Search Results for: blog get ready for the carnival of carnage

Where You Can Chuck A Pumpkin Without Getting Arrested

Tis the season to chuck pumpkins. Unfamiliar with the sport? I was too until I saw an episode of Food Network’s All-American Festivals that spotlighted the wonders of pumpkins. For all you pumpkin-loving people who thought the orange fruit was only good for pies, breads, and to decorate your porch during the month of October—-think again. Each year thousands travel to various parts of the country to watch grown men (and in some cases women and small children) hurl the popular autumn fruit into the sky at speeds that exceed 300 mph using a 30,000-pound cannon. It’s called pumpkin chucking … Continue reading →

Get Ready For The “Carnival of Carnage”

It’s that time of year again… Madness, mayhem and horror are being unleashed at Universal Orlando Resort’s Halloween Horror Nights. Billed as the largest, most intense Halloween event in the country, the annual seasonal celebration is expected to draw record crowds this year. A warning to parents with young children the event is not for the faint of heart (or the child that experiences regular nightmares). However, if you have teens that enjoy having the Halloween stuffing scared out of them then pack your bags now. Universal says this year Halloween Horror Nights is the most extreme, fear-filled event in … Continue reading →

Scream-o-ween Attractions

I parent a young child, who is petrified of all things related to Halloween, save for the candy. However, I realize there are some kids, who not only embrace the bloody zombies and grotesque gargoyles that haunt the holiday, but actively seek them out. If your child loves to get his scare on this time of year, then consider the following spooktacular events: SCREAMS HALLOWEEN THEME PARK Waxahachie, Texas is home to what is billed as “The World’s Largest Halloween Theme Park.” The Dallas-area park is open through October 31st and boasts five haunted attractions including the Maze of the … Continue reading →

Kid-Friendly Halloween Happenings

My 5-year-old’s favorite theme park is Six Flags Great America. However, she won’t go near the place this time of year. Her fear of all-things ghoulish makes the amusement park’s popular Fright Fest off limits during the weeks leading up to Halloween. Fortunately, there are several scare-less Halloween events taking place through October at other parks around the nation. Some kid-friendly favorites include: HallowBoo at Idlewild in Ligonier, Pennsylvania is perfect for your littlest ghosts and goblins. The theme park’s Halloween events include trick-or-treating through Storybook Forest and meeting Ricky Raccoon and other characters. There are also Halloween-themed rides and … Continue reading →

Naturally Spooky Travel Destinations

Haunted houses with crazed ghouls chasing you with bloodied limbs is great for teens and adults, but if you are traveling with young children, then you might want to keep the Halloween chills and thrills to a minimum. Fortunately, there are a myriad of naturally semi-spooky Halloween-related options available for parents with youngsters. The following attractions skip the fake blood and haunted howls, and rely on nature to amuse visitors: TEXAS Kids love exploring Austin’s Bat Colony during the month of October. That’s when the world’s largest urban bat colony preps for Halloween. Mexican free-tail bats emerge in downtown Austin … Continue reading →

Halloween Travel: Super Spooky Sites

Saturday is Sweetest Day, so why not take advantage of the holiday by giving your love a squeeze at a spooky Halloween event? After all, nothing says amore like a Halloween Frightfest filled with thrills and chills, that’ll have your sweetie running to snuggle in your arms. The following spooktacular travel sites are waiting for fresh blood this weekend: It may look like Dracula’s castle, but the former Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield is far creepier. The popular haunted house boasts more than 50 demons and devils breaking out of rusted cells along with big-budget special effects, elaborate sets, and … Continue reading →

Where To Have a Haunted Halloween

It’s that time of the year again. Time to get your scream on at amusement parks nationwide. According to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions, 81 percent of amusement parks are hosting Halloween or fall-themed events this year. Thrill-seekers can partake in a variety of hair-raising events from haunted houses complete with bloody zombies and three-eyed monsters to corn mazes featuring ax-wielding madmen. Here’s a list of some of the most spooktacular Halloween events taking place this month: “Hall of Terror” and “Haunted River Ride” at Adventure Landing in Jacksonville Beach, Florida “Howl-O-Scream” at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay, … Continue reading →

Seven Things Haunted Houses Can Teach You about Your Spouse

Do you and your significant other like to go to haunted houses? Once upon a time I thought that’d be a fun couple activity for Wayne and I to enjoy. (See Date Night at a Haunted House is Supposed to Be Fun, Right? and Halloween Horror Nights: Can Your Marriage Survive It? to see I was wrong about that.) Maybe you’ve never ventured into such territory with your mate. If you’re looking for a way to learn more about your husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, consider going. There’s a lot you can learn about them, yourself, and your relationship … Continue reading →

Fifty Greatest Soundtracks

I have often thought about the question “If you were stranded on a deserted island and could take only one compact disc with you, which one would it be?” I mean, I love music so if I could only have one CD, this would be an important decision. The other day, I caught a bit of the movie Purple Rain on VH1 and thought, “That would be a great CD to take if I could only take one.” I have always loved the soundtrack, having bought it when tapes were still popular. I ended up actually wearing that one out, … Continue reading →

Answer: Sweaty Pumpkins and Sandy Kids

Question: What do you get when you take a family trip to the pumpkin patch on a sunny and muggy 88-degree day? No, we weren’t in Hawaii visiting my parents. (F.Y.I. There is only one pumpkin patch in the entire state of Hawaii and it’s not located on the island my parents reside.) We were picking pumpkins in Wisconsin. You know, the place where temps this time of year hover around 50 degrees. It was a record breaking warm day and a picking adventure I won’t soon forget. (Sound familiar?) Rather than regal you with a litany of anecdotes about … Continue reading →