When many people think about Halloween, the holiday seems to be all about the kids. From trick-or-treating to school parties, pumpkin carving, and chocolate, adults sadly sometimes think they’re simply too old to celebrate Halloween. However, there are so many fun Halloween destinations to tick off your list, where you can embrace your spooky side and get into the Halloween spirit. Here are some suggestions for Halloween getaways for adults you’ll love.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is a fun place to visit for the Halloween holiday because the city is rumored to be haunted and has fun ghost tours and haunted sites that you can explore. The best place to stay for your adults-only getaway is the waterfront property in the ghost-filled historic District, HarbourView Inn. The inn is perfectly situated in the heart of the French Quarter, and with so many historic sites all around, you’re bound to feel a bit spooked. Some of the ghost walking tours include visiting a haunted Revolutionary War-era dungeon, having dinner in a 1940s naval center on the harbor banks, and an evening sailing journey on the Schooner Pride.
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is also a fun place to visit for Halloween because of the annual “Thriller” Halloween event. This is the event’s 18th year and features lots of people dressed as zombies to reenact the epic “Thriller” music video from Michael Jackson. The celebration lasts all day and includes a dance showcase, costume parade, marketplace, and evening performance. Look for local businesses with zombie-themed food and drink specials and tutorials and discounts for zombie makeup. The Hyatt Regency Lexington and Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington are popular hotel options.
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
The Hilton Playa Del Carmen is an adults-only, all-inclusive getaway and also a fun place to stay this time of year. The hotel celebrates Dia de los Muertos and the tradition of Hanal Pixan (Food of the Souls) with tasting dishes and a ceremonial menu. Detox and cleanse your spirit with a 100-minute Temazcal Stone Steam Bath, which is an ancient Mayan experience that’s led by a local shaman. You can also head outside the hotel to Fifth Avenue to watch the Catrinas Parade and attend the largest festival in the region, the Festival de Tradiciones de Vida y Muerte.
Finger Lakes Region, New York
We also love spending time in the Finger Lakes Region of New York for an adult-focused Halloween. There’s the Haunted History Trail of New York State, Belhurst Castle, which is home to the ghost of an opera singer, and the William Phelps General Store & Residence, which offers ghost hunting. Fright Nights at the Fair is hosted at the fairgrounds in Syracuse on October weekends and is the largest haunted attraction in New York. Consider staying at the Inns of Aurora, which in the past has offered a murder mystery package. Meanwhile, the Fainting Goat Island Inn is in Nichols, New York, and is rumored to have numerous ghostly guests who have never left.
Orlando, Florida
You can also head to Orlando with your adult crew this Halloween to check out Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights going on all month, as it’s one of the best Halloween events in Florida. October really is the most fun time to visit this theme park destination as adults! The Hilton Orlando often features special Halloween festivities.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod is another destination filled with fun haunts for Halloween, especially if you stay at the Sesuit Harbor House. This charming B&B has an innkeeper, Phil Baxter, who narrates the most haunting ghost stories of the Cape around a fire pit. You’ll learn about the tales of Chatham vacationer Dan Gordon and Barnstable resident Gary Joseph, who wrote Cape Encounters, which is all about haunted houses and inns.
Maui, Hawaii
Maui is usually considered to be a paradise destination rather than a spooky one, but you can get your Halloween celebrating here when you stay at the Aston Maui Hill, a tropical and private oasis that overlooks the Pacific. Bring your costume in addition to your swimsuit because the hotel has a costume contest and a mai tai party. You can stay in a luxury two-story, three-bedroom unit here, which is great for adult friends traveling together and looking for some extra space or looking to have their own party.
Key West, Florida
Come to Key West this Halloween season to experience Fantasy Fest, which has everything from parades to street fairs, whimsical costumes, and floats with the Conch King and Queen. You can stay at one of the city’s top hotels and rent a bike on-site to join the costumed zombies for Key West’s Zombie Bike Ride. This ride is an absolute blast and travels down US-1 to Duval Street for Zombiefest.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
For a unique Halloween destination, you can also hop on a flight to Dubai and stay at the Atlantis, The Palm, for its huge Halloween bash. The party takes place on a deck on the Arabian Gulf shores with creepy clowns, great prizes for costumes, and dancing until all hours of the morning.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
There’s really no “bad” time to take a trip to Montego Bay, but it’s especially fun for adults at Halloween. The Rose Hall Great House is the home of the legendary White Witch, and the all-inclusive Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa is just down the road. Join a nightly tour of the 18th-century plantation that used to be the home of the White Witch, and then head back to the resort for unlimited spirits and authentic Jamaican cuisine.
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas, is also packed with haunted hotels, such as Miss Molly’s. This is the oldest B&B in town and one of the most haunted properties around. You just might smell unexplained things, see full-bodied apparitions, and witness the disappearing and reappearing of spirits! Miss Molly’s has even been featured on the Discovery Channel’s “Ghost Lab with investigators, psychics, and mediums. The B&B is a stop on the Stockyards Ghost Tour, which lasts 90 minutes and covers numerous paranormal activities in town.
