I LOVE fall. Cozy sweaters, leaves turning beautiful colors, PSL, and–most importantly–SPOOKY SEASON! In celebration of my favorite season, I’ve put together a list of destinations all over the US that have legendary ghost stories associated with their pasts and would be great as part of a weekend trip. So, if you love spooky season as much as I do, it may be time to start planning your visit!
Bonus: if you can’t make it to a spooky destination this October, immerse in the Halloween spirit by checking out my favorite scary movies inspired by these locations. Viewer discretion advised!
Salem, Massachusetts, USA
Salem is famous for the witch trials that occurred in 1692 and killed 25 people. Today, it’s a bustling town where you can visit museums, take a walking tour, or find a souvenir in one of the shops. While open year-round, this town really comes to life in October: Haunted Happenings Festival occurs October 1-31. Keep in mind, that the closer it is to Halloween, the busier things get, so plan accordingly if crowds make you anxious.
Movie inspiration: The Witch (2015)
Stanley Hotel – Estes Park, Colorado
Visit the hotel that inspired Stephen King to write The Shining – you can even stay in the same room! If you choose not to stay in the hotel, you can still pop in and grab a drink at the bar. Weekend trip idea: Estes Park sits right outside the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park so you can stop by after a hike. Time it right, and you will see the aspens in all their brilliant golden glory.
Movie inspiration: The Shining (1980)
Winchester Mystery House- Bay Area, California
This unusual and utterly unique mansion features 10,000 windows, 2,000 doors, 160 rooms, and 52 skylights. Was Sarah Winchester–the owner and designer of this marvel–an architectural genius or was she superstitious? Maybe she was both? You be the judge. Either way, in October Winchester Mystery House is set up for a unique haunted hotel experience in addition to the normal tours. Walk through the maze while keeping your eyes peeled for ghosts, ghouls, and goblins. Combine this visit with a weekend trip to the Bay area for gorgeous parks, hikes through an amazing park, or pop over to Napa which is just a couple hours away.
TV/Movie inspiration: Winchester (2018), Rose Red (2002)
New Orleans, Louisiana
Voodoo, ghost tours, witches, psychics, vampires, oh my! NOLA is a prime destination for Halloween. There are a whole host of tours offered from walking ghost tours to real haunted houses. There is no shortage of history to absorb on this visit.
TV/Movie inspiration: Interview with the Vampire (1994), The Skeleton Key (2005), American Horror Story: Coven (2013)
The Conjuring House, Burrillville, RI
Visit the house that inspired one of my favorite horror movies, The Conjuring. Just 1 hr 10 minutes outside of Boston, the story of this house is supposedly inspired by actual events. Today, you can tour the house, go on a paranormal investigation, and even camp on the grounds…if you dare. Combine this trip with a visit to Salem, MA and you will be in the spooky spirit in no time!
Moving Inspiration: The Conjuring (2013)
Sleepy Hollow, New York
I have to mention this one because Sleepy Hollow remains to this day, one of my favorite Halloween movies of all time. The locals have leaned into Washington Irving’s story; folks have spotted the headless horseman around town during certain events. You could easily combine this visit with a weekend visit to NYC, Sleepy Hollow is less than an hour away by car. If you are in NYC, check out the NY Botanical Gardens for their special The Nightmare Before Christmas light display, it looks like fun!
Movie inspiration: Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Savannah, GA
I first fell in love with Savannah when I visited for a weekend bachelorette party, but Savannah isn’t just a hot spot for bachelorette parties, it’s also a hot spot for ghosts if the number of ghost tour operators is any indication. Walking tours, cemetery tours, trolley tours, segue tours – pick your style and go learn more about the history of Savannah and why so many ghosts might be hanging out there. Savannah is a gorgeous city with lots to do and definitely worth a visit.
Note: I couldn’t come up with any big movies that were filmed in Savannah specifically, which honestly is a shame because Savannah is gorgeous and spooky. However, there are a TON of movies and TV shoes filmed in Atlanta. A few notable horror TV shows are listed below.
TV/Movie inspiration: Stranger Things (2016), The Walking Dead (2010), Vampire Diaries (2009), Zombieland (2009)
Global edition coming soon!