7 of the Best Family-Friendly Halloween Celebrations in the US
Similar to big holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, Halloween is becoming a season for travel in and of itself. In a New York Times article, George Aguel, president and chief executive of Visit Orlando, agreed, noting: "Halloween’s almost looking more and more like one of the most significant holidays of the year."
Cities across the country celebrate All Hallow's Eve with everything from extravagant festivals to haunted tours. Whether your family is looking for a new trick-or-treat destination or a fun-filled costume parade, these seven Halloween celebrations deliver endless entertainment for kids and parents alike.
1. Boo at the Zoo, Bronx, NY
Celebrate the Halloween season at New York City’s biggest zoo. Every weekend through October 29, Boo at the Zoo invites families to enjoy 265 acres of wildlife habitats and Halloween-themed attractions like pumpkin carving, spooky hayrides, nature treks, magic shows, costume parades and candy trails. Embrace the spirit of the season and journey through the Extinct Animal Graveyard or the Haunted Forest and get a look at all the creepy critters on display. Kids under age 12 who wear a costume gets free admission when accompanied by a paying adult. Visit the website for more information.
2. Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, Louisville, KY
Skip the haunted hayrides and ghost tours and witness Louisville's largest displays of illuminated pumpkins at the city's Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Passion for Pumpkins, a multimedia production company, first brought this extravagant display of glowing gourds to Iroquois Park in 2013. The event features more than 5,000 hand-carved pumpkin lanterns and a variety of other luminous decorations. Be one of the thousands of visitors to walk the trail and check out the frighteningly creative pumpkins — you might even recognize your old friends Frankenstein and Freddie Krueger. The event runs from October 12 to November 5. Visit the website for more information.
3. The Original Ghost Tour, Philadelphia, PA
Join The Original Ghost Tour of Philadelphia and explore America’s oldest and most historic city spooked by ghostly stories. Halloween-goers and ghost hunters alike can venture on a 90-minute candlelit tour (which are available year-round) along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Washington Square and Society Hill to hear the chilling tales of Philly's frightening past. Visit the website for more information.
4. Salt River Fields Balloon Spooktacular, Scottsdale, AZ
The Salt River Fields Balloon Spooktacular will light up the Halloween sky this year during their seventh annual festival. Dubbed the "world's longest continuous glow" at over three hours, the Balloon Spooktacular features more than 20 hot air balloons which spectators can watch lift off. If you need a little something sweet to get you through the evening, visit the trick-or-treat stations which will be serving up more than 4,000 pounds of candy. Visit the website for more information.
5. Salem Haunted Happenings, Salem, MA
There's no better place to spend the Halloween season than Salem, home of the notorious Salem witch trials. Enjoy the city's Haunted Happenings event which includes a month-long celebration of everything from magic shows and expos to haunted harbor cruises and ghost tours. Whether you come seeking history, a good spook or live entertainment, you'll find it here. Visit the website for more information.
6. Haunted History Tours, New Orleans, LA
In addition to hosting Mardi Gras, New Orleans is known as one of the top destinations for Halloween — and for good reason. The Big Easy is the birthplace of hoodoo and voodoo in addition to being the site of notorious haunted houses like Madame LaLaurie. The city also has some not-so-scary family friendly activities, like the Haunted History Tours. Named the top tour in New Orleans by the Travel Channel, the tour is said to be “mildly theatrical, hugely historical and thoroughly entertaining.” It includes a ghost tour of the famous French Quarter, a ghost and graveyard bus tour, cemetery tour, voodoo tour and more. Visit the website for more information.
7. HalloWeekends at Cedar Point, Sandusky, OH
HalloWeekends at Cedar Point amusement park have returned with new scares and returning favorites. Kids 12 and under can trick-or-treat, race through pumpkin patches, explore hay mazes, dance in the foam pit and more. At night the park turns into a fright-lover’s dream with a collection of six terrifying mazes like Deprivation and Fearground Freakshow. Visit the website for more information.
Where is your favorite spot to celebrate Halloween? Let us know in the comments below.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.