Celebrate Halloween and Visit the Most Haunted Places

With Halloween only a week away, many of us love the fear factor of ghosts and spirits. Now you should plan a visit to some of the most haunted places.

Enjoy a memorable travel experience and stay, eat and play at bone-chilling haunted destinations. We love scary movies but it’s one thing to sit in a safe theater and acting all tough and brave. It’s quite different to spend the night in a haunted hotel. Do you dare try?

There are some terrific travel deals this year for the spooky Halloween weekend. Each year, more people want to experience a haunted experience. The thrill of terror draws many to face their fears head on.

So take advantage of visit the most haunted places some holiday getaways this year. Here’s a Halloween travel list, courtesy of Gogobot, who is changing travel planning by utilizing its own personalized tribe-based approach.

Maybe you’ll get a Chance to take a selfie with the ghost of Marilyn Monroe, or famous house known for stairs that go nowhere. Can you handle visiting or even staying in any of the most haunted places?

Enjoy some of the most haunted places and spookiest Halloween destinations:

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel – Los Angeles, CA
The Hollywood Roosevelt is known for hosting many of LA’s most glamorous celebrities… both living and dead. Room 928 was where actor Montgomery Clift stayed while filming a movie in 1952, and where he still hangs his ghostly hat today. It’s also said Marilyn Monroe’s reflection can be seen in a mirror near the lower level elevator – perfect for an epic selfie if you can catch her in your shot.

The Drake – Chicago, IL
The “Woman in Red” is the ghost you should be on the lookout for at the Drake Hotel. According to legend, she ended her life here while attending a gala on New Year’s Eve 1920 after discovering her fiance in the arms of another woman. Her ghost is said to haunt all of the places she passed through that night: the Gold Coast Room where the gala was taking place, the Palm Court parlor where she discovered her fiance’s affair, and the roof from which she made her final jump.

Spaghetti Warehouse – Houston, TX
There’s no such thing as eating alone at the Spaghetti Warehouse. This restaurant is packed with both antiques (like eerie stained glass windows and a staircase from a European castle) and ghosts, including that of woman who who died of a “broken heart” after her husband fell to his death down an elevator shaft on the property, as well as a man who is said to pace a downstairs bathroom. If the stories are true, you may even feel a ghost tapping you on the shoulder while you dine – sit upstairs for a better chance of finding a spectral dinner date.

Peyton Randolph House – Williamsburg, VA
There have been over 30 mysterious and unfortunate deaths in this historic Colonial Williamsburg home since it was first constructed in the late 1700s, which means there are lots of angry ghosts hanging around waiting to totally creep out visitors.

Don Vicente de Ybor Historic Inn – Tampa, FL
Before it became a hotel in 1980, Tampa’s boutique Don Vincente Inn was a hospital for nearly a century. That means hundreds of people died on the site, many of whom have stuck around in spirit form. We hear room 305 is a favorite for the long-departed.

The Horton Grand Hotel – San Diego, CA
The Horton Grand is actually comprised of two former buildings that were once located in different parts of town, dismantled, and rebuilt as one hotel on the current site in the 1980s. The ghostly inhabitants include the (purportedly) friendly Ida Bailey, the owner of a brothel that once occupied the site, and Roger Whitaker, the ghost of room 309, who was reportedly shot – either by the father of his lover or by a creditor who had bankrolled his gambling habit – and killed in room 309 of one of the old buildings, and simply moved to the new location with the rest of the bricks and furniture.

Winchester Mystery House – San Jose, CA
See that stairway that leads to the ceiling? Or that door that opens onto a wall? The Winchester Mystery House is the product of the paranoia suffered by the widow of the inventor of the Winchester rifle. She feared the ghosts of those killed by the rifle would haunt her, so her building plan was designed to both appease and confuse these spirits. Visitors still report strange hauntings – we’d suggest hiding in the room with hidden doors to escape any ghosts you may encounter.

Lafayette Square – Washington, D.C.
Ghosts don’t appear exclusively in eerie spaces – some prefer to take in a little fresh air. It’s said President Andrew Jackson still takes up residence at the White House. When the mood strikes, he likes to get outdoors to take strolls through this park across the street.

Hotel Indigo San Antonio At The Alamo – San Antonio, TX
Located across from the Alamo, it should come as no surprise that the Hotel Indigo has some haunted history. The basement, where conference rooms and the gym are now located, was where a number of Alamo-era cannons were found during construction. In addition, it’s where, it is said, many ghosts still lurk.

