Happy Halloween everyone! This is my absolute favorite holiday. When I was a kid it meant dress-up time. As a young adult going through my punk-come-goth phase, it meant I wouldn’t get quite so many stares from strangers when I’d be out and about on the streets.

Today I enjoy the holiday because I live in a residential area of Brooklyn and love seeing all the kids in the neighborhood in their awesome outfits heading to school in the morning and trick-or-treating in the evening. The Halloween Parade in New York City’s Greenwich Village is one of the best of its kind, and I also still get to play dress-up at parties (and pull out my old leather and pleather garb, along with some other accessories that shall remain nameless).

Photo: just-us-3

There are plenty of destinations around the globe that attract visitors specifically for their Halloween events or reputation for being haunted or chilling destinations. (Read about them in our Top Monster Mashes and Halloween Bashes article.) One of the spookiest/most chilling places I’ve ever visited was Dachau, the former concentration camp in southeast Germany.

What are some of the spookiest places you’ve visited? Tell us here, then take our new poll over at www.travelmuse.com (you can find it on the lower right area of the homepage), and let us know which of five we’ve picked that you find the scariest to visit!

Seoul is full of trash, artistically speaking. The South Korean capital claims what may be the largest recycled plastic art installation in the world: the Happy Happy Plastic Stadium. Joy!

Green Seoul

Last September, 3,600 people collected 1.7 million pieces of thrown-out plastic in 40 days, requiring 488 dump trucks. Korean public art company Godsome headed the project, which evolved into a citywide collaboration between citizens and businesses. The installation decorates the Jamsil Sports Complex and is being showcased this week at the Seoul Design Olympiad 2008, which runs from Oct. 10-31.

The Happy Happy installation is just one example of Seoul’s greening efforts; the city is adding 17 new bicycle paths totaling about 124 miles, and it’s on the cutting edge of sustainable building design.

Recycled Art Displays

Back to trash art: I love this idea and as the burgeoning ‘trash/junk/recycled art movement’ will attest, so do others. Garbage artists around the globe are transforming landfill-destined plastic bags, scraps, tin cans—whatever they can find—into thought-provoking and sustainable art. During your travels, seek out local trash art installations and recycled art festivals. Here are a few cool ones I’ve found:

The Rock Garden of Chandigarh: Self-taught Indian artist Nek Chand created the world-famous Rock Garden in India, built of discarded materials like broken pots and bottles. The garden features statues of animals and people, like these ladies made out of women's colored bangles . www.clt.astate.edu

The Beer Can House: John Milkovisch retired from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1968 and starting this decades-long project incorporating nearly 40,000 beer cans into his Austin, Texas house. www.beercanhouse.org

Astro Boy: In Tokyo, a 10 ft. by 7 ft. work displays 138,000 old metro tickets glued together to create anime cartoon character, Astro Boy. On temporary display at the Shinjuku Takashimaya Department Store.

HA Schult's Trash People: A traveling art exhibit displaying 1,000 life-sized ‘Trash People’ against dramatic landscapes at numerous famous sites, including the Great Wall of China and New York City. www.haschult.de

Recycle Santa Fe 2008: Nov. 14-16 in Santa Fe, N.M. See green fashion like a gown made of recycled plastic bags, recycled metal art and jewelry made from bicycle parts. Admission: $5, free for kids 12 and under. www.recyclesantafe.org.

Oil Drum Art: A Connecticut non-profit started this environmental and political art movement. Used 55-gallon oil drums are painted and redesigned into art and decorative furnishings. Exhibits held several times a year. www.oildrumart.org

What recycled/trash art exhibits have you seen during your travels? Have you ever made recycled art? Please share your experiences!

When our families go on vacation, we pets prefer to come along. If we can’t, second choice is to stay at home, surrounded by adoring fans who will do our bidding. But I’ve just discovered an option for pets that’s just as tempting as staying at home—maybe even better!

Wag Hotels are luxury hotels for dogs and cats, located in Sacramento and San Francisco, Calif. (with one coming soon in Sunnyvale, Calif.). Small, medium and large rooms ($48, $55 and $60 per night, respectively) include comfy beds, two playgroups a day, room service and classical music. Suites are also available. A luxury suite, my favorite, includes everything a regular room has, plus a plasma TV, Web cam (so my peeps can see how I’m doing) and premium bed for only $85 a night.

Add-on services cover everything from swim time in the hotel’s indoor pool (and what Labrador would say no to that?) to a roof-top walk and playtime with a buddy to Zen massage and a blueberry facial.

The cats have it good too, in a separate Cattery that offers two-story condos with a view of a tropical fish tank. Scratch pads, beds and private litter box are also included ($30 per night).

