These ghoulish things

SCARE TACTICS Hauntings on the Hudson (top) and Legend Weekend compete for spookiest out-of-town adventure.

From top: Billynda Barker; courtesy of Historic Hudson Valley

To give your family a proper Halloween thrill, consider making a trek upstate, where even a gnarled tree can seem frightening to a city kid. You'll find spine-chilling forests, hair-raising houses, a haunted hayride or two, and the Headless Horseman. Of course, you'll have to disconnect the corn meter….

Legend Weekend
Surprise, kids! The Horseman was around long before Tim Burton got hold of him. For the real scoop on Sleepy Hollow, head to Washington Irving's 18th-century estate, Sunnyside, in Tarrytown, NY (just 36 minutes from Manhattan via Metro-North). During the day, shadow-puppet shows, magicians, pumpkin carving and "spooky walks" through the woods with a storyteller will chill the tiny and timid. Bigger thrills come after dark, when famous local spirits, including the equestrian himself, greet visitors at nearby Philipsburg Manor.
Sunnyside, West Sunnyside Ln off Rte 9, Tarrytown, NY, and Philipsburg Manor, Rte 9, Sleepy Hollow, NY (914-631-8200; www.hudsonvalley.org). Oct 29–31. Sat, Sun 10am–4pm, 6–9pm. $9, children $5.

Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted House
For another homage to the man without a face, try Headless Horseman Hayrides, approximately a two-hour drive up the New York State Thruway. The "No. 1 Outdoor Haunt in America" (according to Fright Times magazine) has a new theme this year: Season of the Scarecrow (we're guessing that these guys are after more than birds). There's a 35-minute hayride, a corn maze filled with demented creatures, and three haunted houses, including a faux turn-of-the-century hospital, Laboratory 13. Satisfy monstrous appetites with anything from caramel apples to sausage and peppers.
Rte 9W, Ulster Park, NY (845-339-2666; www.headlesshorseman.com). Sept 8–Oct 31. Fri–Sun 7pm. $24, children $19; reservations suggested.

Hauntings on the Hudson
Not your average sightseeing cruise, Hauntings on the Hudson is a tour of the river's ghoulish landmarks. The trip starts at Newburgh, NY, 90 minutes from the city by car, where the boat is docked. Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk (a character worthy of his own Saturday Night Live sketch) will be on board to narrate, pointing out, for example, where the ghost of Captain Kidd's mate guards his buried treasure. Oh, and you'll get a great view of the foliage, too.
Newburgh Landing, Front St, Newburgh, NY (845-220-2120; www.prideofthehudson.com). Oct 9 from 4–6pm. $17, children $15.

Kevin McCurdy's Haunted Mansion in Wappingers Falls
Horror-movie fans will love this place, which has been around for some 25 years. A 90-minute car ride away, the Haunted Mansion is theme-park theatrical, with elaborately constructed scenes, high-tech sound effects and gore galore. Don't miss the shipwreck inhabited by ghost pirates (alas, no Johnny Depp). Lines get long fast; arrive early and pass the time snacking at Ghoulish Goodies or the Coffee Shop of Horrors.
85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls, NY (www.thehauntedmansion.com). Sept 24–Oct 31. Fri, Sat 6–11pm; Sun 6–9pm (special hours Oct 11 from 1–4pm; Oct 28 from 6–9pm). $18, children $10.