September 26, 2025 • 12 mins
Episode 194: Halloween-Themed Family Travel Pumpkin patches, ghost stories, trick-or-treating at Disney… Halloween has become more than just a night—it’s a whole travel season! In this episode of The Family Vacationer, Rob and Traci share the best family-friendly destinations and tips for celebrating Halloween in ways that are fun, memorable, and not-too-spooky. Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode: Historic Halloween Towns – Salem, Massachusetts and Sleepy Hollow, New York, where history and legend come alive every October.
- Theme Park Magic – From Disney’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party to Universal Studios’ daytime family options, plus the fall magic of Dollywood’s Harvest Fest and Great Pumpkin LumiNights.
- Local Adventures – Pumpkin patches, flashlight corn mazes, haunted history tours, and small-town parades that make for easy weekend getaways.
- Practical Tips – Packing costumes in carry-ons, layering for chilly nights, keeping kids safe with glow sticks, and candy-collection hacks to keep little arms from getting tired.
- Rob’s book, The Family Vacationer: A Parent’s Guide to Meaningful Travel, is coming out in December! Pre-orders open soon—stay tuned for details.
- We’re celebrating our 200th episode in Orlando at the Caribe Royale the second weekend in December. If you’ll be in Orlando, let us know—we’d love to connect!
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Pumpkin patches, ghost stories, and even tricker treating at the
happiest place on Earth. Halloween isn't just a night anymore.
It's a travel season. Today I'm a Family Vacationer. We're
taking you on a journey through the best family friendly
destinations to celebrate Halloween with a mix of spooky fun
and lasting memories. Episode one four starts right now. Welcome
(00:30):
to The Family Vacationer with Robin.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Tracy, your go to podcast for families on the moon.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Hey friends, I'm Rob.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And I'm Tracy. Welcome to episode number one four of
The Family Vacationer, the podcast that helps you make family
travel more meaningful, more memorable, and yes, today a little
more spooky.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
That's right, Halloween is one of those holidays that's become
bigger than just one night of candy and costas. Now,
for me personally and for our family, Halloween isn't our
favorite holiday. Personally, it kind of ranks below international talk
like a pirate day on the holiday rankings. Not our favorite.
But for many families, they not only celebrate it, but
(01:15):
are traveling for it, planning weekends or even full trips
around Halloween experiences and today we're going to share some
of the best destinations, trips, and stories to help you
plan your own Halloween theme family adventure. Now, real quick,
I've got some exciting news to share my book, The
Family Vacationer, a Parent's Guide to Meaningful Travel. It's coming
(01:37):
out this December, and pre orders are going to be
opening really soon, so we'll keep you posted so you
can be one of the first to grab a copy.
It's packed with tips and stories to help you make
every family trip more intentional and rewarding.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yes, we are so excited about this book. It really
builds on what we're talking about here on the podcast.
All right, so back to Halloween. Let's start with a
little context. Halloween has grown into a multi billion dollar
holiday in the US, and part of that growth is
in tourism. Families are looking for more immersive experiences, places
(02:15):
where kids can dress up, where the atmosphere is magical,
and where the spooky factor is just right for their
ages exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Historically, towns like Salem, Massachusetts, Sleepy Hollow, New York, they
became known for their eerie legends. Salem, of course, is
tied to the witch trials of the sixteen hundreds and
that history still draws people in every October. Meanwhile, Sleepy
Hollow separates Washington Irving's classic story of the Headless Horsemen
(02:44):
with lantern tours and parades that are spooky but still
fun for the kids.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And it's not just the old towns theme. Parts like
Disney and Universal have completely reimagined Halloween for families. Disney
has its Not So Scary Halloween Party, which is all
about kid friendly fun, while Universal leans into the scarier
side but still offers family activities during the day.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
And we'll talk more about those in a minute. But
Mickey's not so scary as much more my speed, very little, spooky,
lots of candy. So but let's talk about Salem for
a minute now. If you've never been, it's not just
a Halloween attraction. It's a beautiful coastal New England town
with cobblestone streets, historic houses, and lots of maritime history.
(03:31):
But in October it transforms. There are parades, family walking tours,
costume contests, and even a kid friendly haunted museum.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
What's awesome about Salem is that families can tailor the trip.
