Halloween isn't just about dressing up and devouring candy by the pound. It's also the perfect excuse to explore some of the most haunted places in America. Why settle for a theme park haunted house when you can visit these historic destinations allegedly frequented by ghosts?
From cursed prisons to eerie hotels, the United States is full of places that will have you jumping at every creaky floorboard and flickering light. Whether you're a full-on ghost hunter or just love a good spine-tingling story, these 10 spooky spots will add a little extra chill to your Halloween season. Just be sure to pack your bravest face.
The town of Salem, just a 30-minute train ride north of Boston, is practically synonymous with witchcraft. If you're into the paranormal, the Salem witch trials of 1692 are just the tip of the iceberg. The town has capitalized on its eerie history, turning it into a Halloween hot spot. But it's not just the witch trial landmarks that will give you goosebumps; the entire town feels like it's haunted. Some visitors report ghostly sightings near the Old Burying Point Cemetery, where the accusers and accused of the infamous trials lie in rest — or perhaps unrest.
On the top of your list should be a visit to the Witch House. It's the last remaining building in Salem with a direct connection to the witch trials. Also, stop by the Salem Witch Museum, where you can sit in the dark and hear the tragic tales of those persecuted. If you're in town this fall, the Salem Haunted Happenings festival hosts magic shows, markets and family-friendly events throughout September and October.
If Halloween is your excuse to see an abandoned prison, then Eastern State Penitentiary should be at the top of your list. This 19th-century prison in Philadelphia was designed to isolate its inmates in complete silence (think solitary confinement but 100 times worse). Inmates were forced to wear hoods when leaving their cells to ensure that they never saw or spoke to another human being. It's no surprise that some former residents are rumored to have overstayed their sentences ... in ghostly form.
Visitors frequently report eerie footsteps, shadowy figures and creepy disembodied laughter echoing down the empty corridors. Plus, the prison is transformed every October into an interactive haunted house with five different scare zones. Just imagine getting chased by a ghost down a decaying cell block. Be sure to get VIP tickets, which give you access to the Speakeasy at Al Capone's Cell and two complimentary drinks.
Savannah, Georgia, is often described as one of the most haunted cities in the U.S., and for good reason. Beneath its charming squares, draped in Spanish moss, lurks a past full of war, fires and, of course,
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Amsterdam, like many other European cities, is facing an overtourism problem. The numbers don’t lie. In the year 2000, the Dutch capital broke a record when it welcomed over 4 million visitors. In 2019, the city’s enthusiasm for unbridled tourism had curbed: 10.2 million visitors came to Amsterdam, which has a population of about 820,000, that year and spent 21.8 million nights in the city.
It’s looking like Dominica will get an international airport by 2026, and this will be game-changer for visitors. The project, costing north of $1 billion, will welcome international flights from around the world — a stark contrast to the facilities at the current airport, Douglas-Charles Airport, which mainly handles domestic flights and around 60,000 passengers per year through the three gates. Dominica International Airport has been in the planning stages for several years. The new airport is being built on a 500-acre site. On completion, the runways will facilitate planes from local Caribbean airports and the US and Europe.
You have a phantom ship named Caleuche to thank for the haze obscuring Chiloé from sight as you sail from mainland Chile. Chilotes say this enchanted galleon travels underwater at breakneck speeds, shapeshifts to avoid detection, and rewards local merchants with booty when they dare strike a deal with its crew of wizards. Even if you don’t believe in sorcery and superstition, this mysterious archipelago will disarm you with its rugged wilderness and charming fishing villages.
When you board Amtrak’s Auto Train, you’re doing something unique that happens on no other train within the Amtrak system. First of all, you and your vehicle (car, motorcycle, van, small trailer, or SUV if it meets the measurement limits) must both be on board. You can’t go without it and it can’t go without you.
There are plenty of amazing leaf-peeping opportunities in the US. A romantic road trip to see the covered bridges of New England is one, taking an air balloon ride to see the foliage from above is another. But the most relaxed and nostalgic way to experience fall in all its glory is by train. There are multiple vintage railroads in the United States that will transport you back in time while you admire the fall colors, but few do it as well as the East Broad Top railroad.
Renting a car from the airport is a vey convenient way to explore a new city independently, but convenience has a price, and it’s often very high. Once you’ve added the airport fee, the damage insurance, and the liability insurance on top of the price of your rental, you’re often looking at a daily amount that reaches three figures. Car rental companies do vary their prices from one airport to the next, however, and some are significantly cheaper than others.
There’s something about sleeping on a boat. It’s the rocking, of course, and the sound of the water. It’s also the cocoon effect of containment in a small space tucked away from the world. I’m not talking about cruise ships and luxury yachts here. I’m talking about a vessel that gently rocks, just enough to let a person know she’s not on dry land. If you suffer from seasickness, this could be an issue. As for me, I never sleep better than I do on a boat.