I am looking towards October, and my second annual Halloween-season weekend trip with my daughter, now 16. Last year we did Salem, Mass. Any suggestions for where to go this year, within a day's driving distance from New Jersey? Someplace seasonal, interesting, offbeat...All ideas welcome!

Tarrytown, NY (Sleepyhollow) on the edge of the Catskills? Leaves will be beautiful then, but don't know what else might be available to do. My Dad grew up there and Halloween was always a huge event for them. Perhaps they still make a big to-do about it?

Thanks, CMcDaniel. That's the second time you gave me really good travel advice! I appreciate it!

You may also want to invesitgate Universal Studios-Florida as they have Halloween themed events, haunted houses, parades etc. on weekends during October. I go every year and enjoy it, however, expect large crowds of teens, etc. It will give your patience a workout, but I bet your daughter would really enjoy it!

Keene, New Hampshire, has the most incredible Pumpkin Festival; people bring their carved pumpkins to town, and they are placed all over Main Street as well as on very high staging in the center of this pretty Main Street (supposedly the widest in the US). There are activities all day long, and then at dark, they are all lighted. It's probably crazily dangerous, but just fantastic. I think it's mentioned in the Guiness Book of Records. It's usually the weekend before; you might check with the Chamber of Commerce there. People come from everywhere.

Thanks for more excellent suggestions! By the way, for those who are interested in info on the Keene Pumpkin Festival, it's at http://www.centerstagenh.com/pumpkin.html. Looks interesting!

A Halloween trip is a great idea! Does anyone have suggestions for other spooky parts of the country? I live in Chicago, but I'd love to read about Halloween sights anywhere.

We're heading to Gettysburg in October (although we won't be there exactly on Halloween). We wanted to visit the historical sites, hopefully see some beautiful fall foliage & take advantage of some Halloween events.

Gettysburg is a wonderful national monument. There aren't any "Halloween" activities in the national park, however, although Adams County has an annual Apple Harvest Festival.

More suggestions welcome!

We've travelled a lot for Halloween, Salem, New Orleans, Key West,etc. One of the places we visited that's very close to NJ is the Logan's Inn in New Hope, PA. It's considered to be haunted! Nothing happened while we were there but it was somewhat creepy.

When we made our reservations for Gettysburg, the innkeepers told us about how the town of Gettysburg has special events for Halloween. Not sure of the particulars but I do know there are several different ghost tour companies in town.

Key West is a great place to go, but hotels etc are booked a year in advance! Plus they charge and arm and a leg. Some of the amusement parks such as Cedar Point and King's Island are open on Halloween and South Bass Island in Lake Erie has a great Halloween bash similar to Key West on a smaller scale.