I’m glad people are finally recognizing that pets like luxury just as much as humans do. So give us a treat the next time you have to leave us at home.

Oh, woe is me. I just got back from a weeklong escape to Switzerland, and I must admit, I’m missing my little slice of Ticinese heaven on Lake Maggiore. I wrote a blog post last week about the great hotel that I stayed at, Hotel Garni La Meridiana. But even now, I can’t get the image of the Piazza or the smell of the roasting chestnuts out of my mind. So I decided to write more about the small town that’s captured my heart.

European Beauty

Although Ascona is just a small resort town, it will take your breath away. With a prime location right on the edge of the huge lake, which extends into neighboring Italy, the city is also surrounded by towering mountains. Actually, Asocna is the lowest city in all of Switzerland, which means prime Mediterranean weather year round. The temperature hovered in the 60s during most of my early October visit.

Ascona is a very old town with some of its oldest buildings dating back to the 16th century. Once a fishing village, it has developed into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the canton. It is located next to Locarno, the capital of Ticino and a great little city in its own rights. Ascona’s Piazza is lined with hotels, both modern and old (one used to be part of a castle), restaurants, cafes and adorable shops.

It’s not the main drag that captured my heart the first time I came here; it was the narrow, cobblestone streets that wind through what is known as the town’s Old Quarter. They are barely wide enough for a bicycle to pass two pedestrians. There’s absolutely no way a car could navigate them, not even the ever-so-small Smart car. Here, you’ll find boutique jewelry stores, small clothing stores, gelato shops and such lining the historic streets.

Ascona Events

There are many great things to do here during tourist season, which runs from May to mid-October. The town hosts special events year round, from the Ascona-New Orleans Jazz Festival in late June, a chestnut festival (chestnuts are a regional specialty) in the beginning of October, an artist and performer festival in May and a month long classical music festival that runs from September through October.

During the high season, a boat runs trips from Ascona around the lake. Stop at the popular Brissago Islands to peruse the beautiful grounds and gardens of an old house located on one of the islands and dine at Ristorante Brissage, a lovely restaurant. Or, stop in Italy. Lake Maggiore is bordered by Italy and the boat stops at several small Italian towns, many of which hold markets throughout the week. Although I never had a chance to take the boat trip around the lake, it’s top on my list for next year’s visit. I already know I’m going to return to Ascona. The question next time is whether I’ll ever leave.

Hey baby, I hear the blues a-callin’,

Tossed salad and scrambled eggs

Oh My

Mercy (alt: Quite stylish.)

And maybe I seem a bit confused,

Yeah maybe, but I got you pegged!

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha!

But I don’t know what to do with those tossed salads and scrambled eggs.

They’re callin’ again.

Ah Seattle. Home of the Seahawks, Starbucks, Pike Place Fish Market, and yes, Dr. Frasier Crane. (It’s still not clear to me what that little ditty has to do with a) Seattle or b) psychiatry, but I had it my head, and now you do, too. Sorry.)

What’s not to love about a city that’s surrounded by water and mountains? A city where you can easily get around by foot, bike or public transit. A metropolis that feels one with nature, and yet is hip and urban at the same time. 

On a recent October weekend, my family hopped up to Seattle to re-connect with friends who are now lucky enough to call this beautiful city home. We stayed in the lovely town of Kirkland, about 20 minutes from Seattle, on the shore of Lake Washington. On Saturday morning we ventured into downtown Seattle and explored the Seattle Aquarium, which sits right on Puget Sound. We arrived just in time for the scuba diver show, where kids sit in front of a 40- by 20-foot wall of glass while volunteer divers in dry suits educate them from inside the aquarium.

Next we headed up no fewer than 11 flights of outdoor stairs to Pike Place Market. Our timing again was great—the famous fish mongers were busy filling orders and flinging enormous salmon with startling precision. We fell for the “errant fish into the crowd” gag, which was actually a stuffed animal that had us all ducking for cover. 

Lunch was amazing at the Steelhead Diner. The kids enjoyed what has to be the world’s best homemade mac ‘n’ cheese, made with cheese produced across the street from Beecher's Hand Made Cheese, and I had the best mussels of my life, which were prepared with chorizo and a savory garlic broth. 

Sunday morning a few of us hearty souls enjoyed a tour of the University of Washington campus by participating in the 23rd annual Dawg Dash, a 5K/10K race that benefits the University of Washington Alumni Association. Nobody bothered to mention just how hilly the UW campus is, but it is gorgeous, and from the top you can take in the Seattle skyline and majestic Mount Rainier. 

