Halloween can be so much more than one night of trick-or-treating. Take your psyched superheroes and little ladybugs to these getawaydestinations to add an extra dose of magic to their October. Most can be done in just a weekend.
Air & Scare at the Smithsonian
Washington, DC
Best age: 5 and up
Imagine a game of haunted hide-and-seek among a space shuttle and a replica of the Wright Brothers' antique flyer. The Air and Space Museum is transformed into a high -flying Halloween dreamland on October 23, with 40 slyly educational activities that lead kids through "trick or truth" stations where they may receive prizes. Does alien blood boil in space? How do witches propel their brooms? And how exactly does a ghost blaster work? They'll find out at this event at which real robots and suspended planes set the unique brainy-cool vibe. Doug Baldwin, the chief of education at the museum, says his favorite part is always watching the Star Wars fans who come to the event. "They get way into it, and they are really pretty convincing," he says. Nasm.si.edu/airandscare
The World's Largest Halloween Party
Louisville, KY
Best age: 1 to 6
Held every Thursday to Sunday in October, the long-running Louisville Zoo party celebrates the special cute factor of Halloween more than the creepy. "The event really is designed with the stroller set in mind," says Maureen Horrigan, director of marketing and public relations for the zoo. You'll find music, so your little guy can get his Monster Mash on, a 14-stop trick-or-treat route among the animals, and lots of photo ops: Superheroes, princesses, and many more storybook characters roam the zoo grounds like so many friendly monkeys. Louisvillezoo.com
