The Keene Pumpkin Festival holds its annual event on October 17th.  It includes a variety of fun activities for kids and teens.  On October 16th, the community holds a special event beginning at 5 PM.  For five hours, families bring their carved-out pumpkins to designated areas for the following day’s events.  There is entertainment, hay rides, plenty to eat, and a glimpse into the main event which everyone anticipates on the 17th.

Known for holding the record for the most pumpkins lit, Keene exceeds the record every year.  In 2003, there were 28,952 lit pumpkins lining Main Street, and this year promises to be the year that the old record is broken.

On October 17th, from 10 AM to 9 PM, your family can spend a glorious day in downtown Keene and participate in the many activities offered.  Here are some highlights of what you can expect.

There is a kids’ costume parade featuring children dressed up in their most unique Halloween costumes.  Your children may want to participate in this annual event!  The parade starts at noon.  In addition, there is food and entertainment, as well as crafts, face-painting, pie-eating contests, and lots of food.

There are plenty activities for teens, too.  On Gilbo Avenue, there is a wall climbing event, a museum of odd pumpkins, entertainment, pumpkin seed spitting contest (really!), pie-eating contests, and a finale that the entire family will enjoy!

If you want to celebrate Halloween in a unique and fun-filled way this year, check out the Keene Pumpkin Festival in New Hampshire.  There are Bed & Breakfasts, Motels, Hotels, and Inns available to accommodate you for the weekend.  Make your reservations as soon as you can.

Here are directions to get to Keene, New Hampshire:

- From the North:  Take Interstate 91 Exit 5 (Westminster, VT). Follow signs to Route 12 South to Keene.

- From the West:  Take Route 9 East to Brattleboro, VT, turn left onto Interstate 91 North, then take Interstate 91 North to Exit 3. Route 9 East to Keene.

- From the Southeast:  Take Route 2 West to Exit 24B to Route 140 north, east of Gardner. Follow Route 140 North to Route 12 into Keene.

- From the East:  Take Route 101 West.

- From the Northeast:  Take Route 9 West.  Follow 9 into Keene.  Once you arrive in Keene, follow the event parking signs.

Don’t forget to bring the family pumpkin!  You may be the family who helps to break the all-time record!

1.  Waist Pack.  These have become quite popular and come in many different shapes and sizes.  The more popular one is the Nylon Waist Pack.  There are two sizes: 9×5x3 and 11×6x4.  This waist pack has non-cuttable straps, locking zipper pulls, security buckle wrap, and a slash-proof bottom.  It stops professional pickpockets and thieves from attempting to steal your valuables.  It is priced at $31.95 and $36.95, respectively.

2.  Underclothing Waist Wallet.  Available for $18.95, this waist wallet has a removable water-resistant liner.  The strap hides strands of cut-proof flexible wire.  It is adjustable to fit waist sizes 28” to 46”, comes with a zip-safe security feature and has a concealed buckle release.  There are two zipped pockets for tickets, passports, and credit cards, and its size is 5.25” x 11.325”.

3.  Travel Safe.  Priced at $39.50, this travel safe is a light-weight portable safe used for valuables such as passports, wallets, money, jewelry, and cameras.  It can be locked to a secure fixture to prevent anything being stolen.  It features a laminated steel mesh embedded in durable nylon and has a stainless steel cable with padlock and locking device.

4.  Laptop Security Cable.  For $24.95, this cable with alarm features a laptop security adapter.  You can lock your laptop to a stationary device.  The cable is retractable, has a 3-dial lock, a 110 decibel alarm system, and is motion sensitive.  You won’t have to worry about someone stealing your laptop at the airport with this little device!

5.  Door Stop and Alarm.  For women traveling alone, this is the perfect tool to use at hotels.  For $24.95, this device will prevent doors from opening, has a 120 decibel alarm, is stronger than a deadbolt, is lightweight, and uses a 9 volt battery.  No more sleepless night with the door stop and alarm!  Just place it on the floor in the path of the door swing.  If anyone tries to enter, it sounds the alarm and stops the door from opening.

6.  Tour Safe Handbag.  For women who cannot tour cities or countries without taking their handbag along, here is a product that is a must-have.  Priced at $65.95, this bag is extraordinary.  It has four anti-theft features:  a slash-guard in the lower front and bottom panels, a slash-proof adjustable shoulder strap, a snatch-proof shoulder strap that allows the bag to anchor to a secure fixture, and a tamper-proof zipper.

How would you and your family like to spend a Halloween weekend at Philipsburg Manor where ghosts, goblins, and things that go bump in the night are the main attractions?  Well, you can by booking a Legend Weekend at Phillipsburg Manor located in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

The ghost of Ichabod Crane comes alive again during this fun-filled and spooky weekend vacation.  There are two weekend events.  The first is October 17 and 18, and the second is scheduled for October 24 and 25.

There are activities galore at Phillipsburg Manor, including pumpkin carving, games, children’s activities, cooking, and corn shelling.  There are tours available around the property as well as Sleepy Hollow.  There is even a Ghosts’ dance held in honor of the occasion.

Phillipsburg Manor is the perfect venue for a Halloween sojourn.  It is known as the perfect landscape for this type of spooky weekend because it is situated along the same route that Ichabod Crane took according to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  In fact, there is a pond on the property that can be accessed by a bridge.  But watch out, there have been tales of ghostly apparitions floating on the pond!

For accommodations, check out the Tarrytown Courtyard by Marriott, which is only .71 miles from the Manor or the Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown, which is .30 miles from the Manor.  Compare rates for these and more hotels and motels through Expedia or Priceline.

In addition, you may also want to visit Kykuit, a former Rockefeller Estate that is now the home to a collection of modern sculptures, Chinese and European ceramics, fine furnishings and exquisite terraces and gardens.