Our only regret on this trip is that we only had a few days to visit. The next time we head to the northwest, we’ll spend some more time in Seattle and continue on to Victoria and Vancouver, B.C.—two cities that remain high on our TravelMuse trip list!

View from Queen Anne Boulevard of Seattle Skyline                    Photo: Kevin Fliess

Although I still haven’t quite recovered from my severe jet lag, I am having an extraordinary time on my family vacation in beautiful Ascona, Switzerland. Located on the edge of Lake Maggiore in the canton of Ticino, Ascona is quite a popular getaway for people from all over the area.

Hotel Garni La Meridiana

My mom and I are staying at a hotel owned by a family friend:[ Hotel Garni La Meridiana|http://www.garni-la-meridiana.ch/]. This beautiful and modern bed and breakfast is located right on the Piazza, the main drag that runs along the edge of the lake. Opened a few years ago, the hotel has the charm of a traditional Swiss inn, while also being very modern and eco-friendly. In fact, much of Switzerland is that way and, frankly, I love it!

Our room is located on the first floor—which would be considered the second floor by those in the United States. Like most European cities, the ground floor is the named the ground floor, and it’s where shops and restaurants are located. Below La Meridiana are an adorable patisserie, a very cool restaurant with ample outdoor seating and a little gift shop, where I plan to do my souvenir shopping.

Location, Location, Location

To get to the lobby of the hotel, you must climb a set of (steep) stairs. Our room opens up onto a gigantic terrace, where there is seating for more than 50 people to soak up the beautiful Ticonese sunlight. We’re also located next to the breakfast area, where each morning the hotel serves up a traditional Swiss breakfast of cheeses, meats, breads, jams and more. There’s also a convenient 24-hour self-serve espresso machine here.

(The room we’re in is actually not the original one we were given upon arrival, which was on the second floor. While it had a beautiful view, my mom couldn’t stand the thought of having to walk up and down stairs in order to fulfill her caffeine fix.)

Eco-friendly Design

Everything at the hotel has been fine-tuned with efficiency and the environment in mind. At night, the hall lights are set to be on motion sensors in order to save energy. When you’re in the room, you must put your key into a sensor thingy (for lack of a better term) that will turn your room lights on for you. When you leave, simply take the key from the holder (which is conveniently located next to the door), and your lights will automatically turn off.

Amenities of the hotel include an indoor pool, wellness spa that includes steam rooms and saunas, a fitness room, free Wi-Fi and more. Also, the hotel has a collection of cruiser bikes that any guest can take out for a ride through the narrow, cobblestone streets of the Old Quarter.

If you ever find yourself in Ascona, I highly recommend Hotel Garni La Meridiana. I may be biased, but this hotel is quite a treat. Check out the hotel’s Webcam, and you may even see me on the terrace, enjoying my little slice of Swiss-Italian heaven.

As a kid, I was obsessed with outer space. I wrote songs about the solar system, short stories about space travel (including one about an alien Santa Claus, and his disgruntled former elf employee who comes to earth to spill S.C.’s extraterrestrial secret … yeah, weird kid), and I wanted to be the first female astronaut to go to Mars.

Sadly, that didn’t happen. I didn't even get to go to Space Camp!

But maybe I don’t have to retire my dream of space travel quite yet.

Real Space Tourists

Today, Richard Garriott became the sixth space tourist when he docked at the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Soyuz TMA-13 spacecraft; he launched Oct. 12 from the Baikonur Cosmodome in Kazakhstan. The folks that sent him there: Space Adventures, Ltd. the first and only private space tourism company to send clients into space. Space Adventures works alongside professional astronauts and cosmonauts to provide safe space travel opportunities for its clients.

There are more than a dozen private space tourism ventures in the works, among them, Virgin Galactic, an offshoot of the popular Virgin Atlantic Airlines. Virgin Galactic owns the world’s first spacecraft line SpaceShipTwo, modeled from Burt Rutan’s award-winning SpaceShipOne design.

Most space tourists won’t get the same space experience as Garriott; space tour companies are currently focusing on offering sub-orbital flights—a spaceflight that reaches 62 miles above sea level and doesn’t make a full orbit around the earth—before orbital space flights are feasible on a wider scale. Before your flight, you’ll get an intensive three- to four-day training to prepare you for your outer space adventure.

Virgin Galactic is currently offering sub-orbital flights for the astronomical (heh) price of $200,000, and Space Adventures offers flights from $102,000—what a deal. In comparison, Garriott’s 10-day space jaunt cost him $30 million.