Granary Burying Ground – Boston, MA
If you want to find ghosts, heading to a cemetery is a no-brainer. But with the number of burying grounds in Boston, you can afford to be picky. The Granary has been collecting bodies and their lost souls for nearly four centuries. Therefore if you’ve ever dreamed of “meeting” some of the most important figures in American history – from John Hancock and Samuel Adams to Paul Revere and his horse – this is the spot to come.

1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa – Eureka Springs, AR
This creepy building has been, at times, a resort for the rich and famous. Also a college, a hospital run by Norman Baker, a man named with no medical training, and, since the 1990s, a hotel. The ghosts at the self-proclaimed “Most Haunted Hotel” in America include a man who died during the building’s construction. This cancer patient roams the halls looking for her room key, two men in top hats, and a cat. You might also find yourself face to (ghostly) face with Baker himself. Plus, it’s probably best not to ask him for medical advice.

Restaurant 1833 – Monterey, CA
The building that now houses one of Monterey’s best restaurants was once the home of James Stokes. He  was a doctor who accidentally caused the death of a California governor because of a misdiagnosis.  As an investigation would later reveal, he turned out to not really be a doctor at all. Perhaps because of some unfinished business left on earth, or because of the new restaurant’s stellar food and apothecary-themed bar menu (inspired by the mad “doctor” himself). Finally,  Stokes never quite managed to leave his former residence and is available for consultations from beyond the grave.

Are you ready to celebrate Halloween and visit some of the most haunted places? The Life of Luxury can help you plan out and book your travel itinerary. Come back again to read about the best luxury travel destinations by following this luxury blog.

Photo: The Drake




Delicious Halloween Cocktails for Your Social Gathering

The today has finally arrived. Halloween is here. Before you know it, kids of all ages will be knocking on your door asking “Trick or Treat”? If you are hosting a Halloween party, be sure to offer your guests delicious tasting Halloween Cocktails.

Halloween is such a fun holiday. For many it’s the best one of the entire year. Great tasting Halloween cocktails are a sure way to have a successful party or social gathering.

It’s a night of ghosts, goblins and scary things that go bump in the dark. Gather round a carved pumpkin and big bowl of candy. Toast this awesome and creative Halloween holiday with delicious Halloween cocktails. Boo!

We are happy to share several cocktail recipes to try out tonight or anytime. These are available from Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Cruzan Rum, Knob Creek Bourbon and Baker’s Bourbon.

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The Basil Hayden’s Spellbound Smash
A unique twist on the classic Whiskey Smash cocktail. With the addition of fresh blackberries and orange bitters, the dark red color of this cocktail makes it a perfect spooky sipper for the occasion.

Basil Hayden’s® Spellbound Smash (photo above)
Recipe by Stephen Cole (Chicago, IL)

INGREDIENTS:
2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
¾ part Demerara Syrup*
2 dashes Angostura® Bitters
2 dashes Orange Bitters
Half of a Lemon
5 Fresh Blackberries
3 Sage Leaves (2 for garnish)
1 sprig of Thyme (for garnish)

METHOD:
1. Place half of a lemon and the blackberries into a cocktail shaker and lightly press with the back of a bar spoon.
2. Add remaining ingredients, including one sage leaf, to cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously.
3. Strain into a rocks glass over ice.
4. Garnish with remaining two sage leaves and a sprig of thyme.

*Demerara Syrup can be purchased, or homemade by combining a 1:1 ratio of Demerara sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves.

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Cruzan Dark as Night
If you’re more of a rum fan, the Cruzan Dark as Night is a sweet treat that combines the sweet, smooth flavor of Cruzan Black Strap Rum with the refreshingly crisp taste of cider.

Cruzan® Dark as Night
INGREDIENTS:
1 part Cruzan® Black Strap Rum
1/4 part Falernum Syrup
1/2 part Fresh Lime Juice
6 parts Cider

METHOD:
1. Combine Black Strap, falernum syrup and fresh lime juice in a mixing glass.
2. Pour cider into a rocks glass and slowly float mixture over top of the cider.
3. Finish with fresh grated nutmeg and a lime or orange peel.

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Knob Creek Rye & Orange Tumbler
Indulge in the big, full flavor of Knob Creek with the Knob Creek Rye & Orange Tumbler. Featuring ingredients that are already in your pantry, this cocktail is easy to make and brings the deliciously rich and savory notes of rye to life with a cocktail that offers smooth spice in every sip.

Knob Creek® Rye & Orange Tumbler
Recipe by Chef Michael Symon

INGREDIENTS:
1½ parts Knob Creek® Rye
1 part Club Soda
½ part Sugar
½ Orange
½ Rosemary Sprig

METHOD:
1. Muddle the orange, rosemary and sugar thoroughly in the bottom of a shaker.
2. Combine with Knob Creek® Rye, add ice and shake vigorously.
3. Strain over ice and float with club soda.

