AHH, AUTUMN! This month’s cover of the Great Wall of China surrounded by the changing leaves of the season certainly gave me all the fall feels, and brought warm memories and eager anticipation for all of my favorite fall activities here in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. There’s apple and pumpkin picking, drives to take in the beautiful foliage, decorating the house and outdoors with mums and gourds, and much more. What are your favorite seasonal activities in your hometown?

Of course, we also celebrate the season with haunted everything — hayrides, corn mazes, houses, and this month, we take a more in-depth look at the phenomenon of haunted tourism. This can range from hotels with ghoulish permanent residents to haunted tours to tours and attractions themed around true crime to fictional scares, like haunted houses. Whichever way the witch’s broom points, haunted tourism is big business, year-round.

I’ve taken haunted tours in several cities, from domestic destinations like Charleston to international spots like Prague. I creepily re-traced the path of Jack the Ripper in the City of London and I screamed in fright when character actors popped out to scare me during a ghost tour in Ireland. I also cried and buried my head in my mom’s shoulder as a more skittish teen at Universal Studios Orlando’s Fright Night. These tours and attractions can also be a unique way to learn more about the history of a destination; after all, the tales of scares and legendary lore start somewhere.

Screams and ghosts may not be for everyone, and that’s not all we bring you this month. We get to know what’s next for Aeromexico, hear from Jumeirah’s new chief culinary officer and take a look at pop-culture cruising. We also jet off to Jerusalem, Osaka, Atlanta, London, Mexico City, Tallinn, Abu Dhabi, China and the Caribbean.

Sail away with us next month as we bring you our second annual Cruising Issue. Until then, happy frights and fall festivals!