From the metro to the woods, mountains to the beaches, fright-filled tours and spooky mysteries make for a vivid getaway
ATLANTA, GEORGIA–AUGUST 2019–Searching for ghost tours and tales of hauntings? Combine eerie adventure with a leaf-peeping vacation in the Tennessee or Southwest Virginia mountains. Hit Florida beaches for a harrowing end-of-summer hurrah. Tracing through South Carolina and Georgia to Mississippi, the choices include near-to-the-city attractions in hip and happening smaller towns with a lively dining and entertainment scene. Here are a dozen unique ghostly getaways offering highly rated haunted houses as well as tours ranging from mysterious and spine-tingly to certifiably paranormal. These scenic and colorful destinations are worth the drive, offering plenty to do on a mid-week or weekend escape.
While picking the perfect destination, read the FAQ pages of the haunted tour website. Heed the policies, warnings and humorous asides about any or no refunds for “chicken runs.” Some allow photography and paranormal detection devices, others don’t.
The Mountains: Virginia and Tennessee
Abingdon, Virginia: Spirit Tour with the “Haint Mistress”
Two hours north of Asheville and ten minutes northeast of Bristol, Tennessee, Abingdon was founded in 1778 as one of the oldest English-speaking settlements west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The 20-block Historic District is filled with art galleries, distinctive shops and 34 independently owned restaurants serving everything from Appalachian regional to innovative international cuisine. For a getaway that includes city comforts and luxury along with the rugged outdoors, Abingdon is a Southwest Virginia mountain playground. (more photos and story ideas at http://www.travelmediapressroom.com/virginia/abingdon-virginia)
Many of its ghosts have never left its perfectly preserved Federal, Victorian and Colonial architecture, and the tales are told year-round. With a Masters’ degree in storytelling, a quirky love of goosebumps and a ferocious attraction to history, Haint Mistress Donnamarie Emmert takes visitors down brick sidewalks of the Historic District for colorful scenery and shivery stories. The Washington County Courthouse has experienced the mysterious disappearing act of a murder weapon, the “redecorating” powers of a ghost who hates change and much more. Tales of apparitions floating downstairs, haunting violin music and the bloodstained floor of the four-star Martha Washington Hotel and Spa are covered. Built in 1832 as a private residence, it became a women’s school and makeshift hospital for Civil War soldiers. The landmark 1930s Barter Theatre entertains the ghost of several actors–the Haint Mistress suggests you not be the last to exit the building. The spookiest tales come from The Tavern, established in 1779, serving up German specialties, seafood, steaks-and more spirits per square foot than any other in town, including murdered card players, dead soldiers and one lively lady known as the Tavern Tart, known for sneaky pinches on the backside.
Abingdon Spirit Tours, Barter Theatre Fairy Fountain, 127 W Main Street, Abingdon, VA 7:30-9:30 p.m., October 18-30, 2019. Year-round by appointment. Not recommended for children younger than age 10, $20 cash. Check the website for more details and times. HaintMistress.com
More to love: Two hours northeast of Asheville, North Carolina, Abingdon is in the Great Appalachian Valley of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia, the gateway to regional music, art and folkways trails. For nearby fall color-viewing, the Virginia Creeper Trail offers elevated mountain and valley views from one of the country’s best rails-to-trails. www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com
Loudon County, Tennessee: Dead Man’s Farm
In a state full of fall color and made for road trips, Loudon County, in east Tennessee, is golden. With the Smoky Mountains creating a backdrop for kayaking, boating and fishing on Tellico Lake or the Tennessee River, visitors can enjoy scenic drives, stunning sunsets and trademark misty mornings. Lenoir City and Loudon each have unique shopping and dining spots and locals who love to show off their Southern hospitality. (more photos and story ideas at https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/loudon-county-tennessee)
Dead Man’s Farm has just been nominated for a USA TODAY Top 10 Readers Choice “Best Haunted Attraction” ranking. Guests scream their way through the Haunted House/Bludgeon House Tour, are buried alive in a sensory coffin simulator, try to free themselves from the “Electric Chair Escape,” and race against the clock for their lives in the two mini escape rooms, “Serial Killer Escape” and “Black Magic Escape.” Those over 18 can upgrade for $5 with a “Touch Option,” which includes being cornered and possibly separated from the group. Outdoor midway entertainment includes excitement for those more into freaky fun and less into fear, with photo opps with the performers. Sit by bonfires in the “Scare-Free Zone” and enjoy music, food and beverage concessions.
