It's peak spooky season in more ways than one.
The scariest fact of all is that an ongoing government shutdown continues to hamper air travel as many air traffic controllers, TSA officers and other critical personnel are forced to work without pay.
While that may not entice many people to plan and book travel in the coming days and weeks, it's worth a reminder that this period marks the last vestige of the lucrative shoulder season ahead of what's once again poised to be a hectic holiday travel season.
I've already written about how this precious stretch of the calendar is arguably the best time of the year to travel as kids go back to school, demand slumps and prices tend to dip.
And while the holiday TV ads are already running, stores have prematurely put Christmas decorations on display, and Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas starts on Friday, there's still time to embrace the spooky season with a memorable getaway.
There are haunted cities and towns you can explore without a passport, iconic horror movie filming locations to tour, mesmerizing locales for fall foliage seekers and flat-out cool places that epitomize the Halloween season.
Even if the idea of heading to the airport is too intimidating this autumn, the spooky season is still the perfect excuse to get out of the house and venture to a nearby farm or pumpkin patch.
Go check out a corn maze, some of which even pay homage to pop culture icons like Taylor Swift and beloved sports legends such as Alex Ovechkin.
Maybe it's been a few years since you've taken a haunted hayride. Don't let this moment get away.
Universal Studios is another can't-miss stop this spooky season, as its annual Halloween Horror Nights showcase will feature classics like Poltergeist, among others.
Shoulder season is winding down and as spooky season nears its crescendo on October 31, it bears repeating that now is the best time to get out and embrace the creepy vibes.
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