Wondering where to take your little ghosts and goblins for a Halloween haunt? There are lots of great things to do with the kids this month, from Boos at Zoos to festivals and corn mazes. Theme parks, including Disney World and Hersheypark, are also getting spooky for Halloween.



Here's a look at some of the best kid-friendly Halloween events happening across the country:

Halloween Mansion at The Children's Museum of Houston
Houston, Tex.
October 20 - 31, 2009
For two weeks, The Children's Museum of Houston morphs into a spooky haunted house full of Halloween goodies and trinkets for the kids. Create spider hats, make wiggly worms and even bring Dr. Frankenstein to life. Don't forget your costume!

CoCoWeen at CoCo Key Water Resorts
Locations Nationwide
October 23 - November 1, 2009
CoCo Key Water Resort, with locations across the country, gets decked out for Halloween with trick or treating throughout the resort, craft projects, coloring contests and more. The special Trick or Treat package includes an overnight stay for a family of four, two days of water park access, including all CoCoWeen activities, plus much more.

No-So-Scary Halloween at Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Milwaukee, Wis.
October 29 - 31, 2009
Enjoy no scary tricks and lots of fun treats at the Betty Brinn Children's Museum. Get your tickets to the Little Monster Bash on October 30 where little ones can show off their Halloween costumes in a fun, safe environment.

The National Zoo's Boo at the Zoo
Washington, D.C.
October 23 - 25, 2009
Take a walk on the wild side at The National Zoo's eleventh annual Halloween extravaganza. Dress up your youngsters and let them trick-or-treat through animal kingdom. There are more than 40 treat stations, plus animal encounters, keeper talks and festive decorations.

Great Zoo Halloween at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo
Fort Wayne, Ind.
October 16 - 31, 2009
Thousands of decorated pumpkins line the zoo pathways for Great Zoo Halloween, Fort Wayne's #1 trick-or-treat adventure. Meet Broomhilda the Witch, explore the Mystery Maze, go pumpkin bowling, ride the Eerie Express Train, see real bats and much, much more.

Fall Festival at Cox Farms
Centreville, Va.
September 19 - November 8, 2009
The Fall Festival at Cox Farms, a family-owned and operated business, is fun for the whole family. Take the kids on a hay ride, go down a giant slide, pick out a pumpkin, visit with barnyard animals and more. On November 7 and 8, bring back your used jack o' lantern and 'recycle' it at the grand finale Pumpkin Madness Days. Used pumpkins are dropped from the high drop, hurled with a catapult, squished with the squisher and smashed with the smasher.

Franken Plaza at Daley Plaza
Chicago, Ill.
October 23 - 31, 2009
As part of Chicagoween 2009, Daley Plaza turns into a Halloween adventure with mask making demonstrations, a circus, pyrotechnics, arts and crafts, and more.

Boo at the Zoo "Spooktacular" at The Bronx Zoo
Bronx, N.Y.
Weekends in October from October 10 to November 1, 2009
Visit with bats, cats and creepy critters at this New York Halloween tradition. Enjoy wildlife magic shows, pumpkin carving demonstrations, a hay maze and more. This year, the zoo is debuting its Haunted Safari Adventure, where families will journey through a bat cave, a rainforest swamp and even the belly of a snake.

Universal CityWalk Halloween Carnival for Kids
Universal City, Calif.
October 31, 2009
Universal CityWalk and L.A. Parent Magazine host this annual carnival featuring trick-or-treating, costume contests and live entertainment. You may even catch a glimpse of Frankenstein and the Mummy.

Corn Maze at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Denver, Colo.
September 4 - October 31, 2009
Your kids will go batty for Chatfield's amazing Corn Maze, one of the most attended mazes in the country. Let the younger kids explore The McDonald's Mini-Maze and Dino Discovery Area, and don't miss the Pumpkin Festival on October 10 and 11.

Don't forget to check your local zoo and kids' museums to find family-friendly Halloween events happening near you!

Five Family-Friendly Halloween Flicks
- It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
- Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie
- Hocus Pocus
- Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit
- Casper

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If you haven't gotten your pumpkin yet, it's time to go picking. If you want to have the biggest, baddest pumpkin on the block, you've got to shop early for the best selection. Plus, going to the pumpkin patch is a great fall activity the whole family will enjoy.