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The Baker’s Autumn Seelbach

Prefer a higher proof cocktail? The Baker’s Autumn Seelbach cocktail mixes fresh pressed apple cider, baked apple bitters and cinnamon, adding a sweet seasonal touch to the robust, 107-proof bourbon.

Baker’s® Autumn Seelbach
Recipe by Dominic Venegas (NYC)

INGREDIENTS:
1 part Baker’s® Bourbon
1/2 part JDK & Sons™ O3
1/2 part Fresh Pressed Apple Cider
5 dashes Baked Apple Bitters
5 dashes Tiki Bitters
Hard Cider

METHOD:
1. Combine Baker’s® Bourbon, JDK & Sons™ O3, fresh pressed apple cider, and bitters in a mixing glass over ice and stir.
2. Strain into a coupe glass and top with hard cider.
3. Garnish with a long apple twist.

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Make Halloween a fun night. It doesn’t matter is you are staying at home or out with friends. Be sure to try one of the above Halloween cocktails.

We hope you enjoyed the recipes we listed above for delicious Halloween cocktails. Come back again to read more in our luxury blog.




History of Halloween – Holiday for Both the Rich and Poor

Nobody is too old for Trick or Treat. Halloween is timeless and doesn’t matter whether you’re a two-year old or an adult. Ghosts, goblins and scary spirits. Do you really know how Halloween originated and the true history of Halloween?

The history of Halloween goes back much further than most people realize. The roots of this occasion run deep in Gaelic history. ”All Hallows Eve” (originated from the Pagan festival “Samhain”) was first celebrated among the Celts of Ireland and Great Britain.

The festival of Samhain was an important time of year. It marked the end of the harvest period and began the transition towards winter. At the time, people believed this time of year was actually a meeting point for the world of the living and the world of the dead.

Then spirits can make direct contact with the physical world. People would wear creative disguises and masks, thought to please or imitate the mischievous spirits.

The history of Halloween was nothing like it is today. Trick-or-treating is a modern take on this tradition, though originally children were asking for blessings rather than sweets and money!

As October 31st approaches, Halloween now symbolizes crazy costume parties, pumpkin picking, haunted houses, hay rides, horror films, festive pranks and a big jump in candy and pumpkin sales!  It’s a crazy time for all.

Well then… read on. We’ve scoured the scary streets, turned over every gravestone and found something for everybody to keep you busy this Halloween.

So before you grab your gruesome mask or sexy devil costume and head out for that Halloween party, read on! Here’s a list of the best festivals, popular parties, scary haunted houses and wicked horror flicks to scare the living heck out of you!

celebrate Halloween

Top Festivals/Parades:

1. New York’s Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
2. New Orleans Halloween Street Parade
3. Key West’s Fantasy Fest
4. West Hollywood’s Hall Street Festival
5. Chicago’s North Halsted Street Halloween Parade

Best Parties:
1. Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion
2. New York’s Masquerade Ball at Capital
3. Las Vegas’ “Vegoose” Party at Sam Boyd Stadium
4. DASK Procutions Masquerade and Costume Ball at Cinespace on Hollywood Blvd.
5. DC’s Halloween Monster Bash at Clarendon Ballroom

Scary Destinations:
1. Witch Museum at the House of 7 Gables – Salem, Massachusetts
2. Myrtles Plantation – Francisville, Louisianna
3. Haunted Bonaventure Cemetary – Savannah, Georgia
4. Bachelor’s Grove Cemetary – Chicago, Illinois
5. Viscilla Ax Murder House – Viscilla, Iowa

Haunted Houses:
1. Eastern State Penitentiary – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2. Queen Mary Shipwreck – Long Beach, California
3. 7 Floors of Hell – Cleveland, Ohio
4. Netherworld – Atlanta, Georgia
5. The Haunted Hotel – San Diego, California

Cult Horror Classics:
1. The Shining
2. The Exorcist
3. Psycho
4. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
5. Rosemary’s Baby

Source: JourneyPod

celebrate Halloween




Spooky Halloween Getaways

Halloween is a popular holiday for both kids and adults. It’s a time of creative Halloween costumes, haunted houses, candy and other sweets and frightening tales of ghosts and goblins.

Halloween is also a time for many people to take a trip and visit travel destinations that are associated with eerie and scary things. Halloween falls on a Friday this year so make it a ghoulish three-day weekend of frightening proportions.

