Hi First name / friend!

 

Have Halloween decorations gone totally over the top?   What happened to  a couple of pumpkins and some cornstalks?  Neighborhoods now resemble a Tim Burton movie set. 

 

Even in the horse district in Aiken there is a giant inflatable carriage with scary inflatable horses.   The neighbors who ride by it are NOT fans.  I  would not be surprised if the home owner has a Ring Doorbell camera set up just to watch people get dumped in the street by spooking horses.     

 

 Luckily baby racehorse  Rosie is pretty unflappable so she just walks by it on her way to the training track.  

 

My Halloween decorations are our dogs Brumby and Bulliet terrorizing passersby,  so with all my free time I put together a list of spooky travel stops.   

 

There are eerie places all over the world, but Europe seems to be the winner when it comes to creepy.     

 

Beware of the scariest thing of all: planning your trip without the guidance of a travel advisor! 👻  ( yes, I know, shameless plug)

Does Dracula immediately come to mind when you think of this country?

 

 Romania might not be at the top of travel lists like other European destinations, but it should be!  Romania is a full of medieval charm and rich folklore. From the legends of Transylvania to the vibrant capital of Bucharest, it's full of history and mystery.   

 

 

👻 Hoia-Baciu Forest: Known as the "World's Most Haunted Forest," Hoia-Baciu is infamous for its paranormal activity, from ghost sightings to unexplained lights. Visitors report feelings of dread as they wander through its dense, twisted trees. Make it extra chilling: go on a night tour.

 

👻 Bran Castle: Perched high in the Carpathian Mountains, Bran Castle is steeped in dark legends, most notably as the inspiration for Dracula’s lair. Its Gothic architecture and eerie history make it a super spooky stop.

You know you're going to find croissants in France, but what about creepy castles and catacombs? The Olympic and summer crowds this year were truly terrifying,  but here are some additional options for your “just-a-bit-spooky” itinerary:

 

 

👻 The Catacombs of Paris: OK, even after living in Paris, and more visits then I can count,  I have NEVER  visited the Catacombs.  It is just too creepy.  Beneath the streets of Paris, the Catacombs house the bones of over six million people. For real.   One of you go and tell me about it.

 

👻 Château de Brissac: Known as the "Giant of the Loire Valley," Château de Brissac is not only the tallest castle in France but also one of the most haunted. The spirit of the "Green Lady," said to be the ghost of a noblewoman murdered in the castle, is  spotted wandering its halls.

 Scotland is famous for its rugged landscapes and ancient castles, making it a   spooky slam dunk

 

 

👻 Edinburgh Vaults: Beneath the streets of Edinburgh lie the haunted vaults, a series of dark chambers once home to body snatchers, criminals, and the city's poor. Ghost sightings and eerie encounters are common in this atmospheric underground.

 

👻 Mary King’s Close: Beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, Mary King’s Close is a labyrinth of narrow streets and hidden rooms once abandoned during the plague. Ghostly sightings, including the famous spirit of a little girl named Annie, make this underground close one of Edinburgh’s spookiest spots.

No trip planned? Now that's scary 😱 If you're ready to begin building your perfectly-normal or spooky itinerary, begin by clicking the button below to start planning!

Portugal may be chock-full of beautiful tiles and cobblestone streets, but if you're in search of a touch of eeriness, you're in luck. Sintra, located just outside of Lisbon, has a super cool spooky spot to check out. 

 

 

👻 Chapel of Bones: The Chapel of Bones in Évora is a beautiful yet unsettling site, with its walls lined with human skulls and bones. It’s a macabre masterpiece.

 

👻 Quinta da Regaleira: This Gothic estate, with its mystical gardens and underground tunnels, is one of the coolest places I have ever been.  The photos do NOT do it justice. It has an eerie atmosphere tied to occult symbols and  Masonic rituals. The Initiation Well, a spiral staircase descending into the ground, is like something out of a dark fairy tale. You could spend days exploring.