New Jersey Has One of the Top Halloween Theme Parks in the U.S.

When you think about fall, you probably don't think about going to a theme park. But, fall can be a great time to check out your local theme park, with fewer crowds and cooler temperatures. If you're in New Jersey, then you're in luck, because New Jersey has one of the top Halloween theme parks in the U.S.

A new ranking has published a list of the best amusement parks to visit over Halloween this year. As for methodology, "The ranking, created by JeffBet, assigned each theme park a score out of 10 based on their amenities, attractions, availability of their Halloween event, crowding, price, seasonal popularity, spooky theming, and value for money."

Before we get to the best, let's look at the worst. Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay was ranked the worst park to visit during Halloween because of the few restaurants and not having much of a spooky theme, according to the study. Going up to the best, No. 2 is Knott's Berry Farm in California. I'm so excited to say that I went there as a little kid, when my family was visiting my aunt in California. They have 19 Halloween-specific attractions, according to the study, including the "Knott's Scary Farm," with ten immersive mazes, five scare zones, and four live shows. No. 3 is Disneyland Park in California.

Guess who topped the list? Six Flags Great Adventure. The park is "home to 14 world-class coasters, thrilling family rides and a 350-acre drive-thru safari right next door," according to their official website. They always get into the Halloween spirit with special stuff just for the spooky season. Case in point: Check out their Fright Fest, which features "frightful haunted houses, eerie scare zones, and spine-chilling top-notch live entertainment." Six Flags Great Adventure came in at No. 8 on the list.

There are some major benefits to taking a trip by yourself. The solitude gives you time to clear your mind and gather your thoughts. And it also enables you to create your own schedule, taking in the sights you set out for. Good Housekeeping published a report that details America’s best places for solo travel, and New Jersey was all over this list.

In addition, Fifty Grande recently conducted a solo travel survey. They found that “52% of respondents said they planned to take a solo trip before the end of the year, and 64% of them planned to take that trip in America.” Furthermore, they found that 40% of those that participated in their survey answered “10” on a scale of 1-10 on how comfortable they were to travel alone. 83% said answered a 7 or above.

Other interesting items to note were 89% of the people had already taken a solo trip. The main reason was to “explore a new place and/or immerse in a local culture.” 22.9% said they traveled alone because it was “more fun when I’m 100% in control.”

Moreover, 52% of people plan on traveling solo before the end of the year. Much of that will be within the United States, Fifty Grande shows.

New Jersey is filled with areas that are prime for solo travel exploring. Of course, Atlantic City has a major nightlife scene. There are pristine golf courses all throughout the state, some of which are in close proximity to New York City (if you want to head in for dinner or a show). Finally, there are miles of beachside attractions along the Atlantic and historic sites deep in the heart of the Garden State. So, let's take a look at the two New Jersey destinations that were named best for solo travel. They happen to over a hundred and thirty miles away from each other, and vastly different in terms of what you can explore there.

Home to the Ivy League Tigers, Good Housekeeping calls out the historic sites this central New Jersey town house to offer. "Princeton Battle Monument honors the battle fought and won by George Washington in 1777." The University Art Museum and the Morven Museum and Garden often attract tourists from all over the world. Lastly, Carnegie Lake is one of the most serene spots in the state.

"Spend your day wandering the cute shops, sunbathing at the beach or climbing the 199 steps to the top of Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Pointe State Park," Good Housekeeping suggest. Cape May draws a lot of visitors in the summer months. It's very common that you will find families, couples, and solo travelers among them. In addition to one of the most beautiful lighthouses on the east coast, you can visit winery's, theaters, safaris, or just rest along the shore of the beautiful beaches.