Dead Man’s Farm, 13100 W Lee Hwy, Loudon TN 37774 (865) 408-8527. Fridays & Saturdays in October: 7 p.m. – midnight; Sundays, select dates in October: 7-10 p.m. October 23: Lights On / Non-Scare Tour 7-9 p.m., November 1-2: 7-11 p.m. Outdoor, intense action: no younger than age 12, tours $20 and up. Family fairway attractions, $5 each; packages and upgrades available. www.DeadMansFarm.com
More to love: Located between Knoxville and Chattanooga, Loudon County is known as the Lakeway to the Smokies, full of beautiful scenery and a multitude of outdoor activities. Highway 321 is the most scenic and least congested route to the Smokies from I-75 and I-40 East. Here agritourism combines with fall festivals: the oldest family winery in the state, Tennessee Valley Winery offers an entertaining OktoberFest, while Deep Well Farm Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze runs from mid-September to October 31. Sweetwater Valley Farm demonstrates cheese and milk-making to more than 100,000 visitors. www.VisitLoudonCounty.com
Metro Atlanta
Going through or near the city but want to experience smaller-town charm and convenience? Here are options.
Roswell
Just twenty minutes north of Atlanta, Roswell Georgia is a perfect setting for a ghostly getaway that visitors will hate to leave, just like the ghosts that linger in the historic downtown, restored mansions and the ruins of the riverside mill that flourished when cotton was king. The historic backdrop offers charming and sophisticated amenities, including a burgeoning dining and arts scene. Galleries and locally owned boutiques make treasure hunting an adventure while nature-inspired hiking trails along the Chattahoochee River provide breathtaking views. (more photos and story ideas at http://www.travelmediapressroom.com/georgia/roswell-georgia)
During the Civil War the Union Army captured and deported some 400 millworkers, mostly women and children, for the treason of manufacturing Confederate uniforms and tent fabric. Lives were torn and little was heard of them afterward. In the commemorative park next to their renovated apartments, locals report hearing children laughing and playing, or a swing going full speed while the others sit perfectly still–but no one is there.
Roswell Ghost Tours are a year-round experience of spooky tales surrounding Roswell’s history. Bring a flashlight and step into the dark through Roswell’s Historic District. The tour covers stories at the childhood home of Theodore Roosevelt Jr.’s mother and other stately columned historic homes, local restaurants, a cemetery, stories from the Roswell Mill and more. Experienced paranormal investigator and operator Dianna Avena, author of “Roswell: History, Haunts and Legends” has put together a team of guides who have participated in investigations, experienced paranormal phenomena from childhood and love to tell the history of the town.
