October
has arrived and the number of individuals and families traveling
during the Halloween season continues to increase year after year.
Halloween has become a major travel period with specialized events
and activities taking place all over the country. Whether traveling
as a couple, with friends, or with children, the attractions are
endless, including theme parks for all ages, parades, spooky towns,
or museums and landmarks educating about the history of
Halloween. Travel
Insured International provides
five of the most popular destinations to travel to during the
Halloween/Fall 2012 season.
Salem,
Massachusetts
One
of the most traveled to locations for Halloween is the home of the
1692 Salem Witch Trials, Salem, Massachusetts, which brings in an
average of over 200,000 visitors per year. The most popular
attractions include psychic readings, themed stores, historic
landmarks, and museums. Celebrations take place during the entire
month of October including carnivals, shows, costume parties,
firework displays, cornfield mazes, and of course haunted houses.
There are attractions suitable for both adults and children.
Sleepy
Hollow, New York
In
beautiful upstate New York, some of the most famous Halloween
celebrations revolving around Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy
Hollow and the Headless Horseman take place. The Hudson Valley's
Philipsburg Manor has been transformed into Horseman's Hollow, a
haunted house complete with vampires and witches along a mile
candlelit path on the grounds. This event is not recommended for
children. For families traveling with children, locals suggest
visiting the Great Jack–O–Lantern Blaze, a display of thousands
of elaborately carved and lit pumpkins at Van Cortland Manor. Also be
sure to attend the Annual Sleepy Hollow’s Haunted Hayride and catch
a performance of Irving’s ‘Legend’, a dramatic reading of the
classic story.
Anoka,
Minnesota
Anoka,
Minnesota, otherwise known as the “Halloween Capitol of the World”,
is known to be the first city in the United States to have a
Halloween celebration in 1920. The festival begins 10 days before
Halloween and features events such as Halloween parades, the annual
Orange Tie Ball, pumpkin carving contests, costume contests, and
ghost tours. Anoka, MN is also known to have several haunted
locations which are sought out by the brave individuals who travel to
in order to explore. Anoka is suitable for families traveling with
children.
San
Francisco, California
San
Francisco is known for being a city full of haunted locations to
visit. Its history of natural disasters as well as being one of the
biggest boom towns during the gold rush days makes this a perfect
destination for the Halloween season. It is also home to Alcatraz,
one of the spookiest destinations you can visit in the country. There
are also activities including Ghost Walk at City Hall, Fear Oaks
Haunted Woods Trail, or Family Halloween Fest for a family
appropriate activity.
Orlando,
Florida
One
of the best locations for traveling with young children is Orlando,
Florida to visit Walt Disney World. Walt Disney World puts on
“Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party”, a specialized ticket
event which is held on multiple evenings in October within the Magic
Kingdom theme park. Families can ride popular attractions with no
lines or crowds, and celebrate Halloween in a special way without
worrying if it will be too frightening for children.
Travel
Insured International reminds
travelers who plan to get away during the Fall and Halloween 2012
Season to invest in the right insurance policy before traveling. It
only takes one uninsured travel risk, arriving without expectation,
to destroy a dream trip, or worse, incur uncovered emergency medical
costs. Prepared travelers will plan ahead with the policy which fits
their coverage need best in order to protect their travel
investments.
