Looking for a good time off campus? Want to take it easy this year for Halloween?
Head to Salem, MA for some spooky adventures:
Ghost Hunting & Wax Museum
Salem has always been a hot spot for those looking for something spooky. The city, best known for the start of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 is said to be haunted by many of the deceased. Derby Square Tours offers two options: the “Witch Trial Trail” and the “Terror Trail” walking tour.
The one-hour, candlelight Witch Trial Trail tour departs at 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday nights, and is available from October 1st through October 30th. The tour starts only two blocks from the Salem Visitor Center, so it’s an easy location to find. Reservations are not accepted for the Witch Trial Trail, but are required for the limited space on the Terror Trail Tours!
After your tour, take a walk down to the Salem Wax Museum and explore Frankenstein’s Laboratory and watch a real witch cast spells. Salem also hosts many other witch and ghost-themed events thoughout the month of October.
Haunted Hotels
After a long night out, wouldn’t you want to spend the evening with close friends snuggled under a blanket and telling ghost stories? Stay a night at one of the haunted hotels in Massachusetts! The Hawthorne Hotel is in the heart of Salem and hosts many events. The hotel is rumored to have a haunted elevator, but claims to be child-friendly.
Curious to find out more? There are also many other haunted hotels in the Massachusetts area if you are feeling spontaneous!
Can’t get to Salem?
Here are some activities you can do in Boston:
Take a Boston Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley & Walking Tour
You can walk through two of the oldest cemeteries in Boston and hear about some of Boston’s most sinister characters, such as the Angel of Death and the Boston Strangler. You will learn about all the ghosts and ghouls who reside in Boston.
The tour is one and a half hours long and starts at the Main Ticket Booth on the intersection of Atlantic Avenue and State Street. Tours begin at 7pm and 9pm. Boarders have claimed to capture ghostly encounters on their cameras, so don’t forget to take a picture!
End the night by staying at the Omni Parker House, which is said to be haunted by the friendly ghost of Harvey Parker.
Harvery Parker was a perfectionist when it came to handling every detail of his restaurant. Hotel operations and guests have reported seeing him in the halls and even in their room! The elevator is reported to always be called to the third floor, once occupied by Charles Dickens, without even having to push a button! Other reports of ghostly sightings also appear throughout the hotel. With the spooky night of Halloween approaching, will you be the next to meet Harvey Parker?