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Happy Hauntings!
The Halloween season is here, and some great attractions for revelers of all ages are in store to help celebrate the mystery and magic of All Hallows Eve!
Key:
*Little Ghouls*: Suitable for all ages.
*Big Ghouls*: May not be appropriate for children under 13.
*Little Ghouls*
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Kids can take part in fantastic Six Flags Halloween-themed activities created especially for them, including costume contests, scare-free Trick-or-Treat trails, coloring book stations, face painting, and pumpkin painting with Bugs Bunny. There’s also a “Not so Scary Kiddy Hayride” and the “Monster Mash Bash,” where kids can sing along to spooky renditions of their favorite pop songs.
www.sixflags.com
*Big Ghouls*
Knotts Berry Farm
“Everyone has to go sometime…”
Starting September 27 and continuing through Halloween, Snoopy’s favorite theme park once again transforms into the screamingly fun Knotts Scary Farm, the original, in-your-face LIVE Halloween experience – a 160-acre living horror movie filled with 13 chilling mazes, 7 hair-raising shows, 4 horrific scare zones and 1,000 monsters roaming for their next victim. Knott's Halloween Haunt continues to set new standards in adult-scare entertainment!
www.knotts.com
*Big Ghouls*
San Francisco Ghost Hunt
San Francisco Ghost Hunt is a walking tour event that visits some of San Francisco's notorious haunted locales. The tour walks a mile at an easy pace on tree-lined streets in a safe, quiet neighborhood with beautiful historic Victorian architecture. Departs year-round from the magnificent Queen Anne Hotel. Cost: $20/person. $10/under 16. Kids younger than 8 not recommended.
www.sfghosthunt.com
*Little Ghouls*
Boo & Goo Family Overnight Adventure
Each year, the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles hosts a Halloween camp-out for families. Take a special nighttime tour of the museum and the Tar Pits, make gooey crafts, and trick-or-treat by flashlight with the mammoths, mastodons and saber-toothed cats. Be sure to wear your costume! An evening snack and breakfast are included. Bring a sleeping bag and air mattress. Advance registration is required; suitable for children ages 5 and up with accompanying adult.
www.nhm.org/weekends
*Little Ghouls*
Boo at the LA Zoo
The entire Los Angeles Zoo is transformed into the ultimate trick-or-treat destination, with strolling entertainers, a freaky funhouse, pumpkin carving, musical entertainment, and other spookiful crafts. The animals get in on the fun, too, with a Pumpkin Stomp-and-Chomp and Creepy Creature Encounters (ever want to hold a giant hissing cockroach?). Arrive in costume and receive $1 off the price of admission! Cost of Admission: $10/adults, $5/children ages 2 to 12, children under 2 get in free.
www.lazoo.org
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| Keeping the kids occupied on a road trip isn't always an easy task. For some ideas on how to keep them from getting fidgety in the back seat and printable games, go to www.MomsMinivan.com. Ideas include a scavenger hunt, car bingo and making figures out of string. |
Travel Green
Environmentally-minded folks often find it is difficult to maintain their eco-friendly practices on the road. For instance, hotels many not provide recycling bins in the rooms, or may use harsh chemicals to clean the rooms and common areas. The Orchard Green Hotel in San Francisco's Chinatown changes all that. Billed as one of the state's first "green" hotels, the Orchard offers chemical-free cleaning products, florescent lights that automatically switch off as you exit the room, organic bath products and in-room recycling systems. What's more, guests won't have to skimp on quality to be good to Mother Earth. All 86 rooms feature natural wood designs, high-speed Internet, LCD televisions, iPod docking systems and the backdrop of one of the nation's most enjoyable and colorful cosmopolitan centers.
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San Clemente Stop
The Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens was first built in 1928 by Ole Hanson as a home for his family. Hanson, one of the founders of San Clemente, lived in the house until 1932. After being bought and restored by numerous owners, the structure was finally purchased by the City of San Clemente, and through an anonymous donation of $1.25 million, became the future site of Orange County's first cultural center.
Overlooking the San Clemente Pier, the center has become the heart of the community, a place where all ages can gather and celebrate the history of the house, the town and the people.
The Center offers a wide array of educational and artistic programs, exhibits and performances. One program is the Casa Romantica Reading Series, designed to both promote and celebrate the many poets and writers living and writing in San Clemente. Monthly readings and writing workshops for all ages are offered. There are also field trips, library programs, young artist programs and several other offerings.
For more information, please call visit www.casaromantica.org or call (949) 498-2139.
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Voluntourism: Going Beyond the Traditional Vacation
New Orleans has long enticed travelers with its rambunctious revelry, unique culture, and all the food, fun and Mardi Gras beads you could possibly want. As the world knows, in 2005, much of the city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Two years later there is still much to be done to restore this vibrant community and help the Americans who were left struggling to pick up the pieces of their lives.
Now you can make a difference and have fun doing it. The Generations Touring Company has developed a six-day volunteer vacation program that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the community. You are sure to meet some of the most amazing people you’ll ever know. Two mornings of this humanitarian adventure are dedicated to community service work, and the rest of the itinerary is open for exploring, dining, shopping, or relaxation.
For more information, visit www.generationstouringcompany.com.
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