You can choose the lighter side, like Pumpkin decorating, historical tours,
fun costumes, or if you have older teens or older kids,
you can lean into the ghost stories and which try
a reenactments. There's even a candlelight tour of the old cemeteries,
(04:04):
which sounds creepy but is fascinating from a history standpoint.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
And we'll take their word for it. Sleepy Hollow has
a similar vibe, but with that headless horseman twist. They
do hay rides, storytelling festivals, and a big Halloween parade
that's one of the best in the country. It's spooky,
but the kind that makes kids wide eyed and excited
rather than terrified.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And the setting those fall colors in the Hudson Valley,
it feels like you're stepping into the pages of the story.
Definitely worth considering for families who love history and autumn scenery.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Okay, now let's jump back to the big theme parks,
because Disney and Universal have mastered Halloween, but in different ways.
Disney's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Orlando is one
of the most family friendly events you can do. We've
actually done that, Tracy and I have done that. The
park decorates with pumpkins and Folly's characters and costumes. Kids
(05:05):
and adults can trick or treat at candy stations all
throughout the park, and I think it's one of the
best firework attractions that Disney does all year.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
It's one of those experiences that feel safe, magical, and
perfectly tailored to kids of all ages, even adults. Parents
can relax because it's Disney. They've thought of everything, and honestly,
it's adorable seeing those little ones dressed as Elsa and
Buzz Lightyear trick or treating on Main Street. You can
(05:35):
ride some of your favorite Magic Kingdom rides with Halloween
overlays and theming. You can trick or treat all throughout
Magic Kingdom and come away with a ton of candy,
and during the fireworks show, the lines aren't so long
to get the candy. When Rob and I went, we
loaded up on candy during the firework show.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yep we did. Okay. Now on the complete flip side
of that is Universal Studios. Now they're known for the
Halloween Horrorites, which is not for small kids. It is intense.
The cool thing about Halloween Hornites is you have studio
quality sets and they have themes like Fallout, five Nights
(06:16):
at Freddy's, The Terrifier, and Jason from Friday, The Thirteenth Universe,
just to name a few. During the day, now you
can do the family thing, you can trick or treat,
you can do the theme shows. It's much gentler of
a place. But if you have teens who want the
thrill and younger kids who don't, Universal can actually give
(06:36):
you both options and one trip. But again, Halloween Hornites
is not for the younger kids.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So if Halloween isn't your family's cup of tea like
our family, but you love fall, Dollywood is an excellent option.
Harvest Best is the perfect way to celebrate Fall. By day,
you can take in musical performances and ride all the
exciting rides Dollywood has to offer. At night, you can
(07:06):
wander through the enchanting hoot Owl Hollow and marvel at
the towering forty foot Pumpkin Tree exclusively during Great Pumpkin Luminits.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
And you can eat cinnamon bread until you're sick, which
I highly recommend, not the sick part, but eating the
cinnamon bread. It's really good. Here's the thing, though, not
everyone can make it to Disney or to Salem hey,
and that's okay. Some of the best Halloween travel experiences
are ride in your own backyard, think about pumpkin patches,
(07:38):
corn mazes, small town fall festivals.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Absolutely, we've taken trips just an hour or two away
to visit apple orchards, go on hay rides, and let
the kids run through corn mazes. Those are the kind
of memories that kids hang on to, and they're affordable. Plus,
many small towns really go all out with parades and
trunk or trees eating events. You can try and find
(08:03):
when local farms do nighttime flashlight corn mazes. It's just
the right level of spooky For grade school kids. They
feel brave wandering through the dark with a flashlight, but
parents are right there with them the whole time.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And for teens, some towns offer haunted history tours or
haunted houses that are more fun than frightening. The important
part is that you don't have to fly across the country.
Halloween fun can be a weekend road trip away.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So let's share a few practical tips for families planning
Halloween trips. First, the costume. If you're flying, pack those
in your carry on. You don't want a missing suitcase.
To ruin the big night second weather. If you're going
somewhere like New England, it can get chili in October.