Satisfying the Celestial Itch

So maybe my space travel dreams are still light years away. For now, I’ll satisfy my cosmic nerdom with some low-budget, outer space-themed endeavors: stargazing and watching my favorite space films—Apollo 13, Contact and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Oh yeah, bring on the cheese. Green cheese. From the moon. Wow, I am a geek.

What are your thoughts on space travel? Do you think “space tourism” is only a reality for the insanely wealthy few, or could it pose a viable new frontier in the travel industry? Would you sign up for a spaceflight?

In the meantime, I’ll start counting my pennies now; see you in 40 years Virgin Galactic.

My Sept. 19 post Breasts on a Plane hit a nerve with traveling moms and has received 24 comments ... so far. My Back Page column this week addresses this issue further and looks into mother’s breastfeeding rights when flying.

Traveling with small children can be challenging under the best of circumstances—airline delays, bad weather, long stretches on the road—and finding a discrete place to breastfeed or pump can make a long day feel even longer.

But never fear, there are ways (and places) to feed and pump in comfort while you’re in transit. Debbie Dubrow of Delicious Baby says creativity is key when looking for a quiet place to nurse. Dubrow recommends:

• looking for a family restroom, many of which now have chairs or nursing gliders for breastfeeding moms;

• when you’re in an airport, look for a quiet corner in an unused gate area;

• or buy a day pass to airline lounges, which have plenty of private corners in which to settle;

• if traveling by car, many of the same rules apply. Of course, you can nurse or pump in your car, but that can be uncomfortable. Road stops and restaurants sometimes also have family bathrooms, and when all else fails, you can cover up with a blanket.

If your baby doesn’t enjoy nursing while covered (and tell me, would YOU like to eat your lunch with a blanket on your face?), there are products available specifically to make nursing more discrete, such as the Bebe au Lait nursing cover.

Remember, where ever you choose to feed your baby, you have the right to do so. All 50 states have laws that protect nursing moms.

Got a sweet tooth?

Then New York City is the place for you. As one of the culinary capitals of the world, New York has more than its share of places to indulge the kid in you—or, you know, like, your actual kid.

When I was a lass, we once had the grand pleasure of getting room-service sundaes from Rumplemeyer’s in the now-defunct St. Moritz Hotel. Considering that I’m 37 years old and can still taste the hot fudge sauce, you could say it made an impression.

Make a similar lasting impression on your wee ones and hit some of the city’s sweetest spots.

Dylan’s Candy Bar: From gummy bears to popcorn, if you can’t find it here, you can’t find it anywhere. This Third Avenue shop is a must-see for any chocoholic, no matter how old.

Chocolate Bar

Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar: Putting a modern spin on retro favorites is this café’s speciality. Billing itself as a “candy store for grown-ups,” you can indulge in savory chocolate sandwiches, nostalgia-inspired candy bars, gelato or the classic brownie. Or a salad. I say skip the salad, dude. The original West Village store recently closed and relocated to the East Village.

Rice To Riches: Candy not your thing? How about pudding? Mmmmm, puuuuddding. Rice to Riches specializes in nothing but rice pudding. But this ain’t your mama's pudding, mamas. No, this shop has flavors ranging from traditional to “Category 5 Caramel.” I know from what I speak—I once ordered a vat of the stuff for my honey for Valentine’s Day, and we both ate our way to nirvana.

Serendipity 3: What could be better than frozen hot chocolate? Hey, Oprah loves it, and America loves it some Oprah. Run, don’t walk to this legendary New York City sweet spot. Grab a burger, then top the meal off with an Outrageous Banana Split or a Strawberry Fields Sundae. Expect long lines.

Dessert Truck. Photograph by Rich Velasco.

Dessert Truck: Need your sweet fix while on the run? Scout out this sugar-on-wheels purveyor pushing $5 treats, such as molten chocolate cake served topped with sea salt and roasted pistachios. Two locations Park Avenue and 52nd Street days; Third Avenue and St. Marks Place (8th Street) nights.

Now I’m craving chocolate. Excuse me while I go scheme ways to get myself to New York City. Perhaps parcel post?

(For recommendations for more substantial family friendly fare, read TravelMuse's 7 Favorite Family Friendly Restaurants article, or for adults, its 10 Top NYC Restaurant Experiences piece.)

If you’re looking for a Mexican vacation that puts you closer to the culture than you can get by lazing on the beach, consider going to celebrate Día de los Muertos. The country’s biggest holiday celebrates the memories of departed family and friends, while allowing the living to have a festive time. Here are five great Day of the Dead destinations in Mexico to check out:

Pátzcuaro and Janítzio (state of Michoacán)

A candlelit boat procession journeys from the lakeside town of Pátzcuaro to the island of Janítzio. While both locations pulse with activity, the island’s cemetery is the focus of late-night gatherings. Read our Flowers for the Dead article about the Day of the Dead in this area.