Roswell Ghost Tours: 617 Atlanta St., bandstand in the town square, Roswell, GA, Highway 120 and Highway 9 intersection. Year-round, leisurely 1-mile, 2 ½-hour walking tour, 8:30 p.m. every Monday, Friday and Saturday night; every night in October. Monthly doggy leash nights for pets who love the paranormal, other dogs and people. $15 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under, not including guide gratuities, cash only. Private group tours available. A portion of the proceeds benefits historic Roswell preservation projects. RoswellGhostTour.com
More to love: Explore the digital revolution at one of the world’s largest technology museums. Embark on escapades at the region’s oldest and largest private, non-profit natural science learning center. Sip craft cocktails while overlooking the historic downtown area and stroll picturesque Canton Street. Roswell satisfies a foodie’s palate with 200 independently owned restaurants, many of which are dog-friendly. Special events such as the Roswell Beer Festival and the annual Azalea Festival are big draws, along with Alive in Roswell, an art and culture street party festival with food, music and entertainment the third Thursday of each month, April-October. At the end of the day, plenty of lodging opportunities soothe the soul. www.VisitRoswellGA.com
Henry County, Georgia: Fear the Woods
Just 30 minutes south of Atlanta, Henry County includes the cities of Stockbridge, McDonough, Hampton and Locust Grove, as well as countryside drives and delightful family farms for tours, produce, honey, handcrafted soaps and much more. Scenes from films and television were filmed here, including “Zombieland,” “The Walking Dead,” “Swamp Murders,” “The Hunger Games,” “Fast & Furious” and “Black Panther.” Ten festivals are happening this fall, from the Georgia State Fair to the Atlanta Air Show. (more photos and story ideas at http://www.travelmediapressroom.com/georgia/henry-county-georgia)
The Yule Forest Family Farm offers kid-friendly outings from October through mid-December. Think pumpkin picking, free Saturday afternoon concerts, a hay maze, hayride and petting zoo in an action-filled festival. Thanksgiving through mid-December is pre-cut and cut-your-own Christmas tree season. From September 27, 2019, the trees and fields come alive with terror-inducing action at Fear the Woods, a professionally produced haunt emphasizing ghoulish actors over animatronics that is consistently ranked one of the top haunted tours in Georgia. The Haunted House draws visitors into a little girl’s nightmares and visions, blurring the line between insanity and reality. Pandemic is a new 80,000-square-foot interactive, competitive, laser combat field where live zombie actors fight back. The Annihilator Terror Transport takes fear-fans into a mine-shaft and on the Haunted Trail in the middle of the woods and cornfields to find the way back while escaping the ghoulishly menacing Skinner family.
Fear the Woods open 7 p.m.-midnight every Friday and Saturday, September 27 to October 31. Halloween and every Sunday in October, 7-11 p.m. Gate prices start at $16 for children age 10 and under, although recommended for 13+; $19 for adults. Yule Forest Family Farm, 3565 N. Highway 155, Stockbridge, GA; (770) 954-9356; Kid-friendly Pumpkin Patch open every day. FearTheWoods.com
More to Love: Only 30 minutes south of Atlanta, and a convenient stop on the way to Savannah or Orlando, Henry County’s memorable attractions include Atlanta Motor Speedway, inspiring animal encounters, military museums and helicopter rides in military aircraft and one of Georgia’s few remaining Civil War battlefields. Visitors can find family-friendly and upscale dining as well as a variety of lodging options from name brand hotels to sleeping under the stars at beautiful campsites. www.VisitHenryCountyGeorgia.com
West and South Georgia
LaGrange-Troup County
About an hour south of Atlanta on I-85, LaGrange, Georgia, packs a major cultural punch with its unique history, architectural gems and a creative scene to boot. This sophisticated Southern city is near to recreational wonder West Point Lake, plenty of antiquing and farmers markets. The Horace King block on the east side of the square was built by a celebrated architect and bridge-builder who began his trade while still enslaved. (more photos and story ideas at https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/category/georgia/lagrange-troup-county)
Strange LaGrange: Ghosts, Legends, and Spirited History operates not just in the fall but every week. This parent-approved, kid-friendly walking tour of downtown LaGrange explores the spirited history of Troup County, including all types of oddities, ghosts, UFOs and strange history. Author Lewis Powell, owner of the extensive website Southern Spirit Guide, leads a trip that includes Shadowlawn Cemetery, LaGrange College, where a ghostly prankster has intruded in unmistakable ways and the LaGrange Museum, an architectural beauty that ironically was the ca. 1892 Troup County Jail, the site of hangings, some despite protestations of innocence and eerie curses on the sheriff.
