5 Halloween Trips that will Satisfy your Spook Appetite

What’s more Spooktacular than October? Nothing, in our books. We love Halloween and fall festivities so much here at AOPA, that we had to get a list together of the best places to visit no matter your spook tolerance. We compiled four must-go Halloween trips for everyone and rated them using our spook meter of 1 to 4 with who like the least amount of spook at Spook level 1 and those who like the most amount of spook at Spook level 4. What will you decide?

Psst: All the below locations are accessible by aircraft and rental car, so you can pile up your family into your aircraft and enjoy the sky before the history or freight begin!

Spook level 1: For people who like to get away for Halloween … head to the Santa Catalina Island in California. This island is 22 miles long and 8 miles across, full of historical charm, and flowing with actives that cater to any type of vacationer. Santa Catalina Island is perfect for either a day trip or a week-long vacation. The island has been inhabited for at least 8000 years and incorporates fall-festivities into its annual events, so it is sure to deliver on Halloween-esc activities for those who want to sip apple cider by the ocean or partake in some ghost-hunting adventures. One of the cities on the island, Avalon, “is a great place to spend Halloween. [Their] annual Halloween Parade down Crescent Ave. is a treat for all ages. Children enjoy trick or treating through local businesses and homes.” Go the traditional Pumpkin Patch route or a more cultural-driven route with the Dia de los Muertos Family Festival—either way, there is plenty to do.

Accessible by aircraft: fly to (KAVX) Catalina Airport and use the shuttle service between the airport and Avalon provided by the Conservancy*. To contact the Airport call: 310-510-0143. If you want to know what it takes to fly to Catalina Island (KAVX), check out this video.

*due to the pandemic this might not be operational. Contact the airport prior to flying to confirm transportation offered.

Spook level 2: For people who are scary movie buffs and want to see the spook firsthand … going to and staying at The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado is an absolute must. The hotel describes a stay there as “an unparalleled hotel experience.” The Stanley Hotel is most notably known for its ties to Stephen King’s novel, The Shinning. After staying at the hotel and supposedly having a lucid nightmare in one of the rooms, King went to work to write his famous novel. In addition to being a pretty cool historical landmark, it is said to be riddled with ghost so much so that the hotel’s previous designated paranormal concierge—yes you read that right, a paranormal concierge—called it the “Disney Land for ghosts.” There are multiple haunted spots throughout the hotel, if you are brave enough to stay, we definitely recommend you check them out. But if you are just looking for the day trip, take one of the two tours they are currently offering  the historic Stanley day tour or the historic Stanley night tour.

Accessible by aircraft: fly to (3CO8) E P M C E airport and book a rental car.

Spook level 3: For people who are into the paranormal and psychological … travel to the Wild and Wonderful mountains of West Virginia and visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in Weston. The asylum is 160 years old and began as a sanctuary for the mentally ill. Fun fact: it is the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in North America. But you aren’t here for that, we know. This visit is not for the faint of heart, the website explains. “The Asylum has had apparition sightings, unexplainable voices and sounds, and other paranormal activity reported in the past by guests, staff, SyFy's Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters Academy, the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures and Paranormal Challenge. Step back in time and see how the mentally insane lived, and died, within these walls,” the ghost tour page of the website explains. If you are ready to be spooked and are looking to check out the multiple paranormal tours and ghost hunts they offer, click here. If you are afraid of the dark, no worries, go on one of their heritage and history tours.

Accessible by aircraft: fly to (W22) Upshur County Regional Airport and book a rental car.

Spook level 4: For people who are into haunted houses and don’t mind being touched by strangers in masks … you would be a fool not to go to All Hallow’s Eve Terror Town in Williamsburg, Ohio. Terror Town truly is one-of-a-kind—think West World meets the horror genre. It is an entire town set up to “look, feel, and smell like the 19^th century.” The town has a backstory that involves, murder, religion, ghosts, and demons. It is equipped with 25 shops, three restaurants, an outdoor movie theater, and live music. The town opens at 7 pm and the trails start when it gets dark. The best part is that they don’t have traditional lines; they have a texting system that alerts you 30 minutes before it is your turn for the action. While you wait, you can enjoy all the town has to offer.

Once on the haunted trail that last about 25-35 minutes, you can expect and interactive course that takes you through trials and tribulations. All Hallow’s Eve Terror Town has two options for interactive-ness, standard and ultimate horror. Each depends on your comfort level and how much the actors and actress can physically interact with you. Either way, we hope you can withstand the call of the cult.

Accessible by aircraft: fly to (I69) Clermont County Airport and book a rental car.

Now go get spooky and be safe!