Best Places to go for Halloween in the U.S.

Looking for the best Halloween destinations for families this autumn?

If you are looking for great Halloween spots such as Salem in Massachusetts where the whole family can enjoy a fun Halloween outing, below you have a list of top places to visit during Halloween:


Guavaween

During the month of October the district of Ybor City in Tampa in Florida gears up for the annual Halloween celebration, also known as Guavaween.

If you’re traveling with kids, get here between 10am and 4pm to enjoy family friendly events such as live entertainment, hands-on activities and the popular children's costume parade.

After 4pm, Guavaween takes a more adult theme featuring mature theme costume constests and parades featuring hundreds of people dressed in freak costumes.

Dutch Wonderland

Pennsylvania is one of the best Halloween destinations for families in the east coast. The state is home to the popular Dutch Wonderland and Hersheypark amusement parks.

During the Halloween celebrations, Dutch Wonderland (in Lancaster PA) runs the "Happy Hauntings", which  features family-friendly themed rides, magic shows, ghoulish games and storytelling.

Happy Hauntings normally runs on the last three weekends of October between 3pm and 9pm, but do check with the park for time updates.

Hersheypark (in Hershey PA) runs "Hersheypark in the Dark" the last two weekends of October, and features themed roller coaster rides, Halloween-themed shows, storytelling and children's activities.

Storybook Land

Storybook Land is located 8 miles east of Atlantic City in New Jersey, and it is one of the best Halloween destinations in the mid Atlantic for families with kids.

Storybook Land rides are geared toward young kids between the ages of 2 and 10, although many rides are family-friendly so you can ride on them as well.

During the month of October Storybook Land features plenty of happy Halloween fun activities such as kids’ pumpkin decorating, trick or treat days for kids and Elmer’s Haymazin’ Maze & Happy Hayrides.

SeaWorld

SeaWorld is indeed a popular family destination in the summer but also in the fall, when SeaWorld runs Halloween Spooktacular.

If you’re looking for a fantastic day out with a variety of shows, one of the best Halloween destinations for families is Halloween Spooktacular which is held at both SeaWorld San Diego and SeaWorld Orlando.

Popular Halloween Spooktacular activities include trick or treating, comedy shows, insect shows, and whale shows featuring the famed killer whale Shamu.

Chicagoween

In the Midwest, some of the best Halloween destinations for families include Chicago.

During Halloween celebration, Chicago becomes Chicagoween as Daley Plaza turns into Franken Plaza.

Chicagoween features live performances and plenty of family-friendly activities such as pumpkin carving, storytelling and a kid’s costume parade.

Six Flags Fright Fest

If you want the ultimate Halloween experience, the Six Flags theme parks are great places to be during Halloween, as they park feature the popular FrightFest.

During the day at FrightFest, the whole family can enjoy fun activities like trick or treat and a haunted hayride through a pumpkin patch, and the haunted house experience.

Six Flags Fright Fest is definitely one of the best Halloween destinations for families but at night, it becomes a tad spookier so if you’re traveling with small kids, you may want to leave before the sun goes down.



See. Ghost tours in Gettysburg PA
Places to visit in Salem MA
Places to visit in Cape May

popular places to visit in Florida

When it comes to top places to vacation with kids, places in Florida such as Disney World are certainly high in most family’s list of best places to vacation in the USA with kids.

However, if you’re looking for top family destinations in the US without breaking the bank, there are plenty of other vacation destinations in the US where you can enjoy a fun family vacation. They include

Minnesota

The state of Minnesota is certainly one of the top places to vacation with kids in the US, with the city of Duluth and Minneapolis being two of the most popular vacation spots in the Midwest.

Things to do in the Midwest

If you’re looking for a mixture of city attractions and outdoor activities, Duluth MN is home to the Lake Superior Zoo, the Children’s Museum and the Superior National Forest nearby where you can enjoy fun family outdoor activities like boating camping, hiking and picnicking.

Washington State

Washington State is bordered by the beautiful state of Oregon and the majestic Olympic Peninsula, just miles from Victoria British Columbia Canada in the Vancouver Peninsula.

Washington State is one of the top vacation spots in western US, and three of the top places to vacation with kids in Washington State include Port Townsend, Puyallup, Seattle and Tacoma.

