by Brendan Johnson 17 hours ago
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Table of contents
- 1. Haunted Happenings in Salem, Massachusetts
- Ledger Restaurant
- 2. Sleepy Hollow, New York
- Bridge View Tavern
- 3. Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden, IL
- Morton's The Steakhouse
- 4. Krewe of BOO! in New Orleans, Louisiana
- The Italian Barrel
- 5. Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida
- Thai Thani
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While Halloween is widely celebrated across America, the way it is marked varies significantly from one place to another. Dating back 2000 years to the ancient Celtic festival Samhain, it is now the second highest grossing commercial holiday after Christmas in the U.S.
Our guide will help you find the perfect location to spend All Saints' Eve. Whether you're seeking extreme frights at Howl-O-Scream, historical haunts in Sleepy Hollow, or colorful and vibrant parades at Krewe of Boo, we've got you covered! So, get your costume ready, indulge in the spirit of the spooky season, and gear up for a Halloween experience like no other.
1. Haunted Happenings in Salem, Massachusetts
Image credit: The Haunted Happenings website
With a history of 17th-century witch trials and popularly known as the Witch City, Salem is one of the best destinations to visit on October 31st. Each year, it hosts Haunted Happenings — a city-wide Halloween festival that lasts for the entire month. The key events and locations include ghost tours, haunted houses and historic landmarks like the Witch House, Salem Witch Trials Memorial, and the Peabody Essex Museum. The highlight of the celebration is Grand Parade, Family Film Nights, bustling street fairs, topped off with a grand Costume Ball held at the illustrious Hawthorne Hotel.
Check out the whole list of things to do on the Haunted Happenings website.
Ledger Restaurant
Ledger Restaurant
#1 of 201 restaurants in Salem, USA
125 Washington St, Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Closed until 5PM
Duck breast
Duck Breast is a succulent poultry dish that is known for its rich, tender meat and crisp, savory skin. It's often pan-seared to render out the fat, which results in a crispy outer layer. The taste of duck breast is stronger and more robust than chicken or turkey, but less gamey than goose. It is usually served medium-rare, ensuring it remains tender and juicy.
Best duck breast in Orlando restaurants
During Salem's Haunted Happenings, Ledger Restaurant stands out as an exceptional place to dine. Housed in the historic and stately former Salem Savings Bank building, it provides an ambiance of the 19th-century establishment with the grandeur of the bank's vault, teller windows, and hardwood tabletops.
Here, Chef Daniel Gursha, a 2022 nominee for the James Beard “Best Chef Northeast” award, uses traditional techniques from the past to create dishes from scratch and cook them over a wood fire. The menu includes such mouthwatering options as flat iron steak with sweet onion purée, chimichurri, and mushrooms, wood-grilled half chicken with spicy broccolini, or smokedduck breast with huckleberries and chai parsnip purée. Pair this meal with a glass of wine, beer or a Halloween-themed cocktail like Living dead girl with blueberry-infused rum, cinnamon, and grapefruit or Devil’s walking stick with rum, apricot, and amaro.
2. Sleepy Hollow, New York
Image credit: Visit Sleepy Hollow Facebook page
Globally known from the famous book by Washington Irving, Sleepy Hollow is a small town nestled on the banks of the Hudson River. Popular throughout the year, the village becomes especially so during the Halloween season. Prepare to be swept away by the town's signature events, including the Great Jack O' Lantern Blaze, one of the Hudson Valley's most treasured and spine-tingling attractions featuring more than 7,000 illuminated pumpkins arranged in spectacular installations. The famed Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, the last resting place of Irving himself, is definitely worth a visit, especially in October, so book a tour in advance. The Old Dutch Church is another must-visit location, rumored to be haunted by the infamous Headless Horseman.
Take a look at the calendar of events on theVisit Sleepy Hollow website to plan your trip more effectively.
