Our adventure began in New York, swapping skyscrapers for trees as we drove up to Sleepy Hollow. In true American style we had a huge car, perfect for stretching out and watching the countryside turn into a blaze of reds, oranges and golds.Sleepy Hollow feels as if it has stepped straight out of a storybook in late October. We timed our visit for the Halloween parade, and the whole town seemed to join in.

The highlight was watching the Headless Horseman lead the Sleepy Hollow Halloween parade, riding through the streets as families, groups and children of all ages, dressed in every costume you can imagine, followed along and joined the procession. With pumpkins glowing and music playing, it was wonderfully atmospheric, a little spooky yet still very family‑friendly: the perfect start to our Halloween‑themed trip.

From Sleepy Hollow we headed south through more glorious autumn scenery, rolling hills and long stretches of open road. A simple stop at a service station turned into a slice of real American life, surrounded by NFL fans in their jerseys, all gearing up for a Jets game and buzzing with pre‑match excitement.

Arriving into Washington DC felt instantly iconic. We walked up to the White House, took in the grand monuments and wide avenues, and soaked up the sense of history.

For my animal‑loving daughter, Washington Zoo and a visit to MingMing the panda were non‑negotiable. Seeing the Pandas rollling around, playing made the whole detour worthwhile. My Airline-Geek of a husband then got his bucket-list moment as we then spent time exploring the Smithsonian, where you can dip into everything from space to history in just a few steps.

We stayed with friends in Alexandria, Virginia, and this is where we experienced a “true” American Halloween. Tree‑lined streets decked out with decorations, porches layered with pumpkins, children trick‑or‑treating from house to house and neighbours chatting on their doorsteps: it felt cosy, welcoming and wonderfully different from Halloween at home. We packed ouy "Dias De Los Muertos" costumes to fit right in!

After all the driving, we swapped the car for the train back to New York, relaxing while the landscape rolled past the window. Back in the city, we made the most of it: plenty of shopping, people‑watching and soaking up that unmistakable New York energy.

With a theatre‑mad daughter, two things were a must. Ellen’s Stardust Diner, where the servers sing Broadway hits between serving burgers and milkshakes, was huge fun. Then we rounded off the trip by seeing Beetlejuice on Broadway, keeping the Halloween theme going right to the end.