America’s Best Haunts, the self-dubbed “authority on premier haunted houses across the United States” released its list of the best fright fests for 2008, which include not only major theme-park attractions, but also seasonal haunted house.
To my surprise, the so-terrifying-I-peed-my-pants “scare zones” at Cedar Point theme park in Sandusky, Ohio, weren’t on the list! Last year, my husband and I (no kids!) spent a September weekend at the historic theme park known for its thrilling roller coasters.
During autumn HalloWeekends, certain areas of Cedar Point are transformed into these super scary walk-through attractions with names like CarnEvil, Fear Faire and Terror Island. Hired “Screamsters” in ratty clothes and gory masks hide in the fake fog and appear suddenly in front of you, rattling chains and totally freaking you out. My throat hurt afterwards from screaming bloody murder through the whole thing.
But, apparently there are even scarier attractions across the country. Here’s the America’s Best Haunts list:
- Bennett’s Curse, Baltimore, MD
- Woods of Terror, Greensboro, NC
- Screamworld, Houston, TX
- Thrillvania, Dallas, TX
- Nightmare: Ghost Stories, Miami, FL
- Realm of Darkness, Pontiac, MI
- Twisted Big Top, Glendale, AZ
- The Haunted Mansion, Disneyland, Anaheim, CA
- Busch Gardens, Howl-O-Scream, Williamsburg, VA
- FrightFest, St. Louis, MO
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I’m slowly hopping on board the social-networking bandwagon, having been convinced to start Twittering after hearing about it lots at Travel Media Showcase last month. We hang out at TwitterMoms.com and belong to the Travel Moms group there. Each of the Gals has a Facebook and LinkedIn profile, too.
Capitalizing on the social-networking phenomenon, an enterprising Disney fan (not associated with the Disney corporation) recently launched a social networking site to accommodate the thousands (millions?) of Disney fanatics worldwide. At DisFriends.com, members create profile pages, share trip reports and photos, and discuss their love of Disney movies, Disney memorabilia or Disney vacations.
In a “Share the Magic” promotion, members can post their best Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation tip to randomly win $100 in Disney Dollars for themselves, as well as $50 for a DisFriend, to spend on their next visit to the park.
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Via one of the many press releases that cross my desk daily, I found out that Babies Travel Lite, an online retailer that ships baby and toddler gear (from diapers and formula to sunscreen and toys) to your vacation destination, recently partnered with Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.
Hyatt guests who log onto the site via HyattFamilyTravel.com get reduction in the “convenience fee” that Babies Travel Lite typically charges for its services.
I think in this day and age of airlines increasing baggage fees left and right, having supplies shipped to your hotel (or even to Grandma’s house across the country) is a worthy option.