If you're lucky enough to live near one of the following pumpkin patches, get there and get there fast because these are among the best in the country. Not only do these patches have the greatest pumpkins, but there are plenty of other activities to take part in, too.

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch - Petaluma, Calif.
The main draw at this Sonoma County pumpkin patch is the Amazing Corn Maze, but the pumpkins are awesome too. They've got over 50 different varieties of pumpkins and gourds ranging in size from 1/4 lb. to 125 lbs. You can find the perfect pumpkin for any use including cooking, carving, painting and decorating.

PaPa's Pumpkin Patch - Bismarck, North Dakota
Welcome the harvest and celebrate fall at this premier pumpkin patch. There are 14 different varieties and about 20,000 pumpkins to choose from this year. This season, PaPa's Pumpkin Patch is debuting a new variety, called the knucklehead, which looks like a pumpkin covered in warts.

Bengtson's Pumpkin Farm - Homer Glen, Ill.
Voted "Best Pumpkin Farm in Chicago" last year by the audience of Fox News Chicago, Bengtson's hosts a pumpkin festival you don't want to miss. There are tens of thousands of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes. There's also an extensive Halloween shop filled with candy, spooky decorations, pumpkin decorating tools and patters and all kinds of wonderful gifts.

The Great Pumpkin Farm - Clarence, N.Y.
The region's largest fall family event, The Great Pumpkin Farm offers a haymaze, petting zoo and a handcrafted General Store where you'll find hundreds of Halloween decorations and handmade crafts. There are loads and loads of pumpkins in the patch, so there's sure to be something for everyone.

Kathy's Pumpkin Patch - Donnellson, Iowa
You're sure to find exactly what you're looking for at Kathy's Pumpkin Patch. The farm has over 175 different varieties of pumpkins, squash and gourds. You can even take a ride on the wagon to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch. And if you want something really, really big, just ask. Kathy's sells three different varieties of pumpkins that frequently weigh 100-200 lbs.

Walters' Pumpkin Patch - Burns, Kan.
There's so much fun to be had at Walters' Pumpkin Patch, you'll want to spend the whole day there. Pick your own pumpkin, get lost in the corn maze, ride the Barrel Train and enjoy delicious foods such as pumpkin salsa, pumpkin chili and pumpkin juice.

The Great Pumpkin Patch - Arthur, Ill.
Known as the Midwest's grandest u-pick pumpkin patch, this farm has a huge selection of the healthiest and most diverse pumpkins. Local radio and TV stations often visit The Great Pumpkin Patch because it is far more than just a pumpkin patch. The Broomcorn Maze is new for 2009, plus you can enjoy squash tastings, the Two-Mile Sweet Shop, The Creamery ice cream stand, The Pumpkin Eatery and lots of great live entertainment.

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The month of October brings to mind pumpkins, gourds, ghosts and ghouls. But October also marks the continuation of National Apple Month, which according to the U.S. Apple Association, spans a three-month window from September to November to increase apple industry sales and enhance consumer awareness and usage of apples and apple products. Hot apple cider, apple butter or a slice of apple pie, anyone?



Going apple picking is a great fall activity, and apples are one of the easiest fruits to pick and use. They can be eaten fresh or be cooked, canned or frozen. Apples also have several health benefits. One apple is only about 80 calories and is loaded with fiber and antioxidants. After all, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Here's everything you need to know about picking your way to delicious, juicy apples, plus where to pick your own near you:

Picking & Storage Tips
Apples can vary in color depending on the variety, but always be sure to pick firm apples that are free of bruises. Ask the farmer which varieties are ripe and try to stick to those.

As you're picking your apples, place them gently into your basket or bucket. If you throw them, they will bruise and spoil more quickly. After picking, keep apples cool to preserve their shelf life. This can help keep them fresh for several weeks. Storing apples in a cool basement, especially if you've got more than you get fit in your fridge, tends to work well. Also, as with many fruits, don't wash your apples until you are ready to use them to prevent premature spoilage.

Pick-Your-Own Apple Orchards
One thing you'll notice when you set out to go apple picking is that you're headed for the country. A beautiful afternoon drive down winding country roads adds to the apple-picking experience.