Strange LaGrange: Ghosts, Legends, and Spirited History two-hour walking tours, 7 p.m. Fridays, Legacy Museum on Main, 136 Main Street, LaGrange, Georgia;
$20 adults, $15 kids 5-12; free for kids under five. Tickets online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strange-lagrange-ghosts-legends-spirited-history-a-walking-tour-tickets-62584485882
More to love: Sharing a 35-mile border with Alabama, LaGrange-Troup County plays host to popular annual events like February’s For Love of the Arts celebration, March’s Azalea Storytelling Festival and October’s Hummingbird Festival. LaGrange offers three galleries, two art museums, a history museum and three performing arts theatres for a range of concerts from rock and country to the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra. More than 80 mouth-watering restaurants, three breweries and a winery all pair well with the cultural offerings. Gardeners give a green thumbs-up to the Hills and Dales Estate, the former Callaway home and meticulously-maintained historic garden. Added to its accommodations in 2018 is Great Wolf Lodge with its massive indoor water park. www.LaGrangeChamber.com
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia, about an hour and a half south of Atlanta via I-85 and I-185 is centrally located in the Southeast and home to Fort Benning, three highly rated military museums and the Coca-Cola Space Science Center. Columbus elicits a double take from those who haven’t visited in a while. With a RiverWalk designed for entertainment and a downtown known as Uptown, Columbus delivers on the promise of an exciting vibe. The Chattahoochee River is filled with kayakers; adrenaline-junkies flock to RushSouth Whitewater Park, the world’s largest urban whitewater course. (more photos and story ideas at https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/georgia/columbus-georgia)
Columbus has about seven documented haunting spots; the most regular reports come from the historic Springer Opera House, where a ghostly onstage figure is the least of the frights, and Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum, where books fly off the shelves and much more.
Haunted Museum Tours at the National Civil War Naval Museum include a “Ghost Host” who introduces spirits of the Civil War Navies. Paranormal investigator and author Faith Serafin of the Alabama Ghost Hunters highlights experiences from previous investigations. Not recommended for children under 13. 7 p.m. September 20; October 4; October 19, 2019, 1002 Victory Drive, Columbus, Georgia. $15 per person Children under eight years not admitted. Limited spaces available, tickets sell out quickly. 706-327-9798, www.PortColumbus.org/exhibits-events
Springer Opera House is the State Theatre of Georgia and one of only seven U.S. theatres with a National Historic Landmark designation. Since 1871 it has hosted scores of noteworthy performers; contemporary talents have appeared in film and TV roles. The landmark offers tours, but for eerie tales, Columbus Eats Food Tours serves them with a side of restaurant and sightseeing recommendations. Some tours cover only the Springer, others relate stories of the Crybaby Bridge, the House of a Thousand Cadavers and more. 1.5-hour, conducted with minimal lighting. Some children may be uncomfortable. $19.95 and under; 111 12th Street, Columbus, GA 31901, ColumbusEatsFoodTours.com/tours
More to love: This charming Southern city’s dining spans the globe from barbecue to eclectic international and Southern cuisine in loft and historic spaces and rooftop bars. Sophisticated chefs and talented brewmeisters receive raves at gastropubs that also offer artful cocktails and admirable wine lists. Many have dog-friendly outdoor dining. www.VisitColumbusGA.com
Americus/Sumter County, Georgia
In west-central Georgia, convenient to I-75, three hours south of Atlanta and only two hours north of I-10, Americus is not only an ideal stopping point en route to Florida, it’s a top destination for its major attractions. Sumter County is one of only three U.S. counties with two national historic sites, Andersonville National Historic Site, the most famous military prison of the Civil War, and the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, Plains Depot and boyhood home, honoring the Nobel Prize-winning 39th President, author and home-town church Bible study leader. The SAM Shortline excursion train is a key stop on the line. (For more story ideas and photos, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/georgia/americus-sumter-county-georgia/)
Built in 1892 to attract Northern “snowbirds,” the massive, castle-like Windsor Hotel is a fully restored Victorian-Moorish architectural beauty with towers, turrets, balconies and a three-story, atrium lobby. The benevolent ghosts of a housekeeper and daughter who were pushed down the elevator shaft to their deaths, and that of a beloved doorman, are often detected. Have dinner at Rosemary & Thyme or a drink and appetizer at Floyd’s, the doorman’s namesake pub.
