Because I’m a travel writer, my family travels across the country (usually staying at the excellent and affordable Homewood Suites). Much to our delight, we’re on the road most weekends around the globe. This year, my kids are dying to put their experience on display for everyone on our block to see – in their Halloween costumes, that is! The only problem? They can’t decide which adventure and which character to portray.

Abby’s way into scary this year, so we’ve been working on gathering together materials for a witch costume, inspired by our visits to the witchy sites in Salem, Massachusetts, and to New York, where the musical Wicked is a huge hit. But last night she came to me and said she wants to be a fishmonger. Why? She’s still totally jazzed by the fish we saw “flying” at Pike Place Market in Seattle, and she thinks it would fun to throw a few while she trick-or-treats.

As for Zoe, she’s all about being an astronaut, both in real life and for Halloween. That’s probably because she spent a week this summer at Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. Luckily, she brought home a bunch of astronaut gear, including a flight suit, so she’s good to go. Still, she hasn’t totally ruled out Belle, the only Disney princess who’s still “cool.” On our Orlando trip this winter, Zoe met the costumed character and she’s been a secret fan ever since (especially because Belle loves to read).

My husband is all about the surfer-dude look, probably because our trip to Ft. Lauderdale was a huge hit with him. When I asked him about how he’s planning to stay warm in a swimsuit, goggles and flip flops, he said he’ll just tie a beach towel around his shoulders. Or maybe he should go for the wet suit?

As for me? I’m thinking I might go plain this Halloween – Amish-style “plain,” that is. Our visit to Lancaster, Penn., where we rode in horse and buggies, ate shoofly pie and shopped the outlets, was my favorite so far this year. But I’d also love to be a hula dancer. I learned a few moves on the Big Island of Hawaii, all the better to dance down the street.

We’ve had some great adventures this year, so I’m pretty sure that the kids will consider pilgrim, rock star, Supreme Court justice and mountain hiker costumes before they’re done. But I have to say, there’s nothing cuter than a nine-year-old, gap toothed witch.