Bridge View Tavern
Bridge View Tavern
#1 of 18 pubs & bars in Sleepy Hollow, USA
226 Beekman Ave, Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA
Closed until 12PM
Burgers
Burgers are made with meat, cheese, tomatoes, onions, pickles and are seasoned with ketchup, mustard, or another sauce. The ingredients are placed between two halves of a bun. Typically, burgers are made with beef, but other types of meat, such as turkey, chicken, and salmon can be used as well.
Best burgers in Orlando restaurants
While in Sleepy Hollow, make sure to visit Bridge View Tavern for outstandingburgers and beer. This friendly street pub offers a cozy and warm interior with a stunning view of the Hudson River and Tappan Zee. Additionally, you can have a seat in their lovely beer garden adorned with Halloween decorations.
The place is renowned for their array of microbrews and over 20 options on tap. It offers a rotating lineup of American craft beers available on draught and in cans from Portland, Burlington, Buffalo, and Freeport. The menu ranges from traditional comfort foods and pub fare to southern delights. Go for their burgers with elk, wild boar, bison, grilled chicken, or beef or simply order their signature Smokehouse prime beef burger with smoked bacon, BBQ sauce, melted aged Vermont cheddar, and caramelized onions.
3. Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden, IL
As the spookiest day of the year approaches, Chicago is gearing up to make your Halloween unforgettable. One of the most enchanting places to be in the city on 31st October is the Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-Lanterns held at Chicago Botanic Garden.
This festive celebration of art and light is known for showcasing over a thousand of professionally hand-carved pumpkins. More than just traditional jack-o'-lantern faces, these candlelit creations display intricate landscapes, elaborate geometric designs, and stunning lifelike portraits.
The scarecrow trail, live entertainment, and seasonal treats provide an immersive experience. Enjoy sweet cider and delicious autumnal snacks and desserts, add more spooky fun with the costume contests, and don't miss out on the magic shows and storytelling sessions.
Read more details here.
Morton's The Steakhouse
Morton's The Steakhouse
#121 of 2007 steak restaurants in Chicago, USA
699 Skokie Blvd, Northbrook, Illinois, USA
Closed until 5PM
Ribeye
The ribeye is one of the most well-known types of steaks around the globe. Ribeye steaks are taken from the upper rib cage area, particularly near the neck part, which is lightly worked and has excellent fat marbling running through the meat. When cooked, the fat marbling melts and renders into the steak, which gives extra beefy flavor and a juicy, moist, and tender texture.
Best ribeye in Orlando restaurants
Just a broomstick's ride away from the Chicago Botanic Garden, Morton's The Steakhouse is the perfect place to have a good steak or relish on exquisite seafood. Boasting an enchantingly elegant interior, the spot is steeped in old-world charm.
The menu sets the standards for fine dining, featuring USDA Prime-Aged Beef, characterized by exceptional marbling and tenderness, skillfully crafted into a range of truly delicious steaks, like Wagyu filet, dry-aged New York strip, or Tomahawk ribeye. The choice of delightful seafood options includes miso-marinated sea bass, cold-water lobster tail, and Ora King salmon. To complement your meal, the steakhouse presents a selection of delicate wines, domestic and imported beers, and cocktails. End on a spellbound sweet note with Morton’s legendary hot chocolate cake, key lime pie, or brûléed strawberry cheesecake.
4. Krewe of BOO! in New Orleans, Louisiana
Image credit: Krewe of Boo website
Known for its vibrant Halloween parade, Krewe of Boo in New Orleans embodies the spirit of the night of October 31. Every year, floats constructed from paper-mâché or fiberglass, each displaying a work of art in itself, wind through the city streets, keeping attendees in awe and anticipation. Additionally, don't be surprised if you're showered with Halloween-themed "throws", which can be kid’s toys, magnets, or candies - this is a beloved Krewe tradition! What sets the festival apart is its eco-friendliness as all these goodies are made out of locally-sourced materials to minimize the environmental impact.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of attending the Krewe of Boo in 2024 is the chance to interact with the unique characters, both on the floats and within the crowd. Ghouls, ghosts, witches, and everything in between, all portray a blend of New Orleans' cultural history and the spooky traditions of Halloween.