(08:53):
Make sure costumes can layer over leggings or long sleeves
so kids don't freeze during night time parades. We're in
the South and the kids are burning up. Make sure
you buy something short sleep.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I was gonna say that's one thing that we noticed
we were I can't remember if we went. I think
it was September, late September when we went in Orlando
to Mickey's Not So Scary and it was hot. It
was scalding hot still, and you see all these little
kids in these long sleeves and these thick costumes. So
it's one of those things where it's great. I mean,
(09:27):
you want them to look cute for the pictures. I
totally get it. But you have to understand you're gonna
be I mean, it's Disney, so you're going to be
walking a ton and if it's hot in there in
those costumes, you're going to have a not so happy
camper pretty quickly. So you know, comfort is the name
of the game. Make sure that the shoes are comfortable,
(09:48):
make sure that the masks don't block their vision.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And safety always safety. If you're trigger treating in a
theme park or a new town, make a plan to
stick together, set meeting points, and maybe even add glow
sticks or reflective tape to costumes so that your kids
are easy to spot. Our family always has a meeting
point and they have a password. If you don't have
the password, you don't go with them.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And another little hack bring us. This is good for Halloween,
just period, but bring a small bag for candy and
a bigger bag that you can dump it back back
into if you're traveling. If you're flying especially, you can
dump that back in at the hotel. Otherwise, kids end
up lugging around five pounds of chocolate halfway through the night,
and nobody wants that, although it's a good excuse for
(10:36):
the parents to eat the candy, but you know that's
just between us. Halloween can be such a fun reason
to plan a family trip, whether it's Salem and It's History,
Disney's Magical Halloween Party, or just to drive to the
local pumpkin patch. The important thing is that you're together
and you're making those memories.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And hopefully today gave you some ideas to make this
Halloween Extra Special, and before we go, we want to
share something really special. We're coming up on episode two.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Hundred that's right, we'll be celebrating that milestone in Orlando
at the Cariba Royale Resort the second weekend in December,
and if you happen to, if your family is gonna
be down there, drop us a line. We'd love to
connect with you.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It's gonna be such a fun celebration and we hope
to see some of you there.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And just a programming note, we're gonna skip over the
two hundredth episode because it didn't really line up with
the way that our vacation schedule was working. So you'll
notice as we go along we're gonna be doing in
the month of November, we'll have a series on places
to go during the Christmas time, so we'll skip over
(11:50):
the two hundredth episode and then we'll hit it back
in December. So that's coming up, So make sure that
you stay tuned and hit that subscribe button so you
don't miss an episode. Remember, folks, keep your passports and
your hearts open.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
They've traveled everyone.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I've gotting fool all the beach places and hotel spaces
amusement park rides and water slides, mountains, ranges and seasonal changes.
I'm here to serve on the faery vacationer. I've got
(12:36):
ski food on other beach places and hotel spaces. Amusement
park rids and water slides.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
All right, we're good, thank you,
Pumpkin patches, ghost stories, and even tricker treating at the
happiest place on Earth. Halloween isn't just a night anymore.
It's a travel season. Today I'm a Family Vacationer. We're
taking you on a journey through the best family friendly
destinations to celebrate Halloween with a mix of spooky fun
and lasting memories. Episode one four starts right now. Welcome
(00:30):
to The Family Vacationer with Robin.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Tracy, your go to podcast for families on the moon.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Hey friends, I'm Rob.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And I'm Tracy. Welcome to episode number one four of
The Family Vacationer, the podcast that helps you make family
travel more meaningful, more memorable, and yes, today a little
more spooky.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
That's right, Halloween is one of those holidays that's become
bigger than just one night of candy and costas. Now,
for me personally and for our family, Halloween isn't our
favorite holiday. Personally, it kind of ranks below international talk
like a pirate day on the holiday rankings. Not our favorite.
But for many families, they not only celebrate it, but
(01:15):
are traveling for it, planning weekends or even full trips
around Halloween experiences and today we're going to share some
of the best destinations, trips, and stories to help you
plan your own Halloween theme family adventure. Now, real quick,
I've got some exciting news to share my book, The
Family Vacationer, a Parent's Guide to Meaningful Travel. It's coming
(01:37):
out this December, and pre orders are going to be
opening really soon, so we'll keep you posted so you
can be one of the first to grab a copy.
It's packed with tips and stories to help you make
every family trip more intentional and rewarding.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Yes, we are so excited about this book. It really
builds on what we're talking about here on the podcast.