Brian Ek is the Travel Editor of priceline.com and was quoted, “Travelers can attend a witch’s ball, join ghost hunters in paranormal stake-outs, take in a Hollywood-created haunted house, or march in New York’s world-famous Village Halloween Parade. Since October is still the ‘shoulder season’ in many places–the airfare, hotel and rental car deals make a Halloween getaway really attractive.”

Below are some great, spooky Halloween getaways that are sure to please ….

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New Orleans, LA
Ghosts, vampires, voodoo – take your pick, New Orleans has it all for Halloween. Stroll through the city’s famous cemeteries, visit a voodoo shop or take a vampire tour. But do not forget the memorable cuisine and Bourbon Street jazz.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1) $529/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 3.5 star Hotel Indigo in the Garden District.

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Long Beach, CA
The Queen Mary, long rumored to be crawling with ghosts, hosts Dark Harbor, one of the West Coast’s best haunted house-style events. For a different twist on Halloween, visit the Richard Goad Theater in Bixby Knolls for a recreation of Orson Welles’ famous Mars Attack broadcast.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1), $469/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 3.5 star Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

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Orlando, FL
Choices, choices. Older Halloween revelers can scare themselves silly at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, while the younger crowd will enjoy Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party over at Disneyworld.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1), $310/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 4-star Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in the Walt Disney World Resort.

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Salem, MA
Salem is a scary two-fer for Halloween lovers. Check out Boston’s old burying grounds, then make the short drive north to Salem, site of the infamous witch trials and home to the House of Seven Gables. If you are lucky, maybe score tickets to one of Salem’s legendary Halloween parties.

Vacation Package (Oct. 30-Nov 1) $269/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 4-star Seaport Boston Hotel.

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Tombstone, AZ
Dubbed “the town too tough to die,” Tombstone is a Western classic. In the infamous Bird Cage Theater, visitors can put their fingers in the bullet-scarred stage, examine the original “Black Maria” carriage hearse, and listen for ghostly laughter in the balcony above. Tombstone is also the site of the OK Corral gunfight and Boot Hill, with its many entertaining epitaphs.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1), $486/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York to Tucson and 2 nights at the 2.5 star Landmark Lookout Lodge.

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Savannah, GA
Savannah bills itself as the “spookiest little city in the South” with good reason. It is home to the Bonaventure Cemetery, featured in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and has plenty of haunted antebellum mansions to visit. Paranormal fans will especially like the tours where they can borrow and set up their own ghost-hunting gear in a haunted house.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1) $328/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 3-star River Street Inn.

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Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia is home to the now-closed Eastern State Penitentiary, an imposing Gothic-style structure that once held bank robber Willie Sutton and gangster Al Capone. Today, it hosts one of the country’s most celebrated – and scariest – haunted houses, full of ghouls, zombies and other scream-inducing creatures. A must for haunted house aficionados who want to test their mettle against one of the best.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1), $388/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 3-star Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center.

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Providence, RI
Roger Williams Park Zoo is home to the annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular, featuring over 5,000 carved and illuminated pumpkins. Do not forget to bring the camera.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 1) $476/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 2 nights at the 4-star Providence Biltmore Hotel.

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New York City
Come watch (or participate in) the 41st Village Halloween Parade, featuring over 50 bands and some of the wildest costumes ever witnessed on Halloween. Note: only costumed revelers can march in the parade. Or, for a milder Halloween, take the short drive over the Tappan Zee Bridge to the town of Sleepy Hollow for a reading of the tale of the Headless Horseman and a walk through the collection of over 5,000 carved and lit Jack-O-Lanterns.

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Oaxaca, Mexico
The time between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 is when Mexican families honor their dead ancestors with candlelight vigils, special meals, processions and more. It is one of the special times of the year to visit Oaxaca and partake in the many activities.

Vacation Package (Oct 30-Nov 2). $1,098/person. Includes roundtrip airfare from New York and 3 nights at the 4-star Quinta Real Oaxaca Hotel.
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If you are interested in traveling this Halloween, please contact The Life of Luxury. We can assist planning and booking your vacation. Read about other luxury travel destinations by following this luxury blog.




Haunted Tales From The Historic Hotels of America

Hotel Del Coronado
Courtesy of: Charlyn Keating Chisholm

As Halloween approaches and you begin to make your holiday season travel plans, do you really know the history of the hotel you are staying in?

Here are a few spooky, Halloween tales of famous haunted hotels in the United States.

Historic Hotels of America, part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has gathered dozens of ghostly accounts from its member properties around the country.

