Ghostly activities abound in these spooky cities
Just in time for Halloween, global experiences marketplace Viator has put together a list of the Top 10 Spookiest Cities in the U.S (based on the number of scary tours and experiences available).
Number one on the list is New Orleans, long regarded as the most haunted city in the country. It’s famous for its practitioners of the mystical arts, from self-professed vampires and Wiccans to Voodoo queens. And it has also been the backdrop for occult-themed films and T.V. shows. Grisly tales abound in the French Quarter and beyond with a cast of pirates, yellow fever victims and murdered slaves. Options to celebrate fright night include the New Orleans Original Ghost, Voodoo, Vampire and Mystery Tour, St. Louis Cemetery Official Walking Tour, Haunted Pub Crawl, Adults Only New Orleans Ghost, True Crime, Voodoo and Vampire Walking Tour and more.
At the number two spot is Salem, which should be no surprise to most people. Select from one of the following bewitching experiences: History and Hauntings of Salem Guided Walking Tour, the Salem Night Ghost Tour, Salem Witch Trials Historical Walking Tour or the Mysteries and Murders of Salem Guided Nighttime Walking Tour.
Up next is Chicago of notorious Al Capone fame. Opt to do the Gangsters and Ghosts Tour, Lincoln Park Hauntings Ghost Investigation Tour or Windy City Ghosts. If you want something more active, try the Haunted City Exploration Game, a Chicago Outdoor Escape Game.
Savannah, with its dark and tumultuous past, is number four. Ride the Savannah Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley, up the eerie atmosphere and take Savannah History and Haunts Candlelit Ghost Walking Tour or get a hearty dose of hair-raising, paranormal intrigue on the Sixth Sense Savannah Ghost Tour through the city’s haunted history.
Boston slides in at number five. The city creates the right atmosphere for a good old haunting due to its lengthy, colorful and at times unsavory history. Combine libations and apparitions on Haunted Boston Ghost and Pub Walking Tour or check out spooky graveyards and scandalous murder sites on Boston Ghosts and Gravestones Trolley Tour. If you dare to go it alone, there’s also the Self-Guided Smartphone Ghost Walking Tour.
Next comes Charleston. Haunted by the spirits of its former residents and Civil War events, the city has a well-documented history of paranormal activity. There are plenty of walking ghost tours, but if you prefer to ride, take the Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour or head out to sea on the Narrated Haunted Ghost Cruise of Charleston Harbor.
Louisville is number six. Steeped in haunted lore, you’ll have your pick from such excursions as the Supernatural Paranormal Buff Walking Tour and the Glitter Ball City Walking Tour; the latter which is guided by local author David Dominé whose true-crime memoir, “A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City” details a twisted murder in one of the town’s old mansions. Or choose to drink spirits as you meet spirits on the Prohibition Ghosts Cocktails and Bites Walking Tour.
Coming in at the seventh slot is St. Augustine. As the nation’s oldest city, this Florida town is no stranger to ghost sightings, haunted houses and creepy year-round levels of spookiness. The Beyond the Grave Tour with Afterlife Tours includes real paranormal evidence. Enter a certified haunted building, visit historical cemeteries and walk the dark, narrow streets of the city while hearing tales of spirits from long ago.
With a past full of pirates, shipwrecks and buried treasure, Key West, another Florida destination, makes the list at number nine. If you’re looking for one seriously creepy tour, the (adults only) Darkside of Key West Ghost Tour is for you. You’ll explore the most haunted places with an emphasis on the darker deeds of humanity and the ghosts that resulted from these heinous actions. Don’t be surprised if you need to sleep with the lights on after taking this excursion! Another option is Robert the Doll Experience VIP Ghost Tour at Fort East Martello. Robert is known as the most cursed object on Key West and the fort, which was once used as a yellow fever hospital, is home to more than 42 documented spirits. Your experience blends history, mystery and paranormal exploration within the shadowy halls of this haunted, 1862 building.
In the tenth and final place is Nashville. Though known for its country music scene, this popular city has numerous haunted domains where spirits lurk. On the (all ages) Ghosts of Nashville Walking Tour, you’ll hear about ghosts, demons and a few murders, some dating back over 200 years. Adults might like Nashville’s Seeking Spirits Haunted Pub Crawl, which visits some of the most historic and haunted bars in town. While you imbibe, your guide regales you with spooky stories which are guaranteed to give you goosebumps!
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