The Sorrel Weed House holds the distinction of being Savannah's most haunted building. — Photo courtesy of Amy Pine
Forget about spooky ghost costumes and inflatable goblins. In Savannah, you can spend Halloween seeking out the real thing. The Sorrel Weed House, a 19th-century mansion that’s rumored to be one of the city’s most haunted buildings, is opening its doors to amateur ghost hunters. From October 19-31, the historic house will celebrate the 13 Nights of Halloween, a paranormal tour in which guests wander the mansion’s haunted halls using real ghost-hunting equipment. At the end of the supernatural expedition, guides help tour-goers interpret their recordings and images in search of evidence from the great beyond. The tour begins at 11:30 p.m. and lasts approximately three to four hours. Tickets are $47 per person. Call 912-257-2223 to reserve a spot.
Don't be alarmed if you see the streets of downtown Fort Myers swarming with blood-soaked zombies. It's all in good fun, as each October's Zombiecon celebrates the filming of George Romero's Day of the Dead, which was shot right there in 1985. So in a gory tribute to Romero's cult classic, thousands of horrifying zombie freaks take over the streets of Fort Myers' riverfront district. 
zombies come out for good fun in Fort Myers each October — Photo courtesy of Michael R Perry
Ghouls and goblins don their brass for Halloween in New Orleans
For those looking to vacation somewhere festive for Halloween, look no further than New Orleans, labeled America's most haunted city. Tiptoeing through the 18th-century above ground burial vaults of St. Louis Cemetery #1 is freaky on any normal day, let alone Halloween. The city that birthed voodoo was also a major pirate port and slave trade center, lending endless folklore about days past. Hearing the tales firsthand from some of the city's most knowledgeable is recommended on one of the haunted/ghost/cemetery tours offered daily. For those who enjoy a little music with their spooking, New Orleans plays host to the Voodoo Music Fest, a three day event held annually over Halloween weekend.
Circus Circus Fright Dome — Photo courtesy of Fright Dome
With more than 50 costume parties and a quarter of a million dollar costume contest on the Strip, Las Vegas knows how to do Halloween. The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's Halloween Fetish & Fantasy Ball, ranked by the Travel Channel as one of the top 10 events in the world, is also one of the largest costume parties on earth and is worth braving the Las Vegas madness for all on its own. Other big ticket events and attractions include the Fright Dome at Circus Circus, Eli Roth's Goretorium and OktoberFrightFest at the Fremont Street Experience. Plan ahead, as Sin City gets wilder than usual during Halloween festivities.
New Orleans has Mardi Gras and Key West has Fantasy Fest, an annual street party usually held on the last week in October that is the city’s week-long version of a wild Halloween night. For more than 30 years, tourists and locals have been dressing in outrageous costumes and indulging in a little (or a lot) of drinking and debauchery. The 2012 schedule includes the Bahama Village Goombay Festival, a good-vs-evil drag show, a pet masquerade, a homemade bikini contest, a fetish dungeon, a glow party, a pajama party, and sacrifices at the Southernmost Temple before the A-Conch-Alypse – to name a few.
Festival goers during Key West's street party — Photo courtesy of Fantasy Fest 2012 A-Conch-Alypse
Creepiness abounds at Coney Island, NY — Photo courtesy of dotpolka
New York's nights just got a whole lot chillier beginning Friday, October 12th, 2012 and continuing every weekend night through Halloween is the spooky "Nights of Horror" at Coney Island/Luna Park. $30 admission gains you access to the creepy Cudie Farm mazes and unlimited rides at the carnival at Luna Park (Cyclone and Scream Zone not included). Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at the gate. Screams start at 6:00 PM. Recommended for adults and children over 14 years old. Don't worry if you aren't into Halloween scares or have small children, there is plenty of wholesome fun to be had as well. Try the arcade, carousel or take a guided historic tour of the boardwalk. Subway D, F, N or Q to Stillwell Ave station.