We’ll be viewing some new Halloween treats (or maybe tricks) here at Offbeat this year, but first, let’s take a look at a cool Offbeat spooky post round-up.

Jack-O-Lantern Homes
Jealous ghosts walk the halls here
It’s not Halloween without some Extreme Pumpkin Carving
Haunted Homes: The Myrtles Plantation
Apparitions everywhere!
Dracula’s Castle
The Haunted Mansion Sugar Cookie House – too cool to eat
Offbeat Pumpkin Architecture
Pumpkin Architecture Take Two
Get some killer spooky glowing lights for your haunted house
Of course, the good old The Winchester Mystery House
Have some scary fun with these links.
[image via stock.xchng]

There aren’t that many days left until Halloween so in continuing with the theme of spooky homes today we have The Phantom Manor! The Phantom Manor is the official name of the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland Paris and one fellow named Ray Keim took nine hours and recreated it with cookie dough.
I love this. Keim took cookie homes to a whole new level here. He used Lightwave to create a 3D model, made templates, and has the whole process available to see at his website Haunted Dimensions.  This structure is nothing short of amazing — I think kids …read more

Since spooky old Halloween is just around the corner I wanted to bring on the scary. Offbeat Homes has already showcased many a haunted house, so I thought we’d start with a round-up of the scary you may have missed in the past.  Click on the haunted home photo for an in-depth look at what makes each home so terrifying… If you dare.
Dracula’s Castle

One of America’s Most Haunted Homes (and you can stay there)

Jealous ghosts walk the halls here.
 
Apparitions everywhere!

And of course, The Winchester Mystery House…

If you can’t get enough of spooky homes never fear because Offbeat’s got more …read more

It’s back to school time! Our Home & Dining Channel is kicking it off in some fine H&D style today! All the blogs here at H&D got together so that we could bring you the best back to school tips possible.
With the exception of me here at Offbeat, (seriously are there really offbeat school tips?) the H&D channel has lots of great stuff that you need to know to get your kids back to school with style, organization, and the everlasting bagged lunch.
Here are the offerings:
Maricar has the MOST AMAZING idea at Keeping the Castle for back to school Bento; …read more

The Oak Alley Plantation resides in Vacherie, Louisiana, and you may have actually seen it in such movies as Interview with a Vampire, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte, Dixie: Changing Habits, The Long Hot Summer, North and South, and/or Primary Colors.

The plantation was built a little over hundred years later in 1837-39 by George Swainey for wealthy Creole sugar cane farmer, Jacques Telesphore Roman III and his wife Josephine Pile. Josephine’s father was a New Orleans architect, who provided the plans for the plantation house and the estate. Jacques called his new plantation home, “Bon Sejour,” (Pleasant Sojourn), but the oaks …read more

If you’re the type of person who’s always in search of spookie places to stay, here’s one that might appeal to you. Queen’s Hotel in Cape May, NJ is the site of several paranormal manifestations that might give you goosebumps in the night.
This beautiful victorian bed and breakfast was built back in 1876. To the casual observer it was simply a respectable business called Ware’s Pharmacy. Behind the scenes, however, things were a little spicier. Think: gambling and prostitution.
In 1878, however, a huge fire raged through the town and took Ware’s Pharmacy down with it, giving builders a chance to …read more

Halloween has passed, but that doesn’t mean the spirits no longer walk the earth, inhabit homes, or toss furniture around! Whether or not you believe in the paranormal, haunted houses are always sure-fire topics of fascination.
So let’s start with The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana. I will now insert a creepy picture of said establishment to get us in the mood…

Now that we’re feeling jumpy and looking over our shoulders, let’s go on.
The Myrtles Plantation has been called “One of America’s Most Haunted Homes” though these days it would be more aptly titled “One of America’s Most Haunted B&Bs” …read more