RSS
Home
The best in haunted travels just in time for Halloween
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
From trick or treating to costume parties, there is always a way to add the spirit of fun into your travels this Halloween. From haunted hotels toting their spooky ghost stories, to whole tours of haunted areas, there is plenty to see and do that will put a little scream into your step.
Top Ten Haunted places in the world:
Borley Rectory, Essex, England- It is the most famous and most controversial haunted house in Britain. Though some occurrences in the house are explainable in rational terms, some visitors, observers and witnesses simply can not explain the sightings and experiences seen and heard here.
The Whaley House, California, United States- According to the Travel Channel's "America's Most Haunted" TV show, this house was featured as the number one most haunted house in the United States. Now a museum and historical landmark, and once a home to Thomas Whaley, The Whaley house was haunted even before the house was built and the family moved in. It was said to be haunted by the ghost of James “Yankee Jim” Robbinson who was hanged on the property before the house was built. After the Whaleys moved in, footsteps were heard from inside the home, and a former keeper of the house mentioned that a little girl waved to a man who was standing in the parlor, but others did not see the man. The Ghost of Anna Whaley, Thomas’ wife has also been seen on site. The great grand-daughter of Anna and Thomas, Marion Reynolds, has also been seen and felt, she died in the home after ingesting poisons. Marion has the habit of grabbing peoples arms.
Raynham Hall, Norfolk, England- This once haunted house belonged to the Townshend family, and is possibly responsible for providing the most famous ghost photo ever taken, The famous brown lady descending the stairs. The ghost of "Dolly" Townshend, the "little brown lady of Raynham," is said still to haunt the oak staircase of the house in the twilight.
The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana, United States- The house was built in 1776 by Gerneral David Bradford and he called it Laurel Grove. Later it was occupied by Clark and Sarah Woodruff. It was reported that ten murders took place in the home, but historical records can only confirm one death, the death of William Winter. Unsolved Mysteries filmed a segment for their show. According to Robert Stack, the production crew experienced technical difficulties during the production of the segment. Ghosts that have been seen include Chloe who was reportedly a slave and was forced into being Clark Woodfruff’s mistress. Chloe died after being hanged by other slaves out of revenge for baking a cake using Oleander leaves, which are extremely poisonous. The consummation of the cake was said to kill all of the Woodruff offspring, but in reality, the story was simply that. The house is said to be built over an old indian burial ground, and an indian has been seen on site.
Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia- It opened in 1829 and is considered to be the worlds first penitentiary. Their concept was the origination of what we now call solitary confinement. On June, 1st, 2007 “Most Haunted” tried to capture live footage of the event taking place in this haunted penitentiary, Two people “passed out” during the investigation, and a member of the team went on record to say that it was “the most evil place I have ever been .” This is where the notorious Al Capone was held for a time.
Tower Of London, London- The Tower of London is reputedly the most haunted building in England. The ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn, beheaded in 1536 for treason against King Henry VIII, has allegedly been seen haunting the chapel of St. Peter-ad-Vincula, where she is buried, and walking around the White Tower carrying her head under her arm. Other ghosts include Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole, and the Princes in the Tower. In January 1816 a sentry on guard outside the Jewel House witnessed an inexplicable apparition of a bear advancing towards him. The sentry reportedly died of fright a few days later.
Waverly Hills Sanitarium, Kentucky- It has been popularized on television as being one of the "most haunted" hospitals in the eastern United States, and was seen on ABC/FOX Family Channel's Scariest Places On Earth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scariest_Places_On_Earth as well as VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project. It was also seen on the Sci Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters and featured in an episode of the 11th series of the British TV show Most Haunted.
The Queen Mary, California- Ghosts were reported on board only after permanently docked in California. Many areas are rumored to be haunted. Reports of hearing little children crying in the nursery room, actually used as the third-class playroom, and a mysterious splash noise in the drained first-class swimming pool are cited. In 1966, 18-year-old engineer John Pedder was crushed by a watertight door in the engine room during a fire drill, and his ghost is said to haunt the ship. There is also said to the spirit of a young girl named Jackie who haunts the first class pool on board the ship. The Queen Mary operates daily paranormal themed tours, some of which have theatrics applied for dramatic effect. The ship maintains a haunted maze and expands to multiple mazes during Halloween.
The White House, Washington D.C.- The home of the United States first family is filled with stories of different hauntings, Abigail Adams’s apparition has been spotted in the laundry room, Dolley Madison is found lurking around the rose garden, Mamie Eisenhower’s apparition is seen in the kitchen, and Abraham Lincoln's ghost has been seen in his office.
Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland- On various occasions, visitors to the castle have reported a phantom piper, a headless drummer, the spirits of French prisoners from the Seven Years War and colonial prisoners from the American Revolutionary War - even the ghost of a dog wandering in the grounds' dog cemetery. One reported sighting was of a spectre in a leather apron - a ghost that has been seen before at the same location. Reported experiences included: sudden drops in temperature, seeing shadowy figures, a feeling of being watched, one person reported a burning sensation on the arm, an unseen presence touching the face, the feeling of something tugging at clothes.
Top haunted places to see in San Francisco:
Abandoned Army Hospital- Located in the Presidio, this one time fully functional hospital is said to be abandoned by everything but it’s ghosts. The windows have been busted out or boarded up, while a basement door at the rear of the building is open. It is said that if you get close enough, you can still hear the foot steps, and see reflections of light from within. Not to mention the musty cold draft that wafts through its corridors. Enter with caution, even the S.F.P.D. will not enter this one!
Alcatraz- Once the home for convicted felons, Alcatraz is now for tourists and the ghosts still chained to their cells. Voices have been heard from cell blocks and the main “mess hall”, and people have reported feeling “cold spots” and the feeling that they are not alone, even when they are.
Cameron House- Once owned by Lady Cameron, the basement of the house was converted into a refuge for chinese immigrants trying to escape prostitution and slavery. She had sealed the doors to the basement from the inside of the house in order to prevent anyone from finding the hidden immigrants, a secret passage to the exterior of the house was installed so that they could get out when they really needed to. However, soon rumors spread about the people being hidden in the house, and neighbors who disagreed with Lady Cameron’s ways of doing things, lit the house on fire. All of the occupants died. The basement doors are still sealed, but a red charm is placed on every door within the home to “seal in” the spirits. Photographs taken in the house have revealed white cloudy figures in the background, and are still on site mixed in with photographs that are missing the cloudy background figures. Cameron House is on Sacramento St. in Chinatown.
Strawberry Hill- Stowe Lake Golden Gate Park- Sometime in the 1920’s, a young tormented woman hid her pregnancy from her family. It is said that she “disposed” of the child and in her grief, plunged herself into the reservoir where the water claimed her life. Some say they have seen her circling areas of the lake looking for her baby.
Haunted houses with a little less sprit, and a lot more make-up:
Check out Gyro’s Fear factory, walk through 4D haunted house- This year they are being hosted at Raging waters in San Jose, and feature 3 haunted mazes. Check their web site for tickets and information. http://www.3dfearfactory.com/
Again for 2009, Six Flags Marine World is getting involved in the ghost business, just be prepared- When the ride stops, the screams don’t. Located in Vallejo California, they are featuring Fright Fests every weekend until Halloween, including funeral processions, and special trick or treat stations for the kids. Check out their web site for additional details. http://www.sixflags.com/discoveryKingdom/index.aspx
Spooktacular Haunted Tours:
- www.hauntedamericatours.com
- www.hauntworld.com
- www.appalachianghostwalks.com
- www.hauntedneworleanstours.com
- www.sfghosthunt.com
- www.ghostinmysuitcase.com
- www.hauntedhistorytours.com
You might also enjoy these articles by Jennifer:
- Celebrating 20 years of the fall of the wall
- Travel auction sites are the newest trend
- Over sales, cancellations, Bumps, Delays and Winter weather heading our way
- Making yourself comfortable during any kind of travel
- Consider an unusual vacation or destination
- The harsh realities of roadtrips, dealing with illness part 1
- The harsh realities of travel, dealing with illness part 2
- How to create a successful vacation with a road trip
- Medical emergency when traveling, Are you prepared?
- Prevent flu and illness during any kind of travel
- Travel insurance, Why you need it
- Immunizations for domestic and international travel
- Planning your last minute summer plans
- Making sense of affordable travel, how and where to find it
- Keeping the cost down for your summer travel? Start here
- The best travel deals just got better
- Fare tracking, Get a refund after you purchase your ticket
- Travel made perfectly cheaper
- Lost Luggage? What to do next
- How to make traveling more comfortable
- Foreign laws that can (and will) suprise you
- Finding the best deals on hotels
- How to get a hotel upgrade, free
- Taking your vacation while saving money
- 1/3 of Americans afraid to fly? Coping with fear
- Make your traveling easier and safer, Part 1
Related Articles:
Comments
.jpg)
- As H1N1 spreads concerns rise
- Why the H1N1 Swine flu is still a concern
- Swine flu, what you need to know
- Prevent Flu and illness during any kind of travel
- Medical emergency when traveling, Are you prepared
- The harsh realities of roadtrips, dealing with illness part 1
- The harsh realities of roadtrips, dealing with illness part 2
