12 Spooktacular Halloween Destinations in the US
Are you a lover of the Spooky Season? Join the ranks of millions of Americans who love to embrace the electricity that floats through the air during this time of year. You can partake in a ghoulish parade in the streets of New York or sip on a cocktail with the spirits that fill the air in any number of Savannah’s haunted eateries.
With festivals in Salem and horror film marathons in Telluride, there are plenty of ways to let your hair down and act like a zombie for a night or two. Some of these stops aren’t for the faint of heart, so let’s get right to it!
Savannah, GA
We’ll have to start in a city that, although beautiful, abounds with ghost stories. Since Savannah has been plagued by the Civil War, Yellow Fever, slavery, and city-wide fires, it would appear as though there are plenty of places for spirits to roam.
The Olde Pink House is a lovely restaurant that’s said to have a haunted spirit roaming around its basement bar, similar to The Pirates’ House, where some rum runners didn’t make it out so easily. You can hop on any number of nighttime walking tours for ghost-filled stories and a couple of chance encounters.
New Orleans, LA
Next up, we have the land of Voodoo and haunted cemeteries. We all know New Orleans loves a party, à la Mardi Gras. But did you know about their Krewe of Boo parade?
Folks in all kinds of costumes hop on manmade floats and haunt the city. And, as if that wasn’t thrilling enough, there’s also a Zombie Run each year – something straight out of the scenes of The Walking Dead.
Estes Park, CO
You may wonder why Colorado is getting dragged into this, but as a former gold mining state, there are plenty of places to seek out haunted encounters. Here’s a list of 15 eerie ghost towns you can visit in America. However, we’re headed to Estes Park to turn a page in Stephen King’s book, The Shining.
Stay a night or two at The Stanley Hotel. It’s said that some of the ghosts are kind and will make your bed for you when you’re not looking, while others are a little less welcoming and may throw your wedding ring down the drain. King himself said he felt paranormal activity within these halls, so you never know what you may sense, too!
Telluride, CO
Further south in the state, you have something a little more commercial than the (potential) realities of The Stanley Hotel. Over the course of one weekend – this year, it’s October 11 through 13 – the town hosts a massive horror film festival.
The Telluride Horror Show is your chance to kick back and watch new horror films with your friends, rewatch the cult classics, and join in all the revelry and mischief-making. This isn’t for the faint of heart – if you’ve never been into these types of films – but only for the true horror buffs.