I love Fall travel and Lehigh Valley PA has lots of activities for families traveling to the area. Besides back to school, there’s something to be said about traveling in September, October and November, when flights are cheaper, hotel availability is abundant, and there are less crowds. Crisp weather, the hibernation of bugs, and the changing leaves are all plusses in my book. One of my favorite destinations for fall travel (partly due to its proximity) is Pennsylvania.

I particularly like the Amish country but I’m discovering that the Lehigh Valley area is rich with history, festivals and activities that invite the Fall, Halloween, and Harvest season in – perfect for families. A decent three-hour drive from Baltimore, it might make for an entertaining weekend getaway.

On Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 15 to Oct. 31, the Mountain Harvest Festival at Blue Mountain Ski Area offers a new Autumn or Halloween attraction that combines picturesque scenery and action-packed events that entertain the entire family. To describe it, Blue Mountain Marketing Director Heidi Lutz says: “think pumpkin patches and hayrides on a beautiful mountain set against the colors of nature in Fall.” The festival features:

• the 2-mile long “Amazing Maize Corn Maze,” which commemorates the original Lehigh Canal, a 46-mile stretch of towpaths that ran from Jim Thorpe to Easton, Pa.
•  “Moon Bounce” inflatable jump amusements, a scavenger hunt, and plenty of great food and beverages.

For families with teenagers or those looking for the atypical Halloween experience complete with ghouls and zombies, Blue Mountain offers “Terror on the Mountain” – a zombie apocalypse. Open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights from Sept. 28 to Oct. 31, the attraction features a haunted lodge and haunted hayride.

Check here for more details on either activities. Note: Terror on the Mountain isn’t for little kids – you’ve been warned.

If you’re interested in the wholesome activities, the gruesome activities, or paranormal activities, Discover Lehigh Valley, PA has put together “Stay & Investigate” overnight travel packages that help visitors save on area hotels and paranormal investigations. Personally, I don’t get away to search for ghosts but if you like that type of stuff, a complete list of Stay & Investigate travel packages and ghost stories can be found at www.LehighValleyHaunt.com.

Where do you enjoy traveling to in the Fall?