Places To Go on Spring Break With Kids

Seattle boasts the  the Children’s Museum and Golden Gardens Park, which is a lovely place where you can enjoy lovely sandy beaches and great views of Puget Sound. While Tacoma is also home to a Children’s museum and the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium where the entire family can have an amazing day out exploring wildlife.


Georgia

Georgia is a kid-friendly state, home to some of the top places to vacation with kids. For instance, some of the most interesting places to visit in Georgia include the Atlanta zoo and Atlanta Aquarium in Atlanta, Six Flags theme park in Austell GA and Rocky City.

If you want to take your kids through lovely outdoor scenery, you’d love a trip to Rock City, walking along green paths, caverns and enjoying scenic vistas.

Vermont

If you’re looking to get away this July, one of the top places to vacation with kids in the states has to be Vermont. During the summer, Vermont is home to some of the most popular family-oriented events such as the Ben & Jerry's Sundae festival held at Clapham Common on July 25. The Ben & Jerry's Sundae festival boasts live entertainment, fun contests, ice cream sampling and more.

Apart from the Ben & Jerry's Sundae festival, you can enjoy Vermont’s factory tours such as the Lake Champlain Chocolates tour in Burlington Vermont and the Vermont Teddy Bear factory tour in Shelburne VT.

Texas

If you’re looking for family vacation spots in southern USA, Texas is another great destination for an inexpensive family vacation. The state is home to many top places to vacation with kids such as SeaWorld San Antonio and the San Antonio Zoo in San Antonio Texas.

Other popular attractions include the Dallas World Aquarium in Dallas Texas, Barton Springs Pool in Austin, Moody Gardens in Galveston Texas and the Downtown Aquarium in Houston Texas.

See. Coolest Childrens Museums in the States
Top 10 Theme Parks in the US
Best Water Parks in US
Top Amusement Parks on the East Coast
popular summer activities in Vermont with kids
Places to visit along the Oregon Coast with kids
Top US Summer Destinations
Top Family destinations in the US
Best Art Museums in the USA
Top 10 states to visit in US
Cheap Things to do in Fort Wayne IN
Places to visit in St Augustine FL
Places to visit in Jacksonville Florida
Places to visit in Hilton Head
Places to visit in St Petersburg FL
Places to visit in Salem Oregon with kids
Places to visit in San Jose California
Top 10 things to do in Yosemite National Park

US West Coast Tourist Attractions

The state of California is, undoubtedly, one of the most popular holiday destinations and best places to vacation in the US.


With its diverse landscape, California boasts plenty of outdoor opportunities and if you are a true outdoor enthusiast, you’d love exploring the Sierra National Forest where you can explore areas such as the Sierra Nevada Mountains which are located near Kings Canyon National Park.

If you are planning a summer vacation with the family and are planning on enjoying plenty of water activities by the beach, places such as Long Beach and Huntington Beach offer the perfect location for a beach vacation.

Apart from camping, hiking and swimming, California is popular with tours such as the ‘Jelly Belly Factory’ tour in Sacramento.

California is also famed by the Napa Valley region where you can enjoy winery tours, scenic drives and hot air balloon rides.

There are many hot-destinations in California, and where you go depends on what activities you are planning to do.

Having said this, five of the most popular vacation spots in California are as follows:

Vacation Spots in California: Top 5

South Lake Tahoe CA

If you are looking for a destination that offers both outdoor opportunities and water activities with pristine beautiful scenery, the city of South Lake Tahoe is a great summer destination, especially amongst families.

South Lake Tahoe California is surrounded by the El Dorado National Forest, and it is located by the banks of Lake Tahoe where you can enjoy anything from canoeing and swimming to jet skiing.

Los Angeles CA

Home to the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles California is one of the most popular vacation spots in California.

Apart from offering plenty of fun attractions and beach opportunities, Los Angeles California is known for having a lively nightlife that range from nightclubs and live venues to theaters and outdoor entertainment.

Santa Rosa CA

Santa Rosa CA is known as the gateway to the Napa Valley region. If it is wineries and recreational activities what you’re looking for, Santa Rosa CA is home to many regional and state parks, as well as over ten wineries within the area.

San Diego CA

The city of San Diego CA is one of the most popular family destinations in southern California, and home to the famed SeaWorld and San Diego Zoo.

