[CrypticCuriosity]

2018 October on the East coast - Advice, please!

So, I'm from Colorado and I've never spent Halloween outside of the state before. This year, I decided I'm going to spend Halloween with my boyfriend, who lives in Brooklyn.

I've done some searches, but I'd like to hear from locals and people familiar with the area on what are some fun things to do in October? I definitely want to take a trip to Sleepy Hollow, we can rent a car at any point so I'm not against driving out of the city to nearby states (we actually do travel to NJ and Connecticut often while I'm out there)

Scenic drives, haunted houses, spooky historical stuff, and things that are uniquely East coast/NYC are what I'm getting at. Any tips?

 

[Kdestra]

Salem Massachusetts is not a far drive from NYC. If you go through Connecticut you can stop at several Puritan grave yards along the way.
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/30/...g-abandoned-cemeteries-and-grave-markers.html

 

[Kdestra]

I forgot to mention you can take a train to Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow from NYC.

 

[wickedwillingwench]

salem is about 4 hours from NYC if you don't hit traffic.
Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence has a great pumpkin glow.

 

[CrypticCuriosity]

Salem Massachusetts is not a far drive from NYC. If you go through Connecticut you can stop at several Puritan grave yards along the way.
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/30/...g-abandoned-cemeteries-and-grave-markers.html

Ah yes, of course! 4 hours would be an easy drive (plus, I'm assuming all the trees in Connecticut look amazing that time of year?)

And I didn't consider all the old graveyards. I'll definitely do some research into that, thank you for the tip!

 

[CrypticCuriosity]

Salem Massachusetts is not a far drive from NYC. If you go through Connecticut you can stop at several Puritan grave yards along the way.
https://www.nytimes.com/2000/04/30/...g-abandoned-cemeteries-and-grave-markers.html

Ah yes, of course! 4 hours would be an easy drive (plus, I'm assuming all the trees in Connecticut look amazing that time of year?)

And I didn't consider all the old graveyards. I'll definitely do some research into that, thank you for the tip!

 

[VenomStorm]

You also have Haunted Overload in southern New Hampshire. I havent been able to go yet, but from what Ive seen and heard, it is one of the best haunts around. The guy who runs it is a true believer and really knows his stuff when it comes to creating real atmosphere and not just relying on jump scares. Its out on this huge farm, so the scenery is fantastic. I need to take a weekend and drive up there to experience this place.

http://hauntedoverload.com/base.htm

 

[dbruner]

Last year when I was in NYC in October we took a train about a half hour outside the city to Hudson Valley for the Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor. It was AWESOME!! Thousands of carved pumpkins in all kinds of shapes. Nothing I can say will do it justice. Google hudsonvalley.org for info and pics.

 

[wickedwillingwench]

Ah yes, of course! 4 hours would be an easy drive (plus, I'm assuming all the trees in Connecticut look amazing that time of year?)

And I didn't consider all the old graveyards. I'll definitely do some research into that, thank you for the tip!

the foliage will most likely be completely gone...well, maybe not completely. It's just starting to turn here in Maine so CT will be few weeks behind us.

lots of the events in Tarrytown will be sold out, also. THey sell out quick...IIWY, I'd look online today to see if there's anything available. We did Jay Ghoul's murder mystery a couple years ago. That was cute. Tidbit: the mansion is the same used for outside shots of Collinwood in the old tv series.
http://visitsleepyhollow.com/halloween-in-sleepy-hollow/

 

[Kdestra]

Don’t forget http://halloween-nyc.com

 

[CrypticCuriosity]

the foliage will most likely be completely gone...well, maybe not completely. It's just starting to turn here in Maine so CT will be few weeks behind us.

lots of the events in Tarrytown will be sold out, also. THey sell out quick...IIWY, I'd look online today to see if there's anything available. We did Jay Ghoul's murder mystery a couple years ago. That was cute. Tidbit: the mansion is the same used for outside shots of Collinwood in the old tv series.
http://visitsleepyhollow.com/halloween-in-sleepy-hollow/

Yeah, I figured big events would be crowded (as is most things in NY) so I wanted to keep it lowkey. Luckily I'm off on weekdays so I might try to grab an event during a less-busy time.

And it sounds like the foliage is just like here in Colorado, in that it doesn't last long. Hopefully I can catch a little bit before it all falls off.

 

[GraveyardQueen]

Hi! Also from Colorado, but have been in nyc for 10 years! NYC should have leaves in full force while you're here!

So I LIVE for October in NY.

I recommend the Great Pumpkin Blaze. Tickets for weekdays may still be doable. Actually all of the sleepy hollow stuff is fun. The graveyard tour in Tarrytown is also a great historic event...Greenwood Cemetary in Brooklyn also has lovely events.

My top recommendation is Cold Spring. You can take Metro-North out and there's several great hikes walking distance. If you want a more challenging climb. I recommend Breakneck, but if you want something easier going there are trailed just out of town that are to die for and that have super spooky ruins.
I'm also in love with the town. Just a tiny main street but there's cute antique stores and restaurants and they have two BnBs (though I have yet to stay in either). This is Real (Nightmare New York) is also testing a new haunt out there that seems super cool. I've done some of thei haunts in the past and for sure recommend them.

In the city we also have a bunch of on theme bars. Jekyll and Hyde and Beetlebar are too of the bigger ones, but there's also The Slaughtered Lamb and Ichabod's. I'm sure there's also fun ones in brooklyn.

Morris Jumel house sometimes does ghost tours.


Also not halloween but for good fall leaves in the city hit up the cloisters in Ft. Tryon park.


Feel free to reach out to me if you want more details about any of these places.

 

[lilibat]

My husband and I are thinking about moving up to the north east. Want to get out of the swampy hot south and I know there is a lot of great Halloween stuff up there.

 

[CrypticCuriosity]

Hi! Also from Colorado, but have been in nyc for 10 years! NYC should have leaves in full force while you're here!

So I LIVE for October in NY.

I recommend the Great Pumpkin Blaze. Tickets for weekdays may still be doable. Actually all of the sleepy hollow stuff is fun. The graveyard tour in Tarrytown is also a great historic event...Greenwood Cemetary in Brooklyn also has lovely events.

My top recommendation is Cold Spring. You can take Metro-North out and there's several great hikes walking distance. If you want a more challenging climb. I recommend Breakneck, but if you want something easier going there are trailed just out of town that are to die for and that have super spooky ruins.
I'm also in love with the town. Just a tiny main street but there's cute antique stores and restaurants and they have two BnBs (though I have yet to stay in either). This is Real (Nightmare New York) is also testing a new haunt out there that seems super cool. I've done some of thei haunts in the past and for sure recommend them.

In the city we also have a bunch of on theme bars. Jekyll and Hyde and Beetlebar are too of the bigger ones, but there's also The Slaughtered Lamb and Ichabod's. I'm sure there's also fun ones in brooklyn.

Morris Jumel house sometimes does ghost tours.


Also not halloween but for good fall leaves in the city hit up the cloisters in Ft. Tryon park.


Feel free to reach out to me if you want more details about any of these places.

Thank you for all the tips! I do love a good hike (typical Coloradan, haha) so I'll have to look into those, might have to pick the easy ones for my city-slicker boyfriend but the town sounds great, too.

I actually pass Greenwood a lot when I'm there, his mother is buried there and we haven't gotten a chance to visit while I've been there, so we'll definitely make it a priority this time ( for that, and also because it looks like a beautiful place all the times I've been by)

All of the great feedback is making me super excited for October