Haunted Houses, Horror Nights, and Scary Farms for Los Angeles Teens Who Like a Good Scare

The entrance to Midnight Falls at the world-famous Los Angeles Haunted Hayride. Photo courtesy of the Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group

Did someone say Haunted House? What goes on at theme parks in Los Angeles for Halloween is nothing like the wholesome thrill of a Tigger-clad child ringing doorbells for candy. It may seem like Los Angeles celebrates a night that's all about children with an awful lot of entertainment that is clearly not for children, but these frightful haunts, houses, and hayrides keep the Halloween fun going for older kids and teens. How to know which haunts are best for which ages? We've braved a few of them to share our reviews of just how scary is scary.

Looking for something not quite so scary, and a good deal cheaper? Check out the coolest free haunted houses and Halloween decorations in Los Angeles. And for perfectly tame Halloween activities for younger kids, we rounded up the best not-so-scary Halloween events for Los Angeles preschoolers. You'll find all this spooky fun, and more, in our Halloween Fun and Activities Guide for Los Angeles Kids.

Legoland Florida’s Brick-or-Treat: Building Halloween Fun Brick by Brick

Pose with a favorite Lego character or a Lego zombie cheerleader!

Legoland Florida was built for kids, so there’s no question that Legoland’s Brick-or-Treat is an ideal fall outing for families. This year’s Brick-or-Treat theme is Monster Party, and plenty of Lego monsters are on site to party with guests! I visited the theme park with my 4-year-old and 9-year-old, and we all had a great time. Guests can trick-or-treat through the park, enjoy special themed shows and activities, partake in a costume parade, and more. The best part? All activities are included with regular park admission, so no separate ticket is needed!

For more Halloween fun around Central Florida, check out our  Mommy Poppins Orlando Halloween Guide.

Haunted Houses and Hayrides near Philly for Kids: From Simply Spooky to Super Scary

Take a hayride through the woods at Shady Brook Farm's Eerie Illuminations. Photo courtesy of the farms

Easily spooked or barely fazed, we all have our own personal threshold when it comes to Halloween fright. Everything from friendly ghosts to outright gore await visitors at these local haunted house stops, from scary staples like Eastern State Penitentiary to new haunts on the block like Lincoln Mill Haunted House. Be sure to read descriptions on facility websites to see if a stop is right for your family. 

Kids need more treats than super scary tricks? Visit our Guide to Halloween in Philly to find something for everyone or browse our top 50 Halloween events in Philly for more ways to get some mileage out of those costumes.

Las Vegas, Nevada: 50 Awesome Things To Do in Vegas with Kids

Take a spin around the lazy river at Mandalay Bay.

"Kid-friendly" is probably not the first word that comes to mind when you think of Las Vegas, but America's playground for adults is increasingly becoming a popular family vacation destination. While there are plenty of casinos and other grown-up activities on the Strip, there are also many fun things to do in Vegas with kids, including parks, museums, shows, and memorable restaurants. Many Las Vegas hotels also offer amenities specifically geared for children.

My kids and I had a blast on a recent trip to Sin City, and my youngest is already asking when we can go back. Here are 50 of the best things to do in Vegas with kids, including delicious restaurants and kid-friendly hotels in Las Vegas. You'll see why Las Vegas made our list of the 30 best warm and sunny family vacation ideas! Check out our Family Travel Guide for more great options for your family's next trip.

10 Spectacular Places to View Fall Foliage in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Rockefeller State Park Preserve offers a rainbow of fall foliage to take in during the autumn.

The transformation that takes place during the fall foliage season in Westchester and the Hudson Valley is truly magical. Westchester and the Hudson Valley provide countless stunning backdrops to enjoy the autumn leaves and scenery, whether you want to drive right up to a scenic foliage spot or go for a walk in the woods.

Read on for our top 10 favorite fall foliage spots in Westchester and the Hudson Valley.

And be sure to check out our rundowns on the many lovely destination parks in the area and the best spots for hiking. Our Fall Fun Guide for Westchester Kids also has plenty more ideas for seasonal fun. 

Halloween Drive-thrus in the Tri-State Area: Pumpkins, Lights, and Haunted Scenes for 2022

Enjoy an elaborate display of intricate, creative hand-carved, and lit pumpkins at Wagner Farm Arboretum's Brite Nites attraction.

With Halloween on the horizon, we’re ready to load up the car and visit a Halloween drive-thru in the tri-state area. Ranging from sweet to spooky, visiting one of these Halloween dive-thru light shows in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut makes for a fun night out that's a bit different from the usual spooky celebrations.

So, don your costumes and hop in the car to visit one of these Halloween drive-thrus nearby. There are plenty of options for ghosts and goblins big and little, from drive-thru jack-o'-lantern displays to truly haunting scenes. We've got more seasonal picks in our Guide to Halloween Fun for Families.

Best Fall Theater in NYC for Kids: 21 Showstoppers for Families

Red Riding Hood: The Musical comes to the stage at at Merkin Hall via the 92NY's Theater for Young Audiences performance series. Photos courtesy of 92NY.

Here's something deserving of applause: This is the first jam-packed NYC season of fall theater in NYC for kids since 2019! Even better, you don't need to shell out big bucks on Broadway to give your kids a memorable live entertainment experience. In fact, this fall theater season boasts more high-quality, family-friendly productions for young audiences than ever—so many in fact, we have a whopping 21 picks on this list of the best fall theater in NYC for kids, and that's after whittling down the contenders.

Preschoolers will be thrilled to see Disney doggy Bluey and fuzzy Sesame Street stars live on stage. Older kids can check out page-to-stage adaptations of The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and The Three Musketeers. Plus everyone in your family can enjoy the circus spectacles coming to town, including Big Apple Circus, Bindlestiff Calvacade of Youth, and Circus Vazquez. Best of all, many of our picks are $25 or less per ticket. Read on for our top picks for fall theater in NYC for kids and bookmark our NYC Guide to Children's Theater and Shows for more top picks and reviews.

20 Kid-Friendly Pumpkin Recipes for Fall and All Year Long

Pumpkin adds some sweetness to pancakes. Photo courtesy of Inspired Taste

Everyone loves a great pumpkin bread recipe, but pumpkin consumption shouldn't begin and end there—there are loads of tasty pumpkin recipes for every meal of the day. Although pumpkin is often found in rich desserts, it’s actually full of important nutrients for kids. Pumpkin is packed with iron, potassium, fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C, and is made up of 94% water, making it low in calories. From pumpkin muffins to pumpkin pancakes, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite kid-friendly pumpkin recipes.

For more great recipes for children, visit our Guide To Easy Recipes for Kids, which includes fun fall recipes like these easy apple recipes and our favorite Halloween treats for kids.

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