If you are looking for a destination in California geared towards families with kids, San Diego CA is the one for you.

San Francisco CA

San Francisco CA is known for the Golden Gate Bridge and the Island of Alcatraz, made popular by the movie ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ starring Clint Eastwood.

One of the best things about San Francisco CA is its varied and diverse nightlife, which is geared to suit all tastes.

IF you enjoyed this list of five of the most popular vacation spots in California, you may like to know some interesting facts about the state of California:

Interesting facts about California

- California has the largest population in the country, and it is along Texas one of the largest states in the United States.

- California is bordered by Oregon in the north, Nevada and Arizona in the east, and Mexico in the south.

- The state is nicknamed the ‘Golden State’ due to the amount of sunny days the state enjoys all year around.

- California landscape ranges from semi-arid desert areas and rugged hills.

- California became the 31st state in 1850.

- The state is home to the lowest point in the United States, named Badwater Basin, which is 280 feet below sea level

- As much as 60% of California enjoys a climate similar to places such as Perth WA in Australia, Crete Greece, Morocco and Cape Town South Africa.

- California is one of the most ethnically diverse states in the United States.

Next: Best Places to visit in California
3 Day Vacation Ideas in California
Popular National Parks in California
Places to visit on the West Coast of USA
best places to camp in Northern California
Places to visit in Long Beach California
Places to visit in Monterey CA
Places to Visit in Carson City Nevada
Top 10 things to do in Yosemite National Park
places to visit in Oxnard CA
Places to visit in Santa Barbara CA
Places to visit along the Oregon Coast
Places to visit in San Jose California
Places to visit along the California Coast
Places to visit in Tucson Arizona
Interesting places to visit in Oklahoma
Interesting places to visit in Nevada
Interesting places to visit in New Mexico
Places to visit in New South Wales

Best Places to visit in California

If you are traveling to Santa Rosa California for the first time, the city is home to the popular statues of Snoopy and Charlie Brown in the historic Railroad Square, as well as the Luther Burbank Gardens where you can find the home of Luther Burbank.


Apart from being the gateway to California’s wine country, Santa Rosa California is just an hour’s drive from fun things to do in San Francisco.

Also, with the city’s airport serviced by Horizon Air, you can explore other west coast cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle in Washington State, Portland in Oregon and Las Vegas in Nevada.

Things to do in Santa Rosa California: Outdoor Activities

State & Regional Parks

One of the most popular things to do in Santa Rosa California, it’s to explore the natural scenery at one of the nearby state or regional parks.

The city is surrounded by beautiful nature reserves, regional parks and state parks where you can enjoy fun recreational activities and exploring the fauna and flora.

If you are staying in downtown Santa Rosa, Spring Lake County Park, Annadel State Park, Hood Mountain Regional and Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Ragle Ranch Regional Park are located within 8 miles (around 15 minutes drive), and offer plenty of outdoor opportunities.

Spring Lake County Park & Annadel State Park

Both Annadel State Park and Spring Lake County Park are great places for hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and fishing.

However, if you are looking to do boating, swimming, camping and barbecuing, Spring Lake County Park has a boat ramp, swimming lagoon, barbecue, and designated camping areas.

Hood Mountain Regional Park

If you are a serious hiker or biker and want more challenging trails, Hood Mountain Regional Park has more rugged trails.

If you are hiking here on a lovely day, there are a couple of trails that take you to the popular Gunsight Rock, which is a great vantage point from where you can get lovely views of the Sonoma Valley and even the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day.

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park is another excellent place where you can explore California’s natural scenery and enjoy fun activities such as hiking and horseback riding.

Apart from these activities, the park is home to the Robert Ferguson Observatory which features four telescopes for public viewing as well as educational programs run by the Valley of the Moon Observatory Association.

Ragle Ranch Regional Park

Ragle Ranch Regional Park, located west of Santa Rosa’s city center in Sebastopol, is a popular regional park in Santa Rosa that features walking trails, soccer and tennis courts, as well as children play areas.

Shiloh Ranch Regional Park

Shiloh Ranch Regional Park is located north of Santa Rosa in the Larkfield-Wikiup district.