Below are six chilling stories from its archives. Fact or fiction? I suppose that depends on whom you ask. Do you believe in ghosts? Which haunted tales are true and do you have the courage to find out for yourself?

For details or bookings at any of these hotels, click the appropriate link below ….. if you dare.

Guests and employees of the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans have reported unusual activity at this French Quarter landmark. Some say they’ve come across the invisible “doorman” of Le Cafe, who likes to open and shut the restaurant’s doors, or the ghost called “Red,” a hotel engineer from years ago who still dutifully makes his rounds. One entity known as “Solemn John” is thought to be a Tennessee businessman who took his own life after losing money in a deal during the Great Depression — look for the dapper gentleman in a suit, circa the 1930s.

The Menger Hotel opened in 1859 next to the Alamo in San Antonio and is reported to have so many resident ghosts that it’s a wonder there’s any room left for the paying guests. Supposedly, at least 32 apparitions have been spotted here. Among them is chambermaid Sallie White, killed by her jealous husband in March 1876. The bill for her $32 funeral was paid by the Menger and recorded in the hotel ledger. She walks the halls in her late 19th-century housekeeping uniform, carrying towels that she never delivers. Then there’s Capt. Richard King, who enters his old suite through a spot in the wall — it’s where the door used to be during his time. One modern-day guest said he stepped out of the shower and found the figure of a man in a buckskin jacket and gray trousers standing next to the bed and talking to an unseen person. Perhaps he wandered over from the Alamo?

The Don CeSar Beach Resort near St. Petersburg, FL, has strange stories of its own. While studying in Europe in the 1890s, Thomas Rowe fell in love with a young woman named Lucinda, but eventually her disapproving parents quashed the relationship. He went on to build the Don CeSar, known for its distinctive pink facade, in 1925. In the lobby he placed a replica of the courtyard and fountain where he and Lucinda used to meet in Europe. The fountain is no longer there, but some report the sudden appearance of a dark-haired beauty and a man in a Panama hat, walking hand-in-hand and then fading away.

The art deco Georgian Hotel in seaside Santa Monica in Southern California housed a popular speakeasy toward the end of the Prohibition era. It attracted mobsters like Bugsy Siegel and Al Capone, as well as Hollywood folks like Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. Nowadays, the hotel gets attention for spirits of another kind, mainly in the hotel’s Speakeasy Restaurant, which is used for special events. Some have heard running footsteps and seen transparent figures. A chief engineer repairing a pipe said he felt an unseen visitor sit down beside him and then let out a deep sigh. Another employee often heard a disembodied voice offer a friendly “good morning” in the restaurant. This continued until the day the staffer decided to respond with the same greeting.

At the grand, seaside Hotel Del Coronado near San Diego, guests and staff have reported strange occurrences. A traveler who neatly placed his shoes and socks by his bed each night would awake to find them tossed across the room. In the gift shop, some say they have seen cocktail glasses fall off a shelf yet land upright and undamaged on the counter below. One of the most enduring supernatural legends is that of Kate Morgan, who is thought to have committed suicide on the property in 1892. Since then, witnesses have reported odd noises, eerie faces and the ghostly figure of a young woman in a black dress. Check into room 3327 for a possible encounter with Kate.

Henry Doherty was a minority shareholder in the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC, and in 1933 he moved into a suite of rooms here, living with his wife, daughter and the hotel’s executive housekeeper, who looked after the family. The daughter and housekeeper died suddenly and mysteriously, just a short time apart from each other. It’s said that after Mr. and Mrs. Doherty moved out in 1973, strange things started to occur at the hotel: TVs and lights would turn on at 4 a.m., housekeeping carts would move on their own and people reported feeling a breeze where there were no open windows or doors. One guest staying adjacent to the former Doherty suite complained of strange noises coming from next door, although the room was unoccupied. The Omni Shoreham has restored these accommodations and now calls it the “Ghost Suite.”




Halloween Bat Migration Experience in Zambia’s Kasanka National Park

Zambia Africa - annual bat migration
Zambia Bat Migration – African Travel, Inc.

Halloween can be a scary experience for many people with eerie tales of ghosts, demons and goblins.

Bats have long been associated with Halloween. How about an unforgettable experience viewing literally millions of bats? Well you can in the Kasanka National Park of Zambia, Africa.

Each year between October and December, around eight million fruit bats fill the skies of Zambia as arrive from the Congo to feed on the wild musuku fruits in Kasanka National Park.

