There’s no denying that Halloween is THE BEST time of year. Any time to celebrate the creepy and kooky is my time to shine. Unfortunately, here in Australia, Halloween isn’t as widely celebrated with such visceral enthusiasm, but here are the top places in the US to lurk about as the moon rises this All Hallows Eve…

Salem

Haunted Happenings

Photo Credit: Jared Charney

What would a Halloween blog be without making mention of Salem?

The true history of this place is what makes it so unfathomably creepy regardless of the time of year, but Halloween is the time of Haunted Happenings, a festival celebrating everything spooky. Experience ghost tours, family film nights, costume balls and more throughout the month of October.

Photo Credit: John Andrews Photography

Chicago

Haunted Emporium III: House of the Dead

Photo Credit: Steve Kuzminski Photography

Following the other-worldly success of its Stranger Things pop-up earlier this year, Emporium Arcade has created House of the Dead, a horror film themed pop-up space with Halloween themed cocktails, a dance-floor and nightmarish décor.

Photo Credit: Steve Kuzminski Photography

Another major party in Chicago beyond the astral plane of doubt is the Haunted Hotel Bash at the Hard Rock Café. Don your most creative costume and you might be in the running to take out the Best Costume competition!

Not up to being the life of the party? Go pumpkin picking, get lost in the corn maze, or visit one of the many haunted houses!

Seattle

The Halloween Boat Party is totally not to be missed! Get your boogie on and tear up two dance-floors as you float along Lake Union and Lake Washington, with spectacular views of the city as darkness falls…

If you’re a Halloween obsessed history buff like me, you might also want to check out the Pier Pressure Titanic Masquerade – Seattle Halloween Yacht Party and spend the evening as doomed as Jack and Rose.

15th Annual “HAUNT” Ultimate Halloween Bash!

Fear the creatures of the deep, and floating’s not your thing? Head over to the EMP Museum and let your alter ego out for a night on the town for HAUNT – the Ultimate Halloween Bash.

Photo Credit: Alan Alabastro / Seattle Bash

You are invited to the biggest and longest running Halloween celebration in Seattle.

Party with 2,500 guests dressed in wild & elaborate costumes! Live music, DJ, go-go dancers, cocktails, Singles Game and a Monster Costume Contest (grand prize: $1,000!!). All at the world famous MoPOP in downtown Seattle. 21 & over, tickets start at $39. VIP options. All details at: www.HalloweenSeattle.com

Photo Credit: Alan Alabastro / Seattle Bash

Baltimore

If ravens and telltale hearts are your kind of thing, head on over to Baltimore and take the Edgar Allen Poe Walking Tour. It covers some particularly interesting landmarks, and you can even visit his grave if you fancy seeing his final resting place.

Los Angeles

Into the Black

Photo Credit: Into the Black/Bone Yard Effects, Inc.

Ready for the best (or scariest!) Halloween of your life? Take a trip to LA.

Bone Yard Effects have one of the mist scary haunted houses you can visit across the country this year. Aptly named Into the Black, this multi-faceted Halloween experience is not for the faint of heart! It begins with an online video and comes to a dismal end in an old Victorian house. Take on the challenge if you dare…

We all know LA is the place to party, and yet again, there are many balls and bashes to get your groove on and maybe meet the undead love of your life, but this Halloween, LA is the place to EAT.

So many restaurants, bakeries and cafes are ready to dish up all kinds of creepy crawlies on a plate., you’ll never be short if a midnight snack!

Tours4Fun reminds everyone that Halloween is a creative occasion. Please stay safe and responsible during the festivities! (Or Dracula may come for you…)