Then, take a guided walking tour highlighting nearly 200 years of history and ghost stories of the area. Even on tours, the creaky Windsor Hotel elevator might start up or a bell mysteriously chime. Tour covers stories about Haunted House in Plains, the ghastly ghosts of Andersonville and the grave of Sumter County’s first sheriff, killed in 1839, and the Rylander Theatre’s “Frank the Friendly Ghost.” By appointment only, 101 W. Lamar St., Americus GA 31709. Call the Americus Visitor Center, (229) 924-1555, or click www.VisitAmericusGA.com
More to love: Have lunch at Koinonia Farm, the birthplace of Habitat for Humanity. For coffee drinks, light breakfast, good company and coffee by the pound, head to Café Campesino, Georgia’s first and only 100 percent fair trade, organic coffee company, also with ties to Habitat for Humanity. Tour Habitat for Humanity’s International Headquarters and Global Village, or time a visit around The Taste of Sumter or Plains Peanut Festival, both in September, or the Andersonville Historic Fair in October. www.VisitAmericusGA.com
Mississippi
Corinth, Mississippi
Corinth is strategically positioned to attract visitors in search of Civil War history and quirky surprises like the motorcycle wonder, the Bike Museum. What guests don’t expect to find are all the hidden gems in this town including the Corinth Coca-Cola Museum. The National Park Service Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center shows how a railroad crossing became the cornerstone for a community thrust into the forefront of war. Nearby are the Shiloh National Military Park and Cemetery and the commemorative Corinth Contraband Camp which accommodated emancipated refugees with homes, a church, school and hospital. (For more story ideas and photos, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/mississippi/corinth-mississippi)
Crossroads Museum Cemetery Tour/Paranormal Events
Because of the amount of bloodshed during the battle, untouched mass graves are believed to be located near the Crossroads and on or near museum property. The Crossroads Museum Annual Historic Corinth Cemetery Tour takes visitors through the city’s oldest cemetery spotlighting notable and notorious figures from Corinth’s past. Legends are portrayed by local talent.
Historic Corinth Cemetery Tour, 3-6 p.m. October 26; 2-5 p.m., October 27. $15 per person or $10 each for groups of four or more. Children age 8 and under, free. Other paranormal tours are scheduled as special events, such as one conducted by the Tennessee Wraith Chasers’ Mike Concalves and Doogie from the hit TV show Haunted Live on The Travel Channel. City Cemetery, 602 Westview Drive off U.S. Highway 72, Corinth, 662-287-3120 or visit www.CrossroadsMuseum.com/events/#.XTCAWi2ZOu4
More to Love: An authentic Southern city, Corinth roots are strong with age-old businesses and tradition, like Bluegrass jams on the Square and the Slugburger, a Great Depression-era delicacy still served at Borroum’s Drug Store and Soda Fountain, which now has its own festival. Over the past few years Corinth’s downtown district has evolved with boutique shopping, a coffee shop, an art gallery, upscale dining and other fun attractions. www.Corinth.net
Mississippi Delta
Along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River the Mississippi Delta runs south from Memphis through fertile fields and welcoming communities. In places where the flat farmlands seem to go on forever, so do the depths of the traditions. The Mississippi Blues Trail is bursting with stories of the music that was born here and the people who brought it to life. Cafes and diners offer traditional recipes, born of necessity, that now sustain body and spirit for those who love this region. From roadside tamale stands, to neighborhood gathering places, to elegant Southern settings, the flavors of the past and present are steeped together and served with a smile. (For information on the nine of the region’s counties and the congressionally designated Mississippi Delta Heritage Area, events and more, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/mississippi/mississippi-delta/)
Named Mississippi’s “Most Haunted House,” the McRaven Tour Home’s years of ghostly and paranormal activity have been documented by professional paranormal researchers and explored on A&E, The Travel Channel, 48 Hours and more. From the hideout of a notorious Murrell Gang highwayman who robbed travelers on the Natchez Trace to a prominent businessman who survived the Vicksburg siege but was murdered the next year by Union troops, discover and experience the famous and infamous, and why their spirits have never left the gardens that held a Confederate campsite and field hospital. Historic and/or ghost tours, private paranormal discovery tours. Children 5 and under free; 18 and under discounts, various tour prices from $15 to $35 adult. Sunday: 1-4:30 p.m., 7 & 8:30 p.m.
