Florida haunted attraction Sir Henry's Haunted Trail will open their gates for a tenth year in a row October of 2024. Located between Tampa and Orlando, the local haunt has been raising funds for nonprofits as a 501(c)3 and providing an endless supply of screams for a decade.
Whether this is your first time visiting Central Florida spooky attractions, or you are looking to discover new scary bucket list items, here is a suggested day trip route when visiting Sir Henry's in the Fall*:
Morning -
IF COMING FROM ORLANDO: After scarfing down breakfast at Bagel King, there are several shops to visit for spooky retail therapy, such as Prometheus Esoterica or Atomic Horror. You can also check out the Atlas Obscura lengthy list of odd items in the Orlando area to check out. Tip: Atlas Obscura has other lists for different locations worldwide - give it a try, when you're traveling or exploring near your home town! A great suggestion would be to swing by the Pop Culture Soda Shoppe to not only grab a treat and see beautiful historic downtown Clermont, but to also avoid some Interstate 4 traffic heading South. The drive is quite scenic!
IF COMING FROM TAMPA: Grab some breakfast at the evocative Oxford Exchange, which is housed in a circa 1891 building. Reportedly haunted sites you can seek out tours of are the historic Tampa Theater, the Henry B Plant Museum, or the American Victory Ship. Fun fact: the decommissioned battle ship also hosts Undead in the Water, which another great Tampa area haunted attraction during the Halloween season.
Afternoon -
WORKS IF YOU ARE COMING FROM EITHER DIRECTION: After swinging by Downtown Lakeland's Black and Brew Coffee for a caffeine pick-me-up and some great food options, head to the Lakeland Antique Mall. This behemoth of second hand items is a nearly endless treasure trove of creepy goodies. Whether they are cursed, just pure strange looking, or antique theme park trinkets, you are sure to happily spend hours here. Lakeland is also home to the Southgate Shopping Center, which fans of Edward Scissorhands will want to make a pilgrimage to.
Evening -
BEFORE HEADING HOME: Whether you grab dinner there before or after visiting Sir Henry's, Cob & Pen of Lakeland is open late with a great menu selection. The building is richly historic and is sure to delight your spooky, Tudor house aesthetic taste. The vibrant red door will also send a delightful shiver down your spine.
*At the time of writing this piece, these establishments are open to the public, as of July 2024. The piece may be edited to reflect any changes, as time passes. We always suggest contacting locations and looking up their local operating hours to avoid disappointment.
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