Zombie Cheerleaders, Spider Webs And 'Easter Eggs' Cast An Enchanting Spell At Legoland New York

NEW YORK — Taking a road trip to peer at the fall colors might seem like family-friendly fun — until you try pitching the idea to a 7-year-old.

Fortunately, not only is the Hudson Valley home to the best leaf-peeping in the country, it's also home to an attraction that no kid can resist.

Just to sweeten the cauldron, Legoland New York, in Goshen, has even added a Monster Party (and a few new delightfully creepy characters) to their "Brick or Treat" celebrations, from Oct. 2 to Nov 2. And there's no need to tell the kids that autumn foliage will feature prominently in the adventure.

After a day (or two) of dancing with Lord Vampyre and Tiger Lady, or cheering along with the Zombie cheerleaders, your tuckered-out little monster will be much more willing to peacefully take in the fall sights on the ride home. They might even agree, with sleepy eyes, to make a stop at a farm stand.

It doesn't take much to convince even the most fiendish band of little hobgoblins to make the trip to Legoland, but this time of year especially makes for a howling good time. Even if your brood of witches has been to the amusement park already this season, you might be in for a few "hair-raising" surprises.

Although all the familiar rides are operating, there is a decidedly creepy twist to the park's most popular attractions — along with dozens of satisfying "Easter eggs" hidden along the way. Mini-figure trick-or-treaters and dozens of ghosts have positively infested the streets of Mini-Manhattan. Spiders and ghoulish visitors have added a haunted feel to the disco party as the Dragon coaster leaves the station. There is even a build-your-own Lego Pumpkin patch that I swear wasn't here just a few weeks ago.

It's such a waste to only wear a costume on Halloween — at Legoland, costumes feel appropriate beginning on the very first days of October.

Promise your little banshees a chance to sample "Zombie Brains" (matcha funnel cake with strawberry topping, whipped cream, and gummy worms), and an "I Scream Sundae" in a Mini-Halloween-Lego Head (topped with crushed cookie "dirt" and gummy worms). There are plenty of treats with less of a "gross-out" theme for mom and dad as well. The pumpkin spice pretzel at Ben's hits the spot, and it's hard not to be in the spirit of the season with a crispy apple slaw-topped frankfurter in your hand. The candy corn crunch at the What's Poppin' popcorn stand proves to be something more than the sum of its parts.

Not content to just solve the problem of convincing the children that a trip for leaf-peeping, antiquing, and visiting artisan goat cheese shops is a good use of a day off, Legoland has a solution for the rest of our biggest fall dilemmas as well.

Your KPop Demon Hunters-clad little ones are ready to trick-or-treat now, so why wait for Halloween night? Lego Skeleton guy is handing out treats at stations all around the park. Best of all, there's no need to lecture the gaggle about watching out for cars — even though Legoland lets kids as young as 3 years old drive. The cars are on a closed course and trick-or-treaters are safely away from traffic.

Allergies aren't the issue at Legoland's "Brick-or-Treat" that they are when going door-to-door in your own neighborhood. Nut-free options are available, and those handing out the treats are knowledgeable about the ingredients (unlike Mrs. Jones next door).

There's no fear of bullying or bag-snatching at Legoland "Brick-or-Treat" — the fun is during daylight hours. And there's no need to explain to the kids why we are avoiding that weird neighbor on the corner's house like back at home.

Perhaps best of all, "Brick-or-Treat" means not having to rely on your town to decide to make the worst possible decisions on when trick-or-treating days and hours are going to be. At Legoland, trick-or-treat takes place all month long, up to Nov. 2.

Beware: you might find yourself with a new fall tradition on your hands, but it's okay if you do — each year, there's a new Lego character to meet, a new terrifyingly fun show to enjoy, new activities to participate in, and new gross-out treats to taunt grown-ups with.

This time of year, more than ever, the park feels like an escape from everyday life — if just for a few hours. And there might not be a better place to experience the joy of dressing up in costumes and "brick-or-treating" than someplace magical that feels just a little insulated from the real world.