Check out the route and other details here.
The Italian Barrel
The Italian Barrel
#43 of 600 Italian restaurants in New Orleans, USA
1240 Decatur St, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Closed until 11AM
Lasagna
This traditional Italian dish comes from Bologna and it seems the oldest type of pasta. Lasagna is stacked layers of wide and flat pasta and a variety of other ingredients, including sauce, vegetables, cheese, meat, etc. The word 'lasagna' refers to a pot where this dish was cooked.
Best lasagna in Orlando restaurants
Ensure you're fueled for all the fun at Krewe of Boo by dining at The Italian Barrel. It's conveniently located just a block from Esplanade Avenue, near the parade's starting point.
The restaurant exudes the charm of Northern Italy, reflected in its intimate, warmly lit interior. The culinary prowess of Chef Samantha Castagnetti, native of Verona, is the soul of the spot, where she offers authentic dishes from her childhood.
Amidst the hum of ghoulish festivities, savor Mediterranean classics such as lasagna, chicken parmigiana, sea bass alla Fiorentina, penne alla Arrabbiata, or gnocchi coated in dolce Gorgonzola sauce paired with your favorite bottle of wine. Sweet lovers can treat themselves to Italian delicacies such as gelato made with lemons from Sicily or chocolate profiteroles.
5. Howl-O-Scream at SeaWorld Orlando, Florida
Having been voted as the Best Theme Park Halloween Event in the Nation for 2023, Howl-O-Scream is undoubtedly one of the best spots to create spine-chilling memories on October 31. Firstly, this year, it is celebrating its 25th anniversary, which is expected to be wilder and creepier than ever before.
One of the main attractions is the haunted houses, each with its own theme, leaving you quaking at every corner. The Scare zones are another special feature of Howl-O-Scream. These are places where nightmarish creatures lurk unexpectedly, ready to give you a good scare. Aside from all the spooky activities, Howl-O-Scream 2024 will also have the park's traditional thrilling rides and roller coasters available at night. A signature event of the park during Howl-o-Scream is the Fiends Show, where the hilariously scary Dr. Freakenstein hosts a monster ball with dance and music.
Buy ticket here.
Thai Thani
Thai Thani Thai Restaurant
#56 of 7324 restaurants in Orlando, USA
11025 International Dr, Orlando, Florida, USA
Closed until 11:30AM
Pad thai
Pad Thai literally means fried in Thai style noodles. In a plate with patch, the whole harmony of Thai cuisine is concluded - a balanced combination of four main flavours: sour (vinegar, lime), spicy (chilli), sweet (sugar) and salted (salt, soy or fish sauce). In Thailand, depending on the province, the recipe will change, but fresh herbs, spices and, of course, rice noodles remain unchanged.
Best pad thai in Orlando restaurants
Have a filling meal at Thai Thani, conveniently located near SeaWorld Orlando, before immersing yourself in the exciting Howl-O-Scream event. The quiet setting, adorned with hand-carved tables, imported antiques, and an ambiance of tropical plants, provides a perfect backdrop for the authentic Thai cuisine served here.
The menu offers quintessential pad Thai, curry fried rice, and Thai noodle soup, each dish teeming with a distinct mix of sweet, sour, hot, salty, and neutral flavors. You can’t go wrong with the well-loved fried rice combination, a house specialty prepared with a variety of meats and Thai spices. Completing the palatable journey are the desserts: deep-fried slices of banana wrapped in pastry skin, sticky rice with mango, or green tea ice cream.
With the above exciting US Halloween hotspots in mind, add more thrill to your spooky season with our other guide, providing a spirited exploration of the City of Angels' eeriest places!
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