Another must-see is Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Your family can obtain a map that shows where you can find some of the more famous landmarks.  There is a sign near the entrance gate commemorating Ichabod Crane’s ride over the bridge to escape the headless horseman.

Look for the directions to Washington Irving’s grave, author of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  Once you get to the Irving family plot, you can walk down into the Old Dutch Church Cemetery, which is the oldest part of Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

For a fun-filled, exciting, and adventurous Halloween, make reservations early as this is sure to be one spooky and memorable weekend.

It wasn’t too long ago that a single woman could travel to Aruba, go casino hopping at night, shopping in town, and enjoy the beautiful turquoise waters without a care in the world.  On the other hand, taking a trip to Alaska alone is still not the most prudent action as Alaska has the highest incidents of rape in the country.

In fact, if you perused the internet and read the crime statistics in every major city or country, you would probably be tempted not to travel at all.

To this end, here are ten safety tips for women travelers.

1.  Always be aware.  Find out as much information about the place you are traveling to as well as the hotels and the surrounding areas.  If traveling abroad, make a note of where the US consulate is located.

2.  Avoid areas that are less populated and not well lit.  If you want to visit some historic sights, join a group tour.  As an example, first time travelers to New York may want to take a walk in Central Park at night.  However, unless you are familiar with the park, this is not a good idea.

3.  When traveling anywhere, ensure that you blend in and not stand out of the crowd.  Walk with an air of confidence.  Timidity can be a catalyst for predators.

4.  If you are vacationing, hook up with a sightseeing tour or sign up for a group tour with your travel agent.  If you find yourself alone at a café or other public venue, you may want to strike up a conversation with other tourists.

5.  Always leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member and friend.  If you plan to take a side tour to a destination that is not on the itinerary, contact your embassy and let then know what your plans are.

6.  Thieves usually cover the areas that tourists are most attracted to.  For example, walking along the Champs Elysees in Paris with a large handbag makes you vulnerable to thieves.  Without your knowing it, they can bump into you, steal your wallet, and run off.  In Rome, on the other hand, many thieves use scooters.  They can whiz by, snatch your handbag, and you’ll never see it again.  Dress down and utilize a shopping bag instead of a handbag or backpack.

7.  If you are dining out or visiting several pubs, be extra careful.  Women can be drugged by unscrupulous characters looking for a good time.

8.  Ensure that your hotel has adequate security.  If necessary, place a chair against the door or bring a wooden doorstop with you on the trip.

9.  No matter where you are traveling to, bring a street map with you.  If you do get lost, go into the nearest shop or look for the nearest telephone and call the embassy.  Do not allow anyone to drive you to the destination.  If they insist, walk away quickly.

10.  It is important to carry some form of protection or device with which you can alert others that you are in trouble.  A whistle and/or pepper spray may be warranted.  However, check with the local consulate or embassy to determine if the pepper spray is legal in that particular country.

Sometimes when we make travel arrangements, we give little thought to the hotel.  Perhaps because it is part of the package deal or maybe you have been to the area before and liked the location.  Whatever the reason, hotel safety is just as important as airport safety and flight safety.  Here are ten things to look for when booking a hotel.

1.  Try to avoid hotels that are in secluded areas.  Choose a hotel that utilizes modern technology such as electronic locks for the rooms or has a deadbolt in addition to the standard lock.  The room should have a peephole as well.  Do the windows have locks?  Are the hallways well lit?  Are there ample security personnel within the hotel?

2.  Always know where your luggage is located once you arrive at the hotel.  Ensure that you are with your luggage when it is taken up to your room.  By the way, it’s a good idea to always book a room on a higher floor.

3.  When registering at the hotel, use your first initial and last name only.  Women travelling alone are advised to book the room using Mrs. Jones or Mr. & Mrs. Jones (or whatever their last name is).

4.  When asked for your credit card, keep a close watch on what the clerk does with it and make sure it is handed back to you.  If there is a hotel brochure on the counter, take two.  Keep one in your purse and one near the telephone in your room. It will make it much easier to tell a cab driver where to go if you forget the address or name of the hotel.

5.  Always be aware of those around you, especially if the hotel has an elevator.  Stay as close to the buttons as possible in case you have to hit the panic button on the panel.  If you are alone in the elevator and an individual comes on who seems a bit suspicious – get out the next floor.

6.  Sometimes we take hotel rooms for granted.  When arriving at your room for the first time, check everything.  Doors, windows, bathroom, closets, under the bed, the telephone (to ensure it is operating), locks, and most importantly – check to see if there is the fire safety information posted on the door to the room.  It is required that the information contained therein shows where you are and where the nearest exit is to your room.

7.  Always use the lock and deadbolt when retiring to your room for the night.  In fact, you can purchase a door stop with an alarm if you are travelling alone to ensure your safety.

8.  Do not, under any circumstances, open the door to your room unless you know who the person is.  In fact, if you have been out for the day and you return to find a few things out of place in your room – leave immediately and have security check your room.

9.  When you go out touring for the day, it is recommended that you leave the TV on.  Have your room made up while you are having breakfast, then put the ‘Do Not Disturb” sign on the doorknob when you leave.  Leave one lamp lit as well.  In this way someone will think you are in your room.

10.  If the hotel has a safe, use it to store your valuables.  Only take out what you need for the day.  Do not wear lots of jewelry, and if you have brought a laptop with you – have the clerk lock it up with the rest of your valuables until you return.

Finally, identity theft has increased dramatically all over the world.  If someone calls your hotel room to verify your credit card and says he or she is the desk clerk or manager, hang up and call the desk again.  Odds are someone was attempting to steal your credit card number.