Mixquic (Distrito Federal)

A small town on the outskirts of Mexico City so well known for its Day of the Dead celebrations, it’s often referred to as the “City of the Dead.”

Oaxaca City (state of Oaxaca)

So many people flock to Oaxaca’s cemeteries that travel packages are created just for the holiday. Unique to Oaxaca’s festivities is the temporary creation of colored sand carpets, sculpted in 3-D.

Mérida (state of Yucatán)

The White City celebrations include the Mayan banquet of the dead, Hanal Pixan (“soul food”). Large tamales baked in an underground pit are tasty features on the menu.

Chiapa de Corzo (state of Chiapas)

Marimba and mariachi bands play beloved tunes of the dead at the local cemetery of this small colonial town. Firecrackers announce the departure of souls each year.

Two news items of note were in my inbox this morning:

1) Average costs for business travelers—which often eventually trickle down to leisure travelers—are expected to rise up to 13 percent next year due to the current economic situation, according to the 2009 Industry Forecast from Dallas–based Advito, a unit of BCD Travel.

2) Even the rich are feeling the economic hit and scaling back their spending on luxury good and services, according to the latest update of the Annual Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America, from American Express Publishing and Harrison Group. The survey was initially conducted last December, but is updated quarterly.

The silver lining in the latter report? Travel so far has been immune to this downturn. While the wealthy are spending less on jewelry, fashion and accessory purchases, spending on luxury travel is up. (Although that may change with the next revision of the report: Current responses were taken the week before the Wall Street meltdown began.)

Other luxury segments seeing an increase are cars, home decor and children’s clothing. The possible reasoning behind the increases? These items benefit the entire family.

My question to you, especially those readers with children: How important is travel in your life? With the anticipated increase in airfares and other fees, will you scale back your 2009 vacation plans, or look to make cuts elsewhere?

October means Halloween, so freak yourself out on a spooky sleepover at one of several haunted bed and breakfasts across the country. BedandBreakfast.com has compiled an extensive list of haunted inns where ghost seekers can hang out with supernatural residents. Innkeepers tell tales of sassy specters who pull pranks on guests, ghostly whispers overheard, slamming doors and a woman who roams around in a red dress. Many B&Bs even offer haunted tours. Here are a few  that gave me the heebie-jeebies:

Red Garter B&B: Williams, Ariz.

A ghostly gal named Eve lives in this two-story, 1897 inn and onetime bar and bordello. Eve is thought to be a former ‘lady of the night’ who never left. Haunted Happenings: shaking beds, footsteps upon the stairs, feeling that something brushed against the skin.

The Groveland Hotel: Groveland, Calif.

An old gold miner named Lyle died here, found with a box of dynamite under his bed—but he’s not bitter. Haunted Happenings: He gets his kicks off pulling pranks on guests, like fiddling with lights and water, moving items around on desktops and. especially, removing women’s cosmetics from ‘his’ dresser.

Queen Anne Hotel: San Francisco, Calif.

Guests who stay in room 410—also known as the Miss Mary Lake Suite—will likely meet their haunted hostess. Miss Mary Lake was the former headmistress of the late-19th century finishing school that is now the Queen Anne Hotel. Haunted Happenings: being tucked in at night by Miss Mary, feeling hot and cold spots in the room, brief Miss Mary appearances in the mirror.

Inn at 835: Springfield, Ill.

Former owner Bell Miller is thought to have loved her 1909 home so much, she never left. Haunted Happenings: Elevator rides that drops guests off on random floors; single books being repeatedly placed in the center of a room, pulled out from a tight bookshelf; a candy jar lid being removed; wallpaper torn and mended the next day, and friendly ghost greetings.

Green Mountain Inn: Stowe, Vt.

“Boots” Berry was born in room 302 in 1840, and he was a local Stowe hero who once saved the passengers of an out-of-control stagecoach. His celebredom got to his head, however, and he became a slacker and did a stint in jail. While in jail, he learned to tap dance, where he got his nickname. When he eventually returned to Stowe and the Green Mountain Inn, he finally redeemed himself by rescuing a little girl stranded on the inn’s roof during a storm. Boots lowered her to safety, but he unfortunately slipped on the icy roof—the roof of room 302—and fell to his death. Haunted Happenings: tap dancing on the third floor.

Whoa; I’m so totally creeped out right now, I have goosebumps. 

Have you ever stayed at a haunted house? Where'd you stay? And what were your ghost encounters like? Happy Hauntings!