Briefs: Where to find a scare, if you dare, for Halloween

WHERE TO FIND A SCARE — IF YOU DARE

Celebrating Halloween at a theme park is nothing new around here (think Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream and Halloween Horror Nights at Universal), but now you can get a fright pretty much anywhere in the country. Eighty-one percent of amusement parks will hold Halloween or fall-themed events this year, according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Fewer than half of them offered such attractions 15 years ago.

Here are some to consider; be sure to check with destinations for exact times and dates.

Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach: "Hall of Terror" and "Haunted River Ride," adventurelanding.com/jaxbeach.

Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, "HalloWeekends," halloweekends.com.

Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C., "SCarowinds," scarowinds.com.

Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif., "Halloween Time," disneylandnews.com.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, "Terror Behind the Walls," easternstate.org.

Get your kicks and more

Route 66 fans, rejoice. The National Park Service has put up a mother lode of information about the historic road that stretches across two-thirds of America, from Los Angeles to Chicago. The Route 66 microsite (nps.gov/history/nr/travel/route66) offers maps, essays, photos, histories of landmarks and a resource list with links to fan sites, museums, tourist bureaus and more.

Peepers, pop in

If you're headed to the Great Smoky Mountains for leaf season, stop by the Gatlinburg, Tenn., area for festivals that celebrate music, crafts and food. Through the end of the month, Dollywood in nearby Pigeon Forge presents the National Gospel and Harvest Celebration, one of the largest Southern gospel music events in the country. Find details at dollywood.com. From Thursday through Oct. 25, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair takes place at the city's convention center, with unique art and demonstrations by skilled craftsmen. Then on Nov. 4, more than 20 vendors take part in the Winter Magic Kickoff & Chili Cookoff in Gatlinburg.

Unique spots to close your eyes

How would you like to sleep in a giant seashell, wine barrel, prison cell or castle? These are just a few of the adventurous options in Bed in a Tree and Other Amazing Hotels Around the World (Eyewitness Travel, $25). Author Bettina Kowalewski slept in each of the 27 unusual accommodations she describes, from a bed in a cave in Cappadocia, Turkey, to a bed in a sphere suspended from a tree on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. Suggestions for things to do nearby accompany each entry.

Strolls in historic Charleston

South Carolina's oldest city is preparing to open its historic homes to visitors for the Preservation Society of Charleston's 33rd annual Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens. The Historic District tours are offered Thursdays through Sundays through Oct. 25 and feature mainly private homes and gardens plus a few historic churches and public buildings. Details at preservationsociety.org.

Apps for travelers

There are now more than 50,000 applications related to travel available for the iPhone. Here are a few recommended by National Geographic Traveler magazine:

Flight Track, $5, offers real-time flight updates, delays and cancellations, and Next Flight, $3, helps you find options if you miss your plane.

The Maps app, which is free, can be enabled to show traffic with green, yellow or red highways, depending on how many cars are on the road.

Cheap Gas, a free app, gives you nearby stations and fuel prices.

Trapster, also free, identifies speed cameras and known speed traps.

Rest Area, $1, gives you a list of highway rest stops organized by proximity to your location.

Urbanspoon, which is free, queries a database to find nearby dining options.

Currency, also free, converts money from more than 90 currencies.

goPostal will print a postcard using your photo and mail it for $1.29.

Compiled from Times wires