All right, so back to Halloween. Let's start with a
little context. Halloween has grown into a multi billion dollar
holiday in the US, and part of that growth is
in tourism. Families are looking for more immersive experiences, places
(02:15):
where kids can dress up, where the atmosphere is magical,
and where the spooky factor is just right for their
ages exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Historically, towns like Salem, Massachusetts, Sleepy Hollow, New York, they
became known for their eerie legends. Salem, of course, is
tied to the witch trials of the sixteen hundreds and
that history still draws people in every October. Meanwhile, Sleepy
Hollow separates Washington Irving's classic story of the Headless Horsemen
(02:44):
with lantern tours and parades that are spooky but still
fun for the kids.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
And it's not just the old towns theme. Parts like
Disney and Universal have completely reimagined Halloween for families. Disney
has its Not So Scary Halloween Party, which is all
about kid friendly fun, while Universal leans into the scarier
side but still offers family activities during the day.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
And we'll talk more about those in a minute. But
Mickey's not so scary as much more my speed, very little, spooky,
lots of candy. So but let's talk about Salem for
a minute now. If you've never been, it's not just
a Halloween attraction. It's a beautiful coastal New England town
with cobblestone streets, historic houses, and lots of maritime history.
(03:31):
But in October it transforms. There are parades, family walking tours,
costume contests, and even a kid friendly haunted museum.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
What's awesome about Salem is that families can tailor the trip.
You can choose the lighter side, like Pumpkin decorating, historical tours,
fun costumes, or if you have older teens or older kids,
you can lean into the ghost stories and which try
a reenactments. There's even a candlelight tour of the old cemeteries,
(04:04):
which sounds creepy but is fascinating from a history standpoint.
Speaker 1 (04:09):
And we'll take their word for it. Sleepy Hollow has
a similar vibe, but with that headless horseman twist. They
do hay rides, storytelling festivals, and a big Halloween parade
that's one of the best in the country. It's spooky,
but the kind that makes kids wide eyed and excited
rather than terrified.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
And the setting those fall colors in the Hudson Valley,
it feels like you're stepping into the pages of the story.
Definitely worth considering for families who love history and autumn scenery.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Okay, now let's jump back to the big theme parks,
because Disney and Universal have mastered Halloween, but in different ways.
Disney's Not So Scary Halloween Party in Orlando is one
of the most family friendly events you can do. We've
actually done that, Tracy and I have done that. The
park decorates with pumpkins and Folly's characters and costumes. Kids
(05:05):
and adults can trick or treat at candy stations all
throughout the park, and I think it's one of the
best firework attractions that Disney does all year.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
It's one of those experiences that feel safe, magical, and
perfectly tailored to kids of all ages, even adults. Parents
can relax because it's Disney. They've thought of everything, and honestly,
it's adorable seeing those little ones dressed as Elsa and
Buzz Lightyear trick or treating on Main Street. You can
(05:35):
ride some of your favorite Magic Kingdom rides with Halloween
overlays and theming. You can trick or treat all throughout
Magic Kingdom and come away with a ton of candy,
and during the fireworks show, the lines aren't so long
to get the candy. When Rob and I went, we
loaded up on candy during the firework show.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yep we did. Okay. Now on the complete flip side
of that is Universal Studios. Now they're known for the
Halloween Horrorites, which is not for small kids. It is intense.
The cool thing about Halloween Hornites is you have studio
quality sets and they have themes like Fallout, five Nights
(06:16):
at Freddy's, The Terrifier, and Jason from Friday, The Thirteenth Universe,
just to name a few. During the day, now you
can do the family thing, you can trick or treat,
you can do the theme shows. It's much gentler of
a place. But if you have teens who want the
thrill and younger kids who don't, Universal can actually give
(06:36):
you both options and one trip. But again, Halloween Hornites
is not for the younger kids.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
So if Halloween isn't your family's cup of tea like
our family, but you love fall, Dollywood is an excellent option.
