Horror isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but a spooky atmosphere has a way of bewitching even the jumpiest of scaredy cats. Perhaps it’s because Halloween season offers the best of both worlds: temperatures that are crisp, yet not too cold; sidewalks peppered with fallen leaves, yet trees still wearing their burnt hues; and festivities leading up to October 31, yet knowing even once it’s passed, there’s plenty of holiday fun still left ahead. A seasonal sweet spot, without a doubt. And because All Hallows’ Eve is positioned just prior to the months when holiday parties and family travel commandeer your calendar, it’s also an excellent time to plan a getaway.

Hallmarks of the best Halloween travel destinations usually entail a moody fall landscape, local legends that involve a tetchy ghost, vampire, or other variety of ominous being, and themed activities like pumpkin patches and cemetery tours. Toss in quintessential cravings like creamy butternut squash soup and locally produced apple cider, plus a lineup of elegant hotels where the only thing that’s scary is the prospect of having to leave, and—at the 10 destinations below—you have a frighteningly flawless fall trip.

New Orleans, Louisiana

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