situated in Woodside, California, spans 654 acres nestled in the Bay Area, originally established as a private home in 1917 and opened to the public in 1977. Recognized as one of the finest remaining country estates of the 20th century, it features a 54,000+ square-foot Georgian Revival-style mansion, 16 acres of exquisite English Renaissance gardens, a 6.8-acre Gentleman’s Orchard, and hundreds of acres of natural lands comprising five distinct ecosystems. Filoli is dedicated to connecting history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature, and shared stories.
Hop Aboard the Ghost Train
Returning to Tweetsie Railroad, the beloved Ghost Train tradition is back! Since 1957, Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s first theme park, has offered unforgettable Wild West adventures. Guests can take a thrilling three-mile ride into the Old West aboard a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive. This fall, the park transforms into a Haunted Park every Friday and Saturday evening, from September 20 to October 26.
Cathy Robbins of Tweetsie Railroad explains, “It’s safe, scary fun for the whole family. Young children love dressing up and trick-or-treating, while older, bolder guests can explore the Haunted House, venture through the Freaky Forest, and enjoy the Ghost Train ride.”
Ghost Train Attractions (Recommended for Ages 8 and Older):
- The Ghost Train: A 20-minute nighttime ride in an open-air car, where surprises await at every turn.
- Haunted House: Experience a thrilling, walk-through journey filled with unexpected scares.
- Freaky Forest: A spine-chilling indoor woodland adventure designed for the bravest souls among us.
Family-Friendly Attractions for All Ages:
- Creepy Carnival: Classic amusement rides light up at night, creating a magical atmosphere.
- The Boneyard: Features disorienting attractions like the Black Hole and the mysterious Warp Tunnel.
- Street Dance Party: Join a lively dance celebration infused with the season’s spooky spirit.
- Tweetsie Palace Spooktacular: Delight in a magical puppetry experience blending colors and spooky tunes.
- Trick-or-Treating: Costumed characters around the park will hand out sweets and goodies.
- Halloween-Themed Photo Opportunities: Capture moments dressed in your finest costumes.
The Ghost Train has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast. Every Friday and Saturday evening from September 20 to October 26, the park transforms its daytime Wild West theme into a haunted experience by night. To maximize your Ghost Train adventure, tickets must be purchased in advance, as spaces are limited. Tickets are priced at $60 for adults (ages 13+) and $40 for children (ages 3 to 12), with free admission for children under 2. For more information on events and ticket purchases, visit Tweetsie.com.
Go Camping for Family-Friendly Thrills
If you’re seeking a family-friendly experience that’s less spooky, consider a themed camping trip! Campgrounds across the U.S., including Great Escapes luxury RV and cabin resorts in Branson, Missouri, and Bryan-College Station, Texas—along with Spacious Skies Campgrounds in the Eastern states—are transforming into magical Halloween worlds filled with family fun.
Having recently expanded and updated, Great Escapes Branson is the perfect destination for fall RVing and camping. RV sites have been enhanced, and new luxury glamping cabins and covered wagons offer comfortable lodging. From September 27, the resort will host five Boo-Tiful Harvest Jubilee Weekends with attractions like a zombie hunt wagon ride, costume contests, pumpkin carving, mummy races, donut bobbing, and s’mores socials, all led by Biscuit, the resort’s Corgi mascot. For more details and reservations, check www.greatescapesbranson.com.
Great Escapes in Bryan-College Station boasts over 80 acres of attractions and activities, featuring resort-style pools and a year-round Wibit water obstacle course. Accommodations include a sand volleyball court and a sports area for basketball, pickleball, and tennis. Special Halloween weekends begin September 27 and run through October 27, with activities like pumpkin painting and games such as pumpkin rolls, spider races, and monster bingo. Prizes will be awarded for the best costumes and site decorations.
Spacious Skies Campgrounds will host family-friendly Halloween-themed weekends throughout October, with activities planned around weekly themes, such as “Halloween Spooktacular,” “Monster Mash,” “Haunted Halloween Fest,” and just “Halloween.” Each weekend invites guests to join in by dressing up, decorating their RVs, and participating in themed fun.
“The spooky season is an excellent time for wicked family fun, and our staff knows just how to create events that cater to everyone from tiny zombies to gory teenagers,” shares Ali Rasmussen, co-founder of Spacious Skies Campgrounds. “From bonfires to decorating contests, there’s something for all our campers to enjoy!”
Guests can also enjoy the vibrant fall colors at locations like Spacious Skies Hidden Creek in Marion, North Carolina, where autumn hues can last until mid-November, or Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks near Savannah, Georgia, where color often stretches into late November. All 15 Spacious Skies Campgrounds are connected along the Fall Color Trail, following the seasonal transition from Maine to Georgia.
