3 Kid-Friendly Haunted Destinations Perfect For The Halloween Season

This is a guest contribution from Sally Writes.

With 100 million Americans planning to go on a family vacation in 2019, many will be considering a fall holiday. However, for families who enjoy the Halloween season and wish to embark on a seasonally appropriate trip, finding a destination suitable for the whole family can prove to be quite difficult. Luckily, there’s no shortage of spooky and family-friendly destinations to visit.

A fall road trip to Salem

Planning a haunted trip with your children can be a daunting task, but the town of Salem may be the perfect destination, as it has much to offer. Located in Massachusetts, Salem is well known for the 1693 witch trials, and the charming town is the perfect place to visit during the fall. Not only will your children have an educational experience learning about the witch trials at the witch museum, but there are plenty of things to do as well. With ghost tours where you can learn more about the town’s history and a haunted hotel to explore (the Hawthorne Hotel), there’s plenty to entertain the whole family. There are even outdoor showings of the movie, Hocus Pocus, proving that there’s no shortage of things to do in Salem during this time of the year.

When it comes to eating, there’s even Halloween-themed food available throughout Salem, as several restaurants modify their menus in order to add spooky touches to some of their dishes. However, if your child experiences allergies to some of the haunted treats available, you can still include them in the fun by packing allergy friendly snacks from home that have a Halloween twist. For example, mummy dogs (crescent roll dough wrapped around a hot dog) can make for the perfect alternative to nut-filled Halloween cookies. By adapting your trip to your child’s needs, you’re sure to have a great time without the stress.

The Munster Mansion

If you’ve ever watched the 1960’s TV sitcom, The Munsters, you’ll probably remember their spooky looking house. Today, you can visit the famous house, as there’s a replica of it. Owners Sandra and Charles McKee painstakingly recreated the home with only the show’s episodes to guide them, making it a true work of art. Located in Waxahachie, Texas, the Munster house does have tours available by appointment, making it a great family trip destination. While the children might not know who the Munsters were, letting them watch the show and then making the trip to see the house in real life can be a mind-blowing experience fit for the season, without any of the jump scares and gore from modern-day haunted houses.

Beyond Bizarre

Located in Portland, Oregon, the Beyond Bizarre ghost tour is a great experience for the entire family when you book the family-friendly version. The tour is put on by members of the International Ghost Hunters Society, and guests are actually given real ghost hunting equipment to use throughout the tour. The overall experience is meant to give you a true glimpse into paranormal hauntings and ghost hunting, making it a truly interactive experience for anyone who takes part. The tour even takes you below the city’s streets in hopes of detecting a spirit who is said to haunt the Merchant hotel.

Going on a family trip is a great way to spend time with loved ones. However, when it comes to families who love the paranormal, finding haunted destinations that are kid-friendly can be a difficult task. Luckily, there are many appropriate places across the nation to enjoy with the entire family.

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