Africa has long been a desired destination for all the incredible array of wildlife. Africa offers so much, such as the great migration in the Serengeti, tracking mountain gorillas in Parc National des Volcans in Rwanda, gliding silently along the Zambezi River viewing wildlife from a canoe, learning desert survival skills from a bushman in the Kalahari in Botswana or sipping champagne while watching the sun descend into the Atlantic from a private balcony in Cape Town.

This amazing annual bat spectacle event has been called the world’s largest mammal migration. The fruit bats arrive every year in massive numbers looking to settle in the Zambian fruit trees and cover the tree trunks like a thick blanket.

But once the sun sets, it’s time to take flight. The fruit bats fill the skies to go forage.

African Travel, Inc. has been in business since 1976 and has sent over 100,000 adventurers and safari guests on their dream Africa experience. The truly are safari specialists.

So it doesn’t matter if you want to experience bats in Zambia, wine tasting in Cape Town, hot air ballooning in Namibia, snorkeling in Mozambique, or a special family safari to amazing Kenya where you can feed the giraffes, African Travel, Inc. will help you create your ultimate dream vacation.

To learn more about the Zambia bat migration or to book a reservation, please contact us below:

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    It’s Now Haunt Season and the Spooky Halloween Industry Goes Big Time

    Halloween haunted house

    Haunted Attraction Association (HAA) was formed to align Halloween haunts and serve as the voice of the haunted attraction industry. HAA is the only official association in the haunt industry.

    How did HAA come about? With the growing popularity in visiting haunted attractions in the past 25 years, the haunt industry is now approximately $300 million in size with an estimated 2,500 haunted attractions worldwide that entertain millions and employ tens of thousands.

    The mission of HAA is to promote a network of haunted attractions including haunted houses, haunted hayrides, scream parks, mega-haunts, Halloween festivals, haunted outdoor trails, corn mazes and amusement park Halloween events.

    HAA is based in Winnetka, Illinois and was formed in 2010 between a merger of the International Association of Haunted Attractions that was founded in 1998 and the Haunted House Association, founded in 2009.

    Halloween Party at Playboy mansion

    Spokesperson: President Patrick Konopelski was quoted, “This industry is one of the most exciting places to be,” says Konopelski. “While it’s rise may have started with the increasing popularity of Halloween 20 to 25 years ago, there is now an entire extended Haunt Season, which starts in September and runs through November, that appeals to Baby Boomers and all ages.”

    HAA offers numerous programs that allows its worldwide network of members to freely exchange ideas, information, experiences and concerns via educational seminars, conferences, exclusive networking events, message boards, tradeshows, newsletters, magazines and more.

    In addition, the association advises the haunt industry on haunt safety standards to protect customers. HAA offers Certified Haunted Attraction Operator Seminar (C.H.A.O.S.) safety classes that provide a certification to establish haunts as a safe attraction.

    Halloween Las Vegas

    Long gone are the simplistic days of just black walls, Halloween spook masks and cheesy plastic knives. Each year haunted attraction owners and operators spend millions of dollars on state-of-the-art special effects and audio animatronic creatures, Hollywood-quality makeup and masks, costumes, lighting gear, sound equipment and more.

    Today, owners and operators are also influenced by video games and invest year-round in research, consulting experts and psychologists on how to create the best immersive, interactive experience.

    halloween pumpkin




    Celebrate a “Hogwarts Halloween” at Ashford Castle

    Celebrate a “Hogwarts Halloween” at Ashford Castle
    Ashford Castle – Hogwarts Halloween

    As summer winds down, before you know it Halloween will soon be here. If you are looking for an unforgettable Halloween experience, consider the amazing Ashford Castle.

    Historic Ashford Castle in Ireland, is hosting a “Hogwarts Halloween” celebration. It’s a place where Harry Potter’s magical world of witches and wizards will come to life.

    Ashford Castle dates back to 1228 and is located on 350 acres of County Mayo, on the shores of Lough Corrib and the River Cong in Ireland. Ashford Castle is surrounded by a spectacular backdrop of woodlands, lake, river and mountains.

    Ashford Castle offers a variety of secret rooms, hidden alcoves, and mystical surroundings of secluded woodlands that make Ireland’s Ashford Castle the perfect location for magicians in the making. After all, sorcery and magic at the historic castle date back 700 years. It will be anybody’s guess what may happen at the “Hogwarts Halloween” celebration.

