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US Spooky Travel Destinations: As Halloween approaches, several cities across the United States embrace their eerie pasts, drawing tourists and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Among them, Savannah in Georgia, New Orleans in Louisiana, and Salem in Massachusetts stand out for their centuries-old haunted histories.

These old cities, with their cobblestone streets lined with intact colonial buildings, look quaint in the daytime. After dark, however, most tourists have reported sobering sightings of ghosts and inexplicable events, which have cemented their place among the nation's most haunted destinations.

Savannah: Southern Gothic At Its Best

Established in 1733, Savannah became a popular haunted destination with the release of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in 1994. The Mercer-Williams House, the location of a death in 1969 and staged in the novel, remains a popular spot for ghost-hunters who claim to see the ghost of a young boy in its windows.

Historic bed-and-breakfasts and hotels like the Marshall House and Hamilton-Turner Inn are also hotspots for ghostly activity. Guests have reported hearing children's cries, seeing ghostly apparitions, and experiencing strange phenomena. Colonial Park Cemetery, founded in the 1750s, is rumored to contain shadowy spirits between its worn gravestones, many of which are inscribed over victims of yellow fever epidemics and anonymous graves of slaves.

As Lowell Brower, University of Wisconsin-Madison lecturer in Folklore, said to local media that "Hauntings enable us to say the unsayable histories back into being and perceive not just the place and individuals here among us today but those who stood here before us."

Salem: Commemorating The Witch Trials

Originally settled in 1626, Salem's haunted reputation is entangled with the 1690s witch trials, which saw over 200 people charged with witchcraft, and 19 of them put to death. Nowadays, the city commemorates the victims with memorials, museums, and reenactments.

Tourists visit the Witch House, which belonged to Judge Jonathan Corwin, the sole surviving house directly associated with the trials. The House of Seven Gables, made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne's Gothic romance, provides a spooky window into the city's dark past. Reenactments and interactive tours provide audiences with a chance to see history while experiencing the spooky tales of Salem's witches.

New Orleans: Voodoo, Spirits, and Ghostly Legends

Founded in 1718, New Orleans' spooky reputation is closely linked to its mixture of voodoo, Catholic practices, and centuries of colonial history. Myths surrounding figures such as Marie Laveau, vampires who claim to be, and witches from around the city add to the city's otherworldly legend.

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Travelers to St. Louis Cemetery, the Old French Opera House, and the Old Absinthe House commonly experience ghost sightings, ranging from sailors with bright blue eyes to actresses who met a tragic end on stage. Even the world-famous Café du Monde is rumored to host friendly ghosts, proving that in New Orleans, ghosts walk among the living.

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As Halloween approaches, these three cities remind residents and visitors alike that history, tragedy, and mystery tend to long outlast the sunset, fueling America's interest in the supernatural.