The Queen Mary's Dark Harbor: Where Scaredy-Cats go to Scream

Are you a Scaredy Cat?

I found out something about myself this Thursday night.  Husband Don and I had a rare chance to have a 'date night', at the Queen Mary's Dark Harbor attraction.  That is, what started simply as a visit to the Dark Harbor quickly turned into a date night when I found myself wanting to hold hands and stay right close to him!

Before I give you my personal reaction to the Haunted Harbor activities, I would like to tell you a little about me.  One of my favorite authors as a teenager was Edgar Allan Poe.  Dark stories about evil characters that lurk.  When I was in college, I for a while considered the Texas Chain Saw Massacre to be my favorite movie.  I sought out horror movies at night, and would watch them alone, much of the time covering my eyes with my blanket.  Scared out of my wits, but still seeking the grotesque and the screamertunities. 

I no longer seek out horror movies and evil characters in books.  I don't visit thrill ride parks, either.  I told myself that it was because... you know... I've done that before.  It occurs to me now, that it may be because...

I'm just a Scaredy Cat.

Are you a scaredy cat?  You know what I mean, afraid of everything?  Can't walk in the dark without going behind the person in front of you;  dragging on their shirt, gripping their hands so tight that it hurts; jumping out of your skin and screaming at every loud noise?

My heart was pounding as I went through the side shows.  I gripped Don's shirt and begged to hold his hand.  I was really, truly scared!  I had no idea that I would react that way!  And yes, there were many, many, many - did I say many? - screams.  They were mostly coming from me.

I have put together the experiences for you to see, in photos on this post and in videos on my Squigglemom YouTube channel.  Many of the videos are black or very dark, but I found myself amused by the soundtrack that included (my own) many, many, many scaredy-cat screams!  I can laugh at it now.

Video: Scaredy Cat Visits Queen Mary's Dark Harbor

So... Are you a Scaredy Cat?  Dare you visit the Haunted Harbor?  There are many themed mazes with butchering madmen, grotesque clowns and ghouls jumping at you.  There are side shows and carnival rides.  You can even catch a ride on the zipline for a different type of scare.

Video: Queen Mary Dark Harbor (if you're wondering what it's all about).  It's in sections, so if you've seen enough of one, you can skip ahead on the video.

Saving on Tickets
Dark Harbor is open Thursday-Sunday.  Entry varies from $24-$34 depending upon the day of week and proximity to Halloween and season passes are available.  Tickets may be purchased online. 

You can save a few $$ if you take the Passport from downtown Long Beach (save on parking) and gather together a group of friends to go.  You'll want to go with friends.  There'll be more hands to hold when you're scared!  Substantial discounts are available for purchases made online and groups of 8 or more.  A few of the rides require additional ticketing.  Check the website for more info: Queen Mary's Dark Harbor attraction.

About the Author
Trish Tsoiasue blogs voluminously on the Belmont Shore and Long Beach patches.  She has to her credit multiple YouTube channels (please subscribe!) and is working very hard to bring Making to youth here in Long Beach.  She is currently in the running for a Fusion Energi Adventure in Ford's $20 Road Trip Contest that she wants to take with her friend WackyCap (they are WackyCapNTrish).  You can see our video about our trip here.  She wants to show folks all the way from San Francisco to Long Beach the mask techniques that she is learning from WackyCap!