Haunted destinations worth traveling for

If you want to make a real trip out of it, here are the places at the top of my list:

Salem, Massachusetts - Where it all started. The 1692 witch trials are a real and tragic piece of history, and the town treats that story with the respect it deserves. October in Salem is pure magic.

Sleepy Hollow, New York - The Headless Horseman's hometown. The Old Dutch Church and its ancient cemetery are straight out of a storybook, especially in the fall.

New Orleans, Louisiana - One of my bucket-list cities. Haunted mansions, above-ground cemeteries, and ghost tours on practically every corner.

Savannah, Georgia - Consistently ranked one of the most haunted cities in America, and one of the prettiest too.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania - History and hauntings go hand in hand here. The battlefields after dark are something else.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado - The hotel that inspired The Shining. Enough said.

St. Augustine, Florida - The oldest city in the U.S. has had 450+ years to collect its ghosts.

Tips for planning your haunted getaway Book October early.

Haunted destinations sell out fast in October - I'm talking months ahead for the popular spots.

Take the ghost tour. Every haunted town has one, and the guides are always fantastic storytellers.

Stay IN the haunted hotel. A daytime visit is fun, but spending the night is the whole experience. Mix in the cute stuff too.

Apple cider, fall festivals, cozy dinners - balance the spooks with the season's sweeter side.