Shiloh Park offers plenty of barbecue and picnic areas, and trails for biking and hiking but you’re not allowed boating or swimming in the pond.

Beach Activities

Another popular thing to do in Santa Rosa California during your vacation it’s to head to the coastal area.

For instance, Sonoma Coast State Beach is 20 miles west, and a short drive from Santa Rosa’s city center (around 30 minutes by car).

Sonoma Coast State Beach is home to a few sandy beaches and the popular Sonoma Coast Trail, which runs past the famed Russian River.

Winery Tour

Santa Rosa California is known as the gateway of California’s wine country, and if you love wines, this is another activity worth adding on your itinerary.

There more than 10 wineries located in the area around Santa Rosa and a few wineries you can consider near Santa Rosa include:

Paradise Ridge Winery

Paradise Ridge Winery is located 3 miles north of Santa Rosa behind Fountain Grove Community Park, and offers wine tastings and tours of the premises.

Kendall Jackson Winery‎

Kendall Jackson Winery‎ is located near Paradise Ridge Winery, further north along the Redwood Highway and offers also wine tastings.

Things to do in Santa Rosa California: Places of Interest

Jack London State Historic Park

If you are a history enthusiast or a Jack London fan, a visit to the Jack London State Historic Park is a must-add in your itinerary.

The Jack London State is a National Historic Landmark and a beautiful place to stroll around and learn more about the history of this property.

If you are using car rental, the property is only a 30 minutes drive along the Sonoma Highway (Route 12 East).

Railroad Square

Railroad Square is included in the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Rosa California. It is home to many 19th century buildings such as the Railroad Train Depot, which is now the Santa Rosa Visitors Center.

Sonoma Country Museum

The Sonoma Country Museum is located near the Santa Rosa Shopping Center and it is a great place to learn about San Francisco earthquake that devastated the city and nearby cities such as Santa Rosa California.

Things to do in Santa Rosa California: Shopping & Dining

Downtown Santa Rosa California is where you’ll find plenty of shopping and dining opportunities.

For instance, around the Santa Rosa Shopping Center you can find the historic Railroad Square and Old Courthouse Square both home to many restaurants, boutique shops, specialty stores and the Santa Rosa Shopping Center and the Brickyard Shopping center where you can enjoy a bit of retail shopping.

Things to do in Santa Rosa California: Nightlife & Entertainment

Santa Rosa California has a buzzing and varied nightlife that includes comedy clubs, bars and nightclubs to suit all tastes.

For instance, if you fancy a pleasant drink, the area around both Old Courthouse and Railroad squares feature plenty of bars where you can enjoy a nice drink with friends or family.

Entertainment-wise, Santa Rosa California is also home to movie theaters and cinemas.

If you are looking for more nightlife options, Santa Rosa California is under an hour’s drive from San Francisco.

Things to do in Santa Rosa California: Events & Festivals

Gravenstein Apple Fair

If you are traveling to Santa Rosa California in August, you can catch the popular Gravenstein Apple Fair event held at Ragle Ranch Regional Park.

The event celebrates the Gravenstein apple and features arts and crafts exhibitions, fun family outdoor activities, life entertainment, tasty brews and yummy foods.

Wine Road Barrel Tasting

If you love your wines, one of the most popular wine events in the Sonoma County is the Wine Road Barrel Tasting event, which is organized by Wine Road.

The Wine Road Barrel Tasting is an annual event held in the nearby town of Healdsburg, for two consecutive weekends in March.

During one of these weekends, you get to tour many wineries, learn about wines and sample wines straight from the barrel.

Annual Winter Wineland

The Annual Winter Wineland is also organized by Wine Road and it is similar event as the Wine Road Barrel Tasting, held for two days in January.

Luther Burbank Rose Parade

The Luther Burbank Rose Parade is a popular community event in Santa Rosa California that happens every year in May, and features marching bands and floats through the streets of downtown Santa Rosa California.

See. Northern California Beaches
3 Day Vacation Ideas in California
Popular National Parks in California
best places to camp in Northern California
Places to visit in Long Beach California
places to visit in Oxnard CA
Places to visit in Monterey CA
Places to visit in San Jose California
Places to visit in Santa Barbara CA
Top 10 things to do in Yosemite National Park
Interesting places to visit in Nevada
Interesting places to visit in New Mexico