Monday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 7 & 8:30 p.m. Weeknight tours arranged for groups of 4 or more, 24 hours in advance, call for pricing. McRaven Tour Home, 1445 Harrison Street, Vicksburg www.McRavenTourHome.com
Haunted Vicksburg Ghost Walk includes a 12-block, 90-minute stroll through Vicksburg’s oldest and most haunted neighborhood. The Trail of Tears, antebellum duels, yellow fever epidemics and a 47-day siege have left old Vicksburg with quite a legacy of “unfinished business” and restless spirits. Fridays and Saturdays, arrive by 7:45 p.m. $20 adult, $15 children 12 and under, 5 and under, free. Old Court House Museum at the corner of Monroe and Grove Streets Vicksburg. www.HauntedVicksburg.com/newghostwalk.htm
More to love: At Vicksburg National Military Park, where thousands of soldiers perished, many visitors and paranormal experts experience documented ghost sightings. Others smell gunpowder lingering in the air and hear the sounds of cannon fire and soldiers’ screams. 3201 Clay Street, Vicksburg, MS. With nine counties to explore, there is plenty to do in the Mississippi Delta, including 24-hour casino entertainment, soaking up blues music and civil war history, shopping, dining and family-friendly fun. www.VisitTheDelta.com
South Carolina
Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina
Just east of Augusta, Georgia, along I-20 between Atlanta and Charleston are the rolling hills of Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina, encompassing the town of Aiken, where National Champion horses are the prize. This four-county part of the Palmetto State is filled with world-renowned horse racing training and tracks, Civil War sites, gardens and plantation homes, state parks, historic healing springs, folk art and antique shops in charming towns. Dining runs the continuum from chef-refined and down-home Southern specialties, family restaurants, international cuisine and the unique find of a Mennonite bakery and community. (For more story ideas and photos, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/south-carolina/thoroughbred-country-sc/)
Tailored Tours of Aiken–Haunted Aiken
Haunted secret passages in the Old Post Office, bones in the basement. In the 1878 Aiken Hotel, shadowy movements, whispers, crying and screaming from empty rooms, where toilets flush and doors open or close. Housekeeping carts found down the hall when left outside a room. These hauntings and more are included on a spooktacular nighttime walking/riding tour offering chilling stories of spirits combined with Aiken’s history. Ghost hunting tools aid in the discovery.
Tours are arranged and tailored individually. $15 per person, family-friendly. Visit the website at TailoredToursofAiken.com or call (803) 295-3870.
More to Love: From September to mid-November, take in polo events at Aiken Polo Club and free admission to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, concerts, culture and dining. October includes Fall Steeplechase, a Model T show and a Colonial Times festival. The brave and curious may consider sleeping with the spirits at the Aiken Hotel, while luxury-seekers will investigate the amenities at The Willcox Hotel, Rose Hill Estate, the Carriage House Inn or more than a dozen B&Bs in the area. More on what to do, where to stay here: TbredCountry.org
Florida
Chase the last notes of summer sunshine into the fall on a visit to some of Florida’s best hidden gems, where vintage and retro have been preserved and polished. Uncrowded beaches, exploring nature preserves, natural springs, and rivers, native American history and Florida cowboy ranches are among visitor superlatives.
Florida’s East Coast and Environs
Martin County, Florida–Port Salerno Ghost Tours
Stretching nearly 22 miles along the Atlantic coast and including private spots to enjoy the surf and sand, endless golf and nature preserves, cattle ranches, rodeos and one of the last Indian trading posts, Martin County is a haven for Old Florida nostalgia. The city of Stuart was named America’s 2016 “Happiest Seaside Town” by Coastal Living Magazine. This easy-to-get-to but hidden gem offers uncrowded beaches, two state parks, sweeping nature preserves and the most bio-diverse lagoon ecosystem in the Northern Hemisphere. (For more story ideas and photos, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/florida/martin-county)
Port Salerno Ghost Tours “throws shade” on Florida’s sunny reputation with dark, shivery tales of this Old Florida fishing town. Guests will meet the spirits of ancient Indians, plundering pirates, a phantom widow watching for lost seamen and the victims of a cop who linger at the Devil’s Tree where their bodies were found. Does Black Caesar still steer his ghost ship toward Dead Man’s Point? Are there ghostly clues to sunken treasure? Local ghost guides Patrick and Pat Mesmer base their stories on extensive history and professional paranormal research, have authored books about the area, including “Ghosts of the Treasure Coast,” and conduct separate highly specific paranormal tours. Guests are issued an electromagnetic field detector or an infrared thermometer, instruments featured on TV shows like “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures.”