    From October 28th through November 6th, there are two different “Hogwarts Halloween” packages to choose from:

    October 28, 30; November 1, 3, 5
    Noon – “Forbidden Forest” treasure hunt for entire family
    3pm – Visit to the hiding place of Dingle, Ashford Castle’s resident owl (supervised)
    4pm – Afternoon “Chamber of Art” painting class (supervised)
    5pm – 6:30pm: Kids’ dinner in the Ardilaun Suite (supervised)
    6:30pm – 9pm: Harry Potter movie evening (supervised)
    From 7pm – George V Table d’Hote dinner for Mom and Dad

    October 29, 31; November 2, 4, 6
    Noon – “Hidden Garden” treasure hunt for entire family
    3pm -”House Elves” cooking class (supervised)
    4pm-5pm – Afternoon “Chamber of Witchcraft & Wizardry” (supervised)
    5pm – 6pm – Kids’ dinner in the Ardilaun Suite (supervised)
    6:30pm – 9pm – Harry Potter movie evening (supervised)
    From 7pm – George V Table d’Hote dinner for Mom and Dad




    Experience London | October 2011

    London Halloween celebrations

    October in London will be month like no other. Enjoy a month of spine-chilling Halloween fun that will definitely be fun for the entire family.

    Historic London will offer many eerie attractions that are easy to reach using the London Sightseeing Pass (www.londonpass.com).

    The London Bridge Experience and The London Tombs is a two-part attraction which takes visitors back in time to meet some creepy medieval characters, then on to The London Tombs for a terrifying encounter with the undead.

    And as a special Halloween celebration the ZSL London Zoo will be transforming itself for ‘Boo at the Zoo’ with spooky stories and ghost walks to get you screaming in terror. ‘Boo at the Zoo’ will be taking place at ZSL London Zoo from Saturday 21 to Sunday 31.

    While the Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels, the famous fortress also has a macabre history as a place of torture. And, Hampton Court Palace was home to King Henry VIII, infamous for his six wives, two of which were sentenced to death by beheading. Enter their Tudor world and bring history lessons to life.

    The London Sightseeing Pass gives access to all these and more. With over 55 top London attractions to choose from you can take the family on a walking tour of British films and see the famous Platform 9 3/4 from the Harry Potter films, practice your ice skills and ten pin tricks at the Queens Ice & Bowl or just have a laugh at the Cartoon Museum.

    Users have priority access at the busiest sites to avoid queues, a free guidebook and over 40 additional deals and discounts, making the London Sightseeing Pass the perfect money saver and the ideal way to explore the city’s premier attractions.

    A one-day London Pass costs $64 for adults and $43 for a child. A two-day London Pass costs $87 for adults ($65 for children aged between five and 15 years), three-day passes are $108 for adults and $73 for children, and a six-day option costs $143 for adults and $101 for children.

    Check out all the activities on offer with the London Sightseeing Pass at www.londonpass.com. The website includes a
    London map tool to plan visits, details on all the featured attractions, and comprehensive information on special offers that are exclusive to London Pass holders such as free gifts at Harrods and commission-free currency
    exchange.

    For additional information and to buy a London Pass visit www.londonpass.com




    1st Las Vegas Halloween Parade

    Halloween Las Vegas

    As Halloween is quickly approaching, we wanted to let everybody know about the 1st Las Vegas Halloween Parade.

    It’s your chance to celebrate Halloween, Las Vegas style. Put on your best Halloween costume and you can actually be part of the 1st Las Vegas Halloween Parade.

    As the inaugural Halloween parade in Sin City, this is a good bet to be wild and crazy, with a variety of outrageous Halloween costumes on display.

    Halloween Night, Sunday, October 31st 2010
    6:00: Costumers & art cars line up on Hoover Ave and 4th Street Just North of Charleston Blvd. 1 Block West of Las Vegas Blvd.
    7:00 Parade walks, drives, slithers, clicks & clanks North on 4th Street to Fremont Street East.

    Come show off your creation. Be the star you know you are!

    Costumed people & art cars may be in the parade for FREE.

    The costumes are whatever you create; they can be hand made, imaginative, sassy and fun. The Parade will march up 4th Street to Fremont Street East starting at Charleston Blvd.

    Come be in the parade or watch it along 4th street.

    When: Sunday, October 31, 2010
    Line up begins at 6:00pm
    Parade ROLLS at 7:00pm – All Ages
    Where: The Arts District
    Charleston and 4th
    Las Vegas, NV, USA 89104

    The Las Vegas Halloween Parade
    *Address:Hoover Street/The Arts District on Charleston & 4th , Las Vegas, NV 89101
    *Date 10/31/2010
    *Time: 6:00PM line up, 7:00PM Parade Rolls
    *Price: FREE to anyone in costume
    *Art Cars are asked to check in on website so you may be placed in parade.