Harvest Best is the perfect way to celebrate Fall. By day,
you can take in musical performances and ride all the
exciting rides Dollywood has to offer. At night, you can
(07:06):
wander through the enchanting hoot Owl Hollow and marvel at
the towering forty foot Pumpkin Tree exclusively during Great Pumpkin Luminits.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
And you can eat cinnamon bread until you're sick, which
I highly recommend, not the sick part, but eating the
cinnamon bread. It's really good. Here's the thing, though, not
everyone can make it to Disney or to Salem hey,
and that's okay. Some of the best Halloween travel experiences
are ride in your own backyard, think about pumpkin patches,
(07:38):
corn mazes, small town fall festivals.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
Absolutely, we've taken trips just an hour or two away
to visit apple orchards, go on hay rides, and let
the kids run through corn mazes. Those are the kind
of memories that kids hang on to, and they're affordable. Plus,
many small towns really go all out with parades and
trunk or trees eating events. You can try and find
(08:03):
when local farms do nighttime flashlight corn mazes. It's just
the right level of spooky For grade school kids. They
feel brave wandering through the dark with a flashlight, but
parents are right there with them the whole time.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
And for teens, some towns offer haunted history tours or
haunted houses that are more fun than frightening. The important
part is that you don't have to fly across the country.
Halloween fun can be a weekend road trip away.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
So let's share a few practical tips for families planning
Halloween trips. First, the costume. If you're flying, pack those
in your carry on. You don't want a missing suitcase.
To ruin the big night second weather. If you're going
somewhere like New England, it can get chili in October.
(08:53):
Make sure costumes can layer over leggings or long sleeves
so kids don't freeze during night time parades. We're in
the South and the kids are burning up. Make sure
you buy something short sleep.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
I was gonna say that's one thing that we noticed
we were I can't remember if we went. I think
it was September, late September when we went in Orlando
to Mickey's Not So Scary and it was hot. It
was scalding hot still, and you see all these little
kids in these long sleeves and these thick costumes. So
it's one of those things where it's great. I mean,
(09:27):
you want them to look cute for the pictures. I
totally get it. But you have to understand you're gonna
be I mean, it's Disney, so you're going to be
walking a ton and if it's hot in there in
those costumes, you're going to have a not so happy
camper pretty quickly. So you know, comfort is the name
of the game. Make sure that the shoes are comfortable,
(09:48):
make sure that the masks don't block their vision.
Speaker 2 (09:51):
And safety always safety. If you're trigger treating in a
theme park or a new town, make a plan to
stick together, set meeting points, and maybe even add glow
sticks or reflective tape to costumes so that your kids
are easy to spot. Our family always has a meeting
point and they have a password. If you don't have
the password, you don't go with them.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
And another little hack bring us. This is good for Halloween,
just period, but bring a small bag for candy and
a bigger bag that you can dump it back back
into if you're traveling. If you're flying especially, you can
dump that back in at the hotel. Otherwise, kids end
up lugging around five pounds of chocolate halfway through the night,
and nobody wants that, although it's a good excuse for
(10:36):
the parents to eat the candy, but you know that's
just between us. Halloween can be such a fun reason
to plan a family trip, whether it's Salem and It's History,
Disney's Magical Halloween Party, or just to drive to the
local pumpkin patch. The important thing is that you're together
and you're making those memories.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
And hopefully today gave you some ideas to make this
Halloween Extra Special, and before we go, we want to
share something really special. We're coming up on episode two.
Speaker 1 (11:05):
Hundred that's right, we'll be celebrating that milestone in Orlando
at the Cariba Royale Resort the second weekend in December,
and if you happen to, if your family is gonna
be down there, drop us a line. We'd love to
connect with you.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
It's gonna be such a fun celebration and we hope
to see some of you there.
Speaker 1 (11:27):
And just a programming note, we're gonna skip over the
two hundredth episode because it didn't really line up with
the way that our vacation schedule was working. So you'll
notice as we go along we're gonna be doing in
the month of November, we'll have a series on places
to go during the Christmas time, so we'll skip over
(11:50):
the two hundredth episode and then we'll hit it back
in December. So that's coming up, So make sure that
you stay tuned and hit that subscribe button so you
don't miss an episode. Remember, folks, keep your passports and
your hearts open.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
They've traveled everyone.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I've gotting fool all the beach places and hotel spaces
amusement park rides and water slides, mountains, ranges and seasonal changes.
I'm here to serve on the faery vacationer. I've got
(12:36):
ski food on other beach places and hotel spaces. Amusement
park rids and water slides.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
All right, we're good, thank you,
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