Port Salerno Ghost Tours, Two-hour walking tour, 7:30 p.m. most Saturday nights, with equal emphasis on area history and paranormal activity. $15 adults, 4745 SE Desoto Ave, Fish House Art Gallery, Stuart, Florida; Call 772-223-5482 or check www.Facebook.com/portsalernoghosttours for updates.
More to Love: Martin County is within 90 minutes to two hours of the Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami and Orlando airports. Thriving arts and culture celebrates and incorporates a significant amount of historic preservation. Don’t miss a performance at the Lyric Theatre, a beautifully restored silent movie house of the 1920s. Jensen Beach, formerly known as the Pineapple Capital of the World, hosts the Pineapple Festival and the Indiantown Rodeo in October. Area restaurants feature fresh caught fish served alongside ingredients from several local and organic farms. Martin County’s many lodging options range from brand name hotels and resorts to one-of-a-kind bed and breakfasts, fish camps and quirky cottages to campgrounds. www.DiscoverMartin.com
West Volusia County, Florida
West Volusia encompasses fourteen communities with an eclectic collection of accommodations and attractions between Orlando and Daytona. From top-rated downtown DeLand to the scenic St. Johns River, this is real and authentic Florida. The region is known for everything from skydiving above to manatee-sightings in Blue Springs State Park, from a unique pancake griddle restaurant to a ghostly host of paranormal exploration. (For more story ideas and photos, go to https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/florida/west-volusia-florida/)
Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp is in a class by itself. Established in 1894, visitors are drawn to the spiritual teachings and to experience the peaceful, healing energy of this community. Seminars, festivals and historic tours take place among the cobblestone streets and meditation gardens. As the oldest active community of mediums in the Southeastern United States, and known as the Psychic Center of the South, readings (tarot, palm, psychic) and spiritual healings are given daily. Nearby, stay and experience friendly spirit energy at Hotel Cassadaga, where Halloween takes on a more nuanced meaning. www.Cassadaga.org
Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Tours
Walk and discover Cassadaga’s historic, unique and mysterious beginnings and the spirit activity that still goes on in the historical homes of present-day mediums. Gain insight into Spiritualism and feel the wonderful energy that is Cassadaga. $15 adult, $7.50 ages 7-12. Children 6 or under, free. Thursdays-Saturdays, 2 p.m.
Encounter Spirit Night Tour
Learn about Spiritualism, Mediumship, Physical Phenomena on a guided walking tour of this Victorian era community and into two of its historic buildings to explore spirit energy “hot spots.” Saturdays, 7:15 p.m., $25 adult, $15 children 12 and under. Photos encouraged; although cell phones will work, a digital camera captures better images of energy orbs and other spirit manifestation. 1112 Stevens Street, Cassadaga, FL www.Cassadaga.org/tours.html or 386-228-2880.
More to love: DeLand’s “real Florida” downtown takes top rating as best outside of Orlando. Combining a sense of history and a contemporary vibe, it’s home to shops and boutiques, galleries and (nine!) museums as well as a slate of annual events. Find live theatre, fabulous restaurants, microbreweries and a series of murals combine in this delightful downtown setting. Skydive DeLand is one of the busiest drop zones in the world. Eco-tours and fishing the St. Johns River are magnets for visitors. www.VisitWestVolusia.com This fall, ghost-lovers who love to travel can turn an eerie encounter into a delightful vacation getaway. Best of all, these scenic and colorful destinations are worth the drive for their attractions and amenities any time of year. Some offer tours year-round. After all, as the Haint Mistress of Abingdon says, “ghosts don’t care what day of the year it is!” Apparently, any season is the “season of the witch.”