    To learn more, please visit – http://www.thelasvegashalloweenparade.com




    Enjoy Halloween and the Spooky Side of Colorado

    Stanley Hotel - Estes Park - Halloween
    Photo: Stanley Hotel – Estes Park

    As Halloween nears, there aren’t many other people that come to mind when thinking about scary stories, than horror author Stephen King.

    If you live in Colorado or thinking about a visit over Halloween, then here are some sights that are sure to be on the top of your spook list.

    Now experience the “real” ghosts of Colorado and stay in the haunted hotel that motivated Stephen King to write his popular novel, The Shining.

    You can also take a lantern-lit tour of the cemetery where gun-slinger “Doc” Holliday is buried or race coffins down the street in memory of a 19th century girl who haunts historic Manitou Springs.

    With Colorado’s rich history comes a variety of famed ghosts who are dying to meet you for Halloween this October.

    For example, spend a night in Estes Park at the place that inspired Stephen King to write the novel, The Shining.

    What makes the Stanley Hotel truly unique is the presence of otherworldly residents including the first owner’s  long-deceased wife, Flora Stanley, who allegedly can still be seen and heard playing the piano.

    The fourth floor and room 418 seem to have the most ghostly activity reported. For the ultimate scare (or inspiration), stay in room 217 – where King himself stayed. Hear the hotel’s legendary ghost stories and sightings and visit the most
    haunted places in the hotel during a historic ghost tour, participate in a professional paranormal investigation or celebrate Halloween with a murder mystery dinner and a “Shining Ball.”
    www.StanleyHotel.com

    Bizarre Tour of Crime in Boulder: Hear ghost, crime and history stories as the Banjo Billy bus rolls along Boulder’s spookiest haunts. Stops include: Hotel Boulderado; Mount Saint Gertrude Academy, supposedly haunted by the ghost of Sister Mary Theodore O’Connor; The University of Colorado’s Macky Auditorium, the site of the horrifying murder of former student Elaura Jaquette. Ghost tours offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October.
    www.BanjoBilly.com

    Coffin Races in Manitou Springs: The legend of Emma Crawford lives again on October 30 during the annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races up Manitou Avenue. Costumed impersonators of Emma, a 19th-century local who was buried on nearby Red Mountain, ride on coffins pulled by teams of mourners. She supposedly still haunts the mountain even though her coffin washed away years after her burial.
    www.ManitouSprings.org

    Ghosts and Graveyards in Glenwood: Stay at the haunted Hotel Colorado and catch a glimpse of the murdered chambermaid who appears at night near the Devereux dining room or the ghost of the young girl who died at the hotel. If the ghosts at the Hotel Colorado aren’t spooky enough, take a lantern-led tour of Linwood Cemetery where  Glenwood’s past is resurrected. Hear the haunting graveside tales of John “Doc” Holliday, Kid Curry, as well as the  stories of miners and pioneers.Weekend tours begin October 15 through Halloween.
    www.GlenwoodHistory.com

    Rocky Horror in Telluride: For three days, horror fans are invited to experience the latest independent horror films in  Telluride’s historic Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theater at the inaugural Telluride Horror Show October 15-17. The event includes feature films, short films, special programs, guests, and a party or two. While in town, visit the former miners hospital, now the Telluride Historical Museum reportedly haunted by the ghosts of patients past.
    www.TellurideHorrorShow.com

    Ghouls Night Out in Ouray: Enjoy your favorite beverage and talk about the haunted history of Ouray in the Beaumont Hotel where you might meet the ghost of the murdered young woman who lives there. Price includes room for two at the Box Canyon Lodge & Hot Springs in Ouray, two drinks at the Historic Beaumont Hotel and two haunted history tours through Ouray for only $139. Package available Wednesday – Sunday nights in October. www.BoxCanyonOuray.com

    Spirits in the Denver Botanic Gardens: Denver Botanic Gardens was once a part of the City Cemetery in the mid-1800s. Take a Ghosts in the Gardens Tour for chills listening to the recount of decades of the paranormal through eyewitness reports from past and present gardens staff. Enjoy a night of storytelling through visual and verbal tales throughout the gardens, and in the dining room at the Waring House mansion, which was built in the early 1900s. Bring your voice recorders and cameras to see if you capture something from the other side. Tours take place October 15, 23, 29 and 30.
    www.BotanicGardens.org

    Horror Show Film Festival: a 3-day horror film festival in world-famous Telluride, Colorado. For three days, film fans will experience the latest horror, fantasy, and sci-fi films in Telluride’s historic Sheridan Opera House and Nugget Theatre. If you love genre flicks and the scary spooks of Halloween, then you don’t want to miss this festival
    www.telluride.net/horror-show-film-festival