13 spooky spots to get you in the Halloween spirit

  

You already know about Salem, but here are some other spooky spots to get your Halloween fix.

Toronto, Ont.

This is the largest city in Canada’s Original Haunted Walk. The original tour departs from Front Street downtown and includes haunted theatres and Mackenzie House. Or stroll the spooky cobble stone streets of the Distillery District by lantern light, where duels and War of 1812 battles were fought. Hauntedwalk.com/Toronto-tours

Stanley Park Ghost Train, Vancouver, B.C.

Climb aboard this covered train for a creepy journey as Dracula, Frankenstein and the Phantom of the Opera come to life from behind the silver screen. Ghosttrain.ca

Fort Henry, Kingston, Ont.

The citadel is transformed into Fort Fright during October, complete with ghoulish creatures as visitors wander through haunted hallways and dark ditches. The site even issues Fort Fright “safe passes” so children won’t be too scared. Forthenry.com

Ottawa, Ont.

No surprise that the nation’s capital might be haunted. The Original Haunted Walk includes the Fairmont Château Laurier. The spirit of Charles Melville Hays, a tycoon who commissioned this hotel but died aboard the Titanic just days before the hotel’s opening, is said to roam throughout the property. Hauntedwalk.com/Ottawa-tours

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alta.

Canada’s own Bates Motel is reputed to have several ghostly apparitions who wander around the historic hotel, established in 1888. Fairmont.com/Banff-springs

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

Mystery writer Stephen King was inspired to write his novel The Shining in room 217. The hotel is reputed to be haunted by at least three people, including the hotel’s founder. Ghost Adventure Package is available, if you dare. Stanleyhotel.com

Disney World, Orlando, Fla.

The Magic Kingdom is all about Halloween for part of the year. From Mickey’s not-so-scary Halloween party to nightly Boo-to-You parades, the Disney villains you love to hate finally get their day. disneyworld.disney.go.com

Anoka, Minn.

This city vies with Salem as the Halloween capital of the world and has the distinction of hosting the very first Halloween parade in the U.S. in 1920. Anokahalloween.com

Savannah, Ga.

Eerie Spanish moss and plenty of ghost-ridden antebellum homes make this “spookiest little city in the south” the perfect setting for Halloween. Tours from the TV show Ghost Hunters are available. Savannahterrors.com

Oaxaca, Mexico

Costumed revellers visit local cemeteries to honour deceased relatives and decorate the streets with flowers and skeletons, during the Day of the Dead festival. Visitmexico.com

Tower of London, England

Visit gloomy dungeons, a haunted tower and a history full of hangings, tortures and beheadings, including Anne Boleyn, one of the wives of King Henry VIII. Hrp.org.uk

Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.

With Edinburgh Castle looming over this UNESCO world heritage site’s stone streets and narrow “closes”, it’s no wonder Edinburgh is teeming with haunted walks. The City of the Dead Haunted Graveyard Tour meets at the “large black signs against the wall of St. Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile”. Talk about spine-chilling. Cityofthedeadtours.com

Bran Castle, Brasov, Romania

Nestled in the mountains of Transylvania, this is said to be the inspiration of Count Dracula’s castle in Bram Stoker’s 1897 gothic horror novel. Tours operate daily. Bran-castle.com

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, October 2015.