Budget Travel | Spooky Destinations and Attractions to Visit for…

Get into the spirit of Halloween with a visit to one of these spooky destinations below. From haunted historic buildings and sites of paranormal activities, to family-friendly thrills that are easier for younger (or less brave!) travelers, the perfect October adventure awaits.

Whether looking for a spine-tingling scare or just a gentle shiver, St. Augustine, Florida has the right amount of spooky experiences to get your haunts on. With more than 450 years of history, ancient narrow streets, two historic cemeteries with graves dating back hundreds of years, a brooding Spanish fortress, and endless stories of roaming spirits, it’s the perfect place to seek spooky adventures.

There are tours galore. Each stepping up their game for the hallowed season. Here are just a few of the fun Halloween adventures taking place in the Nation’s Oldest City in October:

• A new addition to the tour lineup from The Tasting Tours, the Ghost with the Most Cocktail Tours will begin setting the mood in September.
• Learn more about two ancient burial grounds with a guided tour of Tolomato Cemetery and Huguenot Cemetery.
• Adventure Boat Tours will launch the Boo Cruises for frightfully-fun experiences on the water in St. Augustine every Friday and Saturday evening in October.
• The Ximenez-Fatio House Museum has been home to generations of St. Augustinians since 1798. From late September through October Mortality and Mourning—A Century of Death, a family-appropriate exploration of 1800s medicine and mourning practices is featured at the museum. And, they will host their annual Halloween Safe Trick or Treating on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 1-4 p.m., with games, crafts, candy, and more.
• The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park features the annual Creatures of the Night, October 18-20, with the gates staying open l late for three nights of eerie bugs, beasts, and hands-on encounters.
• At Marineland Florida, Monster Mash 2: Trouble Behind the Mask features bottlenose dolphins combatting spooky sirens, an insane haunted house, and more throughout the park.
• Get ready for treats, tricks, and fun for all ages at the World Golf Village Annual Halloween Bash on Oct. 5. Ancient City Kids Day on Saturday, Oct. 26, is a day just for the littles, with games, giveaways, bounce houses, and live entertainment.
• Looking for a truly unique Halloween celebration? On Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12, The St. Augustine Ballet, presents a classic spooky experience – The Dracula Ballet!
• Craft a custom Sanderson sister-inspired lipstick at the Salem-inspired Hocus Pocus Beauty with Hopcraft Collective, flying in on Oct. 17.
• Hair bands and outrageous costumes take center stage at the 8th Annual Headless Bangers Costume Ball on Oct. 26.
• Looking to sweat before the treats? Ancient City Brewing is hosting its annual Boos and Brews 5K Race and Halloween Party on Saturday, Oct. 26. The 5K and 1-mile fun run kick off at 5 p.m., with a post-race party complete with an adult costume contest.

There are dozens of haunting adventures waiting in the Nation’s Oldest City. Make planning your frightful adventure a breeze with the trip planner or the new AI Assistant on FloridasHistoricCoast.com.

If camping at the Devil’s Tramping Ground or patrolling for ghosts on a battleship sets your heart racing, today’s your lucky day. Visit North Carolina recently unveiled First in Fright, a new campaign that highlights otherworldly points of interest from the cloud-shrouded Great Smoky Mountains to the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

The campaign features an 8-part “First in Fright” podcast, a new NC Haunted Trail and hotels that speak to encounters between living souls and figures (real or imagined) from other realms. The First in Fright podcast directs intrepid travelers to places whose stories have endured attempts to explain them away. A Haunted Trail winds through Mountain Mysteries, the Paranormal Piedmont and the Creepy Coast. As they make their way through these regions, travelers can look into Spooky Stays for hotels where long-term guests have never checked out. For those in search of seasonal scares, a rundown of Halloween attractions and events addresses the quest.

“For anyone intrigued by ghosts, stories are the starting point,” said Tuttell, who has stayed in the “Pink Lady Room” at Asheville’s Omni Grove Park Inn (see Mountain Mysteries). “The podcasts bring the mysteries to life while letting listeners decide what to believe and what to dismiss.”

