Halloween Haunts Near New York City

I love Halloween, and when I first moved to New York City, there was nothing I enjoyed more than the infamous Halloween celebration in the Village. Now that I've lived here for many years, the parade and the accompanying crowds of freaks have lost their allure, largely because every day in New York is a bit of a freak parade! Fortunately, there are plenty of great alternatives outside of the city. Here are a few of my favorites - costumes (mostly) optional!

Historic Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley is home to a variety of historic sites that offer tours and activities year round, but it really comes to life around Halloween. Sleepy Hollow, NY, which is just 30 miles north of New York City and reachable via Metro North, is the real-life setting of Washington Irving's tale "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Sleepy Hollow hosts a Halloween event called Legend Evening at Philipsburg Manor, a historic farming and milling center. A visit to the Old Dutch Church and Burying Ground will also get you in the Halloween spirit. Just a few miles up the road (and also on the Metro North line) is Croton-on-Hudson, which hosts The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cordlandt Manor, where over 4,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns light up the night. For serious thrill seekers, a visit to Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Houses in Ulster Park is in order. Those who prefer tamer entertainment can visit the area's many apple orchards and pumpkin patches for some low-key fun. Unfortunately, Ulster Park is not accessible via Metro North, so you'll need a car to get up there.

Long Island
Long Island is a big place, so it's no wonder there are too many Halloween activities there to count! In addition to a typical assortment of haunted houses and hayrides, Long Island boasts some one-of-a-kind activities for adults and children alike. Nautical Cruise Lines, located in Freeport, NY, hosts a Halloween Costume Party cruise, including dinner, an open bar and cash prizes for costume contest winners. Adventureland Amusement Park in Farmingdale, NY, offers an event called Pumpkin Park, where kids can trick-or-treat throughout the park free of charge - rides are extra, though. Finally, those interested in an occult experience on Halloween can head to the New York Witch Festival in Smithtown, NY, to partake in occult demonstrations, tarot readings, a Samhain ritual and much more. All of these spots are accessible via the Long Island Railroad, but you may have to take a cab from the station to the event.

Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, NJ
A trip to Six Flags Great Adventure is a welcome weekend excursion any time of year, but it becomes even more special during the Halloween season, when the park is transformed for Fright Fest. Some of the rides at Six Flags are frightening enough to be a Halloween event on their own, but during Fright Fest, Six Flags adds haunted houses, mazes, scary shows and ghouls galore to their regular selection of attractions. The spooky activities feature Looney Tunes characters (and are G-rated) during the day, but after dark, things get a little scarier. Jackson is about an hour's drive from midtown Manhattan, and there is a shuttle bus from Port Authority for those who don't have cars. The only drawback is that this park gets extremely crowded. A good alternative is Six Flags New England in Springfield, MA, which is a bit farther from the city but has much shorter lines.