On the East Coast, Masker Orchards is a great family-friendly orchard in New York's Hudson Valley region. If you live in the D.C. area, venture out to Rock Hill Orchard in Mount Airy, Md. for some pick-'em-yourself fun. Massachusetts also has some excellent apple orchards with some very good ones located close to Boston. For eco-conscious pickers, some orchards such as Dwight Miller in Vermont and Bear Swamp Orchard in Massachusetts, have recently gone all organic.

Heading through the central United States and further west, check out Deardorff Orchards in Minnesota, Weston's Antique Apples in Wisconsin and Jones Creek Farms in Washington. These orchards grow heirloom apples and special varieties that are difficult to find in stores.

To find more local apple orchards, visit PickYourOwn.org.

Awesome Apple Recipes
- Sublime Apple Crumb Pie
- Roasted Apple Butter
- Sweet Apple Bread
- Spiced Apple Bran Muffins
- Sweet & Sour Apple Coleslaw

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As the temperature starts to dip, savoring a great cup of hot chocolate is guaranteed to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. But forget cocoa powders, true hot chocolate is made with real melted chocolate and steamed milk or water.



Here are 10 places across the country that serve up hot chocolate with perfection:

City Bakery in New York, N.Y.
City Bakery has been home to New York's best-known hot chocolate since 1990.Not only is the hot chocolate with homemade marshmallows known throughout the Big Apple, but it's known across the country as well. Don't miss their annual Hot Chocolate Festival which features a different flavor of hot chocolate each day. Sip on unique concoctions such as cinnamon hot chocolate, banana peel hot chocolate and malted milk hot chocolate.

Mon Aimee Chocolat in Pittsburgh, Pa.
For true chocolate connoisseurs, Mon Aimee Chocolat serves the real deal when it comes to drinking chocolate. Made with your choice of milk chocolate, dark chocolate or dark chocolate with spices, this special treat is totally delicious.

Intemperantia Chocolates in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
This gourmet chocolatier's hot chocolate is highly praised by SoCal locals. Made with imported Belgium chocolate and heavy cream, it's awesomely sinful. Don't live nearby? Order some to try.

Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago, Ill.
Windy City residents love to warm up at James Beard Outstanding Pastry Chef nominee Mindy Segal's namesake Wicker Park restaurant and dessert bar. Spice things up with Mindy's Mexican Hot Chocolate made fresh with dark chocolate, milk and cinnamon. And be sure to try the homemade marshmallows.

Brasserie Beck in Washington, D.C.
If you're one of those people who orders hot chocolate just for the whipped cream, the Brasserie Beck is the place for you. The slightly bitter Belgian hot chocolate is delightfully intense and comes with a mountain of whipped cream so big it almost outweighs the drink.

Jean-Philippe Patisserie in Las Vegas, Nev.
This European-style pastry shop nestled inside the Bellagio is known for having some of the city's best hot chocolate. Touted as a modern day Willy Wonka, renowned pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury even has his own 27-foot hot chocolate fountain.

Flour Bakery + Cafe in Boston, Mass.
Literally everything is prepared in-house at this South End cafe. The hot chocolate is made to order using bittersweet chocolate ganache (house-made, of course) and your choice of steamed milks. Just thinking about it is making our mouths water.

Tartine Bakery in San Francisco, Calif.
Tartine Bakery takes advantage of local dark chocolate manufacturer Scharffen Berger to create a hot chocolate that is ultra rich and pleasingly complex. And if that's not enough to put you in a chocolate coma, dig into the flourless chocolate soufflé cake made with Valrhona chocolate.

The Little Nell in Aspen, Colo.
There's nothing better than curling up by the fire with a warm mug of hot chocolate after coming off the slopes. And The Little Nell's signature hot cocoa is exactly the one you want. It's mixed with Valrhona chocolate ganache and whole milk and finished with fresh whipped cream and a chocolate-dipped peppermint stick. Total perfection.

Serendipity 3 in New York, N.Y.
Ok, we know this is a list about hot chocolate, but we couldn't resist mentioning Serendipity's legendary frozen version. You can even order the mix and make it at home. It's simply divine.

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