Among the stories that await listeners and visitors alike include: 

• The Devil’s Tramping Ground, a strangely barren clearing near Siler City. Curious campers can reserve a spot near the perfect circle of a site that some say is cursed by the devil himself.
• Battleship North Carolina, a well-decorated World War II vessel moored in Wilmington. Frequent paranormal reports have emerged: hatches mysteriously opening, lights switched on and off, and the appearance of a young sailor in the washroom. Beyond regular tours, travelers can watch for special events such as those offered this fall by Haunted Rooms of America.
• Brown Mountain Lights, a phenomenon that unfolds over Linville Gorge near Morganton. For hundreds of years, the appearance of mysterious lights have been described as rising above the peaks of Linville Gorge. The size, shape and color often change. Viewer guides are available at the Discover Burke visitor center downtown.
• Madison Dry Goods, a shop in downtown Madison that owes its popularity in part to its museum, which occupies a former funeral parlor space on the second floor. Hauntings tied to a family’s murder in 1929 have been reported.

Guests will begin their enchanting journey with a candlelit walk through the historic House, where gothic-inspired scenes bring tales of the past to life. Outside, the Meadow will be adorned with a mesmerizing display of flickering jack-o’-lanterns, casting an ethereal glow across the lush grounds. Visitors can also enjoy engaging games, capture festive fall memories at specially designed photo opportunities, and savor seasonal drinks at “Jack’s Bar,” accompanied by delicious Halloween-inspired treats.

“Our Nightfall event offers a unique way to experience the enchanting beauty of Filoli after dark,” said Kara Newport, CEO & President of Filoli. “We look forward to welcoming families, couples, and friends to immerse themselves in this magical Halloween celebration.”

Tickets and additional information are available at filoli.org/halloween.

Filoli is a vibrant landscape of the Bay Area, situated on the unceded ancestral lands of the Ramaytush Ohlone, in Woodside, California. The estate boasts 654 acres of beauty nestled along the slopes of California’s coastal range. Originally built as a private residence in 1917, Filoli was opened to the public in 1977 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The property is considered one of the finest remaining country estates of the 20th century, featuring 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 with 5 distinct ecosystems and a 1-mile Estate Trail. Filoli is dedicated to connecting our rich history with a vibrant future through beauty, nature and shared stories, so that one day all people will honor nature, value unique experiences, and appreciate beauty in everyday life. For more information about Filoli, visit filoli.org.

The Ghost Train, a beloved family tradition, is returning to Tweetsie Railroad. Since 1957, Tweetsie Railroad, North Carolina’s first theme park, has provided families with unforgettable Wild West adventures. Visitors enjoy an interactive three-mile journey into the Old West behind a historic narrow-gauge steam locomotive. The park features live shows, classic amusement rides, the Deer Park Zoo, gem mining, and more. This fall, every Friday and Saturday evening, from September 20 to October 26, the theme park changes to a Haunted Park at night.

“It’s safe, scary fun for the whole family,” said Cathy Robbins of Tweetsie Railroad. “Young children enjoy dressing up and trick or treating. Everyone loves the night-time amusement rides, and the street dance party; while the older, braver souls can tour the Haunted House, explore the Freaky Forest and ride on the Ghost Train.”

Ghost Train Attractions recommended for Ages 8 and older:

• The Ghost Train: A 20-minute nighttime train ride in an open-air car behind a Skull-faced steam locomotive, where surprises wait around every bend.
• Haunted House: a heart-pounding, walk-through experience that promises a hair-raising journey — without a single touch.
• Freaky Forest: a spine-chilling walk-through indoor woodland designed for brave souls — an experience that pushes the boundaries of fear and excitement.

