Haunted House Tours

Haunted House Tours â€" The Top Four Places to Spot a Spook

You are ready for an unconventional vacation; yet, the camping vacation is so passé, you have already done wild-water rafting, and somehow you don't think that you want to join the dog sledding team in Alaska. Why not instead join the growing number of people who will go on a vacation with a twist: haunted house tours. Sure, you have probably already watched the television specials that are on, usually around Halloween, about haunted houses and the people who tour them. But why not try it out yourself?

Could you imagine sleeping and eating in a haunted house? How would you even know where to go? Here are the top four places to go if you are ready to spot a spook:

Quite possibly the number one spot is the Burford House Bed and Breakfast in tombstone, AZ. Owned by Ruth and Richard Allen, this 1880 adobe home has been a welcoming haven to many local celebrities, as well as famous actor John Wayne. Some residents appear never to have left, including one named George who shot his wayward fiancé and then turned the gun on himself. These days, ghost hunters have visited the house and taken pictures of orbs and reflections of a man wearing a cowboy hat looking out the window. Other ghosts are also said to haunt this place, but none of them have been able to be traced back to one particular inhabitant.

Another wonderful location for a haunted vacation is the Castle Inn in New Orleans. Built in 1891, this luxurious house is located in the famous Garden District, just minutes away from the French Quarter and Magazine Street. Haunted by a horse carriage driver who sadly perished during a fire, this ghost loves to play pranks on the residents and guests alike. At times he can be seen in translucent form gazing at the guests or he may be heard coughing and whistling. The other ghost is that of a little girl who met a tragic end in a nearby pool and is still said to be haunting the neighborhood. She is responsible for the patter of little feet in the hallways, and the sounds of beds being bounced on. This bed and breakfast offers quite a luxurious assortment of rooms for long-term stay.

The Red Garter Bed and Bakery in Williams, AZ also has its share of ghosts, some of whom like to be photographed! This tow-story Romanesque building constructed in 1897 has seen its share of history. Starting out as a bordello and saloon, it appears that some residents liked it so much that they stayed, in spirit, anyways. There is talk of a woman with long dark hair who appears in photos, footsteps up and down the hallways, and doors that slam in the middle of the night for no good reason. With its guest rooms cozy and comfortable, and the owners willing to share some history of the famous locality, this is a great location!

The Colonial Inn of Concord, Massachusetts was built in 1716. Having hosted dignitaries and famous people alike, this Inn has been home to many prestigious names. It appears that one guest, in room 24, has never left. It is said that during the civil war, the room was part of an operating room and perhaps this may account for the apparitions.

As you can see, a haunted vacation is not only a lot of fun to take, but even more fun to research. There is so much wonderful history that can be found out and relived, that many will enjoy their stays in a haunted house. Of course, for those who prefer not to have any paranormal encounters, there are other haunted house tours available, such as those inns that offer murder mystery nights or other theatrical outings for interested guests. For those with a hankering for history, there are also those venues available that may not offer a ghost on the premises, but perhaps the tale of an unsolved murder beckoning for closure, such as the Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast. Whatever your pleasure, this kind of vacation is sure to not only make you meet some ghostly specters but also some wonderful buildings!