There’s no denying the fact that the West Coast is filled with towns that know how to celebrate Halloween. Whether you are looking for fun places for the whole family or just some downright terrifying attractions and festivities, travelers definitely have plenty of options to choose from. So many, in fact, that if this is your first time considering a spooky travel destination or vacation, you might feel somewhat overwhelmed. But the good news is that you don’t have to plan your ghostly getaway alone. To help make this holiday vacay one for the books, here are ten destinations for Halloween lovers on the West Coast.
10 St. Helens, Oregon
If you’re an avid horror and Halloween movie buff, then a trip to St. Helens, Oregon, should already be atop your Halloween destination list. This lovely little place was the main filming location for the 1998 cult classic Halloweentown, which all Halloween lovers have watched at least once or over a dozen times. As a result, a month-long celebration is held here every year, also known as the Spirit of Halloweentown. Here, the entire family can enjoy the lighting of the Great Pumpkin, haunted tours, parades, movie screenings, parties, and more.
9 Golden, Oregon
For travelers looking to explore an actual ghost town, then a trip to Golden, Oregon, is a must. Originally a mining community in the 1840s, this camp eventually became a real town in 1980 when the miners decided to add a few essentials—a general store, a saloon, and two churches. But just a few decades later, the city of Golden was abandoned and reclaimed by nature. Today, visitors can freely explore these creepy abandoned and possibly haunted buildings that were even featured on Ghost Adventures. The Oregon Vortex is also just around the corner, in Golden State Heritage Park, if you’re brave enough to venture further into the unknown.
8 Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington, is an exciting place to visit, especially during the spooky season. With countless hair-raising attractions, Seattle is yet another perfect place for Halloween lovers. While in town, visitors can get some definite thrills and chills by taking the 2-hour scream fest tour of Georgetown Morgue. After your time at the morgue, check out some of the haunted houses, like the Nightfall Orphanage, and stop by My Haunted Forest or any of the haunted farms—all of which are sure to give you nightmares. Visitors can also partake in some wholesome pumpkin picking and cap the night off with the House of Spirits: A Haunted Cocktail Soirée.
7 Coupeville, Washington
Coupeville is a small historic town located on Whidbey Island and the former filming site for Practical Magic. But that’s not all; Visitors to this spooky destination can check out The Haunting Of Coupeville—a month-long celebration of all the things that go bump in the night. Plus, there is the Torchlight Halloween Parade and Street Dance on Saturday, October 29th, which promises all its attendees a hauntingly good time. Other notable events Halloween lovers can get into on the island include The Great Community Pumpkin Party, All Island Juried Art Show, and a family-friendly Scavenger Hunt.
6 Buena Park, California
Known as The Halloween Capital of Southern California, Buena Park is definitely a Halloween lover’s paradise. Each year, this seemingly ordinary town is transformed into a genuinely terrifying and thrilling theme park in celebration of all things Halloween. With immersive spooky season experiences galore, over a dozen haunted attractions, and Knotts Scary Farm, this destination is an excellent choice for anyone looking to take their Halloween weekend to the next level. What’s more, with Buena Park’s “bewitchingly good Halloween hotel deals,” this is truly a fun and budget-friendly destination.
5 San Jose, California
Yet another hotbed of Halloween fun awaits travelers in San Jose, California, at the Winchester mansion. The former residence of Sarah Winchester is a dark tourism attraction pretty much any day of the week. But during the spooky season, things take an interesting turn here. At this truly unusual estate, Halloween lovers will delight in Unhinged at Winchester Mystery House. This ongoing terror tour takes willing victims or rather guests all through this eccentric home. There is also a family-friendly trick-or-treat event that’s held in the estate gardens, an axe-throwing attraction, plus Halloween treats and cocktails.
4 San Diego, California
Just a little further down the West Coast, Halloween lovers can partake in the rather festive side of San Diego, California. With an abundance of frightful events and celebrations for both “little and big ghouls,” this is a great option for families, couples, and friends. Here, visitors can experience everything from haunted houses and pumpkin patches to Ghosts & Gravestones Frightseeing Tours and the Nightmare on Normal Street party. So if this sounds like your cup of tea, pack your best costume and head to San Diego to join in on the festivities.
3 Sacramento, California
Halloween lovers looking for more screams and frights needn’t look any further than Sacramento, California. Here ghouls and ghosts can check out the one and only Ultimate Terror Scream Park. This “breathtaking haunted experience” is a top-rated Halloween event that has three mazes filled with the most sinister-looking creatures that are sure to give you a fright. There are also some new attractions this year, like the terror-inducing Louisiana Catacombs, the spine-chilling Blind Asylum, the menacing Monster Midway, and the blood-curdling Skull Ripper Haunted Mansion.
2 Long Beach, California
Another good West Coast Halloween scare can be found in Long Beach, California. Touted as one of the most haunted places in the world, the cruise liner Queen Mary becomes a little more sinister around this time of year and is transformed into Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor: Fear Lives Here. This spine-tingling event is sure to scare the pants off even the bravest of souls and runs throughout October. So, if you opt for this spooky travel destination, get ready for a terrifying experience that features haunted mazes, ghostly rides, live entertainment, plus some tasty festive eats and fabulous drinks.
1 Los Angeles, California
Finally, for all the die-hard Halloween fans, a trip to Los Angeles, California, during this time of year is definitely in order. Of course, LA visitors will find a host of haunted houses, tours, and parties for Halloween. But there’s much more here than what meets the eye, like the Halloween Horror Nights, Delusion (an immersive horror theater event), Cinespia, the Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and the Witches Houses 3 Trail—just to name a few. There are also plenty of other events like Boo at the Zoo & Botanical Gardens, Haunted Little Tokyo, Howl-O-Ween, and more.