Family-friendly attractions for all ages:

• Creepy Carnival: Classic amusement rides at night, adorned with vibrant and dazzling lights in a magical and enchanting atmosphere.
• The Boneyard: Featuring the disorienting Black Hole and mystifying Warp Tunnel
• Street Dance Party: A lively and spirited affair, blending the spooky season’s infectious beats and energetic movements.
• Tweetsie Palace Spooktacular: an enchanting experience that combines the magic of puppetry, vibrant colors, and spooky tunes.
• Trick-or-treating: Costume-clad characters located throughout the park handing out sweet treats.
• Halloween-themed photo opportunities

The Ghost Train was named one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by The Southeast Tourism Society. Every Friday and Saturday evening from September 20 – October 26, the park transforms from its daytime Wild West theme to a haunted park by night. To ensure guests can make the most out of their Ghost Train experience, tickets are sold in advance for a designated night with a scheduled train ride time. A limited number of guests will be admitted each evening, so visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance. Tickets are $60 for adults (age 13+) and $40 for children age 3 to 12 (children 2 and under are free). For more information on upcoming events, tickets and more visit Tweetsie.com.

Looking for something a little more family-friendly and less scary? Try a themed camping trip. Campgrounds across the US, including Great Escapes luxury RV and cabin resorts in Branson, Missouri and Bryan-College Station, Texas as well as Spacious Skies Campgrounds in the Eastern states, are being transformed into mystical worlds filled with Halloween fun. The family-oriented resorts are hosting multiple Halloween-themed weekends packed with spooky and not-so-spooky activities that will entertain both kids and grown-ups.

With the recent completion of a multi-year expansion and makeover, Great Escapes Branson is the perfect fall RV and camping destination. RV sites have been upgraded, while new luxury glamping cabins and covered wagons provide fun family lodging with all the comforts of home. Starting September 27, the resort is hosting five Boo-Tiful Harvest Jubilee Weekends. A new zombie hunt wagon ride will give guests the opportunity to shoot zombies with gel blasters. Costume and site decorating contests, pumpkin-themed arts and crafts, mummy races, bobbing for donuts and s’mores socials will keep the entire family entertained all weekend long. Of course, there will be trick-or-treating, hosted by Biscuit, the resort’s Corgi mascot. Visit www.greatescapesbranson.com for information on this fall’s themed weekends and discounts, and to make reservations. Day passes are available.

The recently expanded Great Escapes Bryan-College Station in Texas resort boasts more than 80 acres of family oriented attractions, activities and accommodations. Two resort-style pools and the Wibit water obstacle course are open year round. Other amenities include a sand volleyball court and a sports court with basketball, pickleball and tennis. When taking a break from fall fun, The Hangout is the perfect spot to play pool, table shuffleboard and ping pong. Special Halloween themed weekends begin September 27 and run through October 27. Pumpkin painting and other themed arts and crafts will bring out the creativity in kids. Games will run the gauntlet from pumpkin rolls and spider races to monster bingo and candy corn counting. Guests with the most imaginative costumes will win prizes, as will those with the best site decorations.

Every weekend in October, Spacious Skies Campgrounds campgrounds will feature family-friendly Halloween Themed Weekends, when fun-loving campground employees plan crafts, games and other activities that showcase the weekly theme. The themes are: “Halloween Spooktacular,” Oct. 4 – 5; “Monster Mash,” Oct. 11 – 13; “Haunted Halloween Fest,” Oct. 18 – 19; and “Halloween,” Oct. 25 – 26. During each weekend, guests of the campgrounds are invited to share their spooky sides with costumes, RV decorations and a spirited embrace of the events all weekend long.

“The spooky season is an especially great time for some wicked family fun, and our staffers know just how to plan events for everyone from the tiniest zombies to the goriest teenage ghouls,” said Ali Rasmussen, co-founder of Spacious Skies Campgrounds. “Events during the themed weekends range from bonfires to decorating contests, and we urge all of our campers to get into the spirit of the season.”

Campers can also expect to experience spectacular fall color in locations such as Spacious Skies Hidden Creek in Marion, North Carolina, where color can last until mid-November, and Spacious Skies Savannah Oaks near Savannah, Georgia, where fall color often lasts until late November. All 15 Spacious Skies Campgrounds are situated along the Fall Color Trail, which connects the campgrounds from Maine to Georgia as fall color progresses from North to South.