Get the seasonal spirit without the crowds at these New England towns

A luxury Green Mountains escape, guided sake tasting, and discounted theater tickets.

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Welcome back to Scenic Six. October is well underway, which means the countdown to Halloween is on. The historic city of Salem may be the king of Halloween, but for those who’d rather avoid crowds I offer you a dozen other New England destinations full of seasonal spirit this month.

Road trip, anyone?

Avoiding Salem and its crowds? We’ve got you covered.

Salem during October is quite an experience. If you go, here’s everything you need to know about Halloween season in the city as well as highlights of some of the many activities happening this year. But if you’ve already visited Salem or prefer avoiding massive crowds, here are 12 Halloween towns that are not Salem and well worth a road trip this month. The destinations range from Fall River, Mass. to Damariscotta, Maine to Stowe, Vermont and boast everything from pumpkin festivals to haunted attractions to ghost tours.

Boston or New York? We know the answer.

The age-old question of “Boston or New York” was answered by Conde Nast Traveler readers last week when Boston outranked New York City on a list of the best large cities in the U.S. Boston ranked No. 7 and New York City ranked No. 8 (Chicago ranked No. 1). Boston has “aged with style,” wrote the publication, and recommended visitors hit up the city’s Freedom Trail, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Neptune, and Fenway Park.

One more reason to visit Vermont.

In last week’s poll, we asked Scenic Six readers the best New England state for leaf peeping and Vermont was the clear winner. Well, here’s another reason to head to Vermont: a luxury escape in the Green Mountains just ranked among the best hotels in the world. Take a look inside The Weston, which features nine one-of-a-kind rooms and suites. It opened last year.

Travel tips

• A Florida getaway during this winter’s cold New England weather? Yes, please. Frontier Airlines just added flights between Boston and Miami and Tampa to its route map. The flights begin Dec. 17 and will run four times a week to Miami and daily to Tampa. I used to live in the Tampa area. Perhaps it’s time for a homecoming of sorts.
• Sake, anyone? The Museum of Fine Arts is partnering with The Koji Club for a Guided Sake Tasting at the museum on Nov. 15. Guests will taste three different styles of sake during the 60-minute tasting, enjoy light bites, and then explore the galleries full of art. Tickets are now on sale.
• Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice. Say it all night long at this festive party celebrating the popular movie at The Liberty Hotel. The hotel is hosting a Beetlejuice Halloween Party on Oct. 28 with live performances by DJs Joshua Carl and Skoolyahd, a photo booth, and plenty of spooky costumes. Get your tickets here.

Deals and steals

• Pack up your pooch for a Golden Getaway at Sea Crest Beach Resort in North Falmouth. The Cape Cod resort is hosting a weekend getaway for Golden Retrievers and their owners Oct. 18 to 20. Activities will include a barbecue dinner, Pup Polar Plunge on Old Silver Beach, a Halloween costume contest, Yappy Hour, and a walk along the scenic Shining Sea Bikeway. Starting rates are $159 and travelers receive a discounted rate determined by room type, as well as a waived pet fee and a special amenity for the dog of honor.
• Save money at Boston museums and cultural institutions during the 23rd annual Opening Our Doors Day on Oct. 14. Get free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts, MassArt Art Museum, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and more. Free activities include art making, storytelling, and gallery tours.
• Looking for a deal on Boston theater tickets? ArtBoston’s BosTix booth, which sells day-of, in-person discounted theater tickets, is open in Faneuil Hall. Tickets are available online and at the booth.

I’ll leave you with this pic I recently took in Woburn. I was taking my daughter to an appointment and stumbled upon this nice scene, proving that you don’t have to travel far to see beautiful foliage.

Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.

— Kristi Palma

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