Ready to go check out some fun (virtual) places this Halloween? Has your trick-or-treating been cancelled? Do you want to do something fun – and still stay home? Maybe you’re just looking for some fun and spooky Halloween activities to set the mood and that you can enjoy at home with the family. I’ve pulled together some recommendations which are sure to brighten the ‘spirits’ of everyone in your family.
Winchester Mystery House
The famous home of Sara Winchester, heiress to the rifle fortune, has re-opened starting September 12 in San Jose, CA. Sara built many secret passageways and stairs to nowhere in order to outsmart the spirits who lived there. Just in time for their famous candlelit Halloween tours, they have revamped their most famous indoor tour. And, they have also introduced a number of new evening outdoor garden tours, too.
Not local? You’re in luck. The Winchester Mystery House has put together a totally immersive online tour for the fall. The tour allows visitors to independently roam the house online and even see many rooms which are normally inaccessible to the public. Best part? The online tour is a fraction of the price of an in-person visit, and you have access to come back again and again. Your online access will be good forever, according to the website- without additional charge.
Winchester Mystery House Immersive 360° Tour
Eastern State Penitentiary
The infamous and grandiose prison in downtown Philadelphia is open to the public for daytime tours with new rules for social distancing, masking up and linear routes. The crumbling, asylum-like penitentiary which housed notables such as Al Capone is a fascinating and eerie day visit. Definitely one of the fun places to check out this Halloween season.
You can also enjoy the penitentiary while wearing your fuzzy slippers (or your Halloween costume) using their virtual tools. There are actually two to choose from; a full screen one for roaming created in 1998, and a new Virtual tour which takes you through the penitentiary via a map of the crumbling cell blocks with additional information and spacial orientation.
Eastern State Penitentiary Virtual Tour
Lizzie Borden’s House
“Lizzie Borden took an axe; gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, she gave her father 41.“ The story of Lizzie, the gruesome murders, and the sensational trial which followed are probably one of the most notable murder crimes of 19th century America. While Lizzie was found innocent during the trial, the murderers were never found and the case remains unsolved. Lizzie lived out her life under a cloud of suspicion, and the house where the crimes took place have long been reported haunted.
You can visit the house where the crimes were committed virtually. The old house still stands and has many of the original fixtures. You can also see the house where Lizzie lived for the remainder of her life, and the cemetery where the family is interred. The virtual tour is free of charge.
Lizzie Borden Online House Tour
The Catacombs in Paris
Never made it to the famous ancient burial grounds under the streets of Paris? Never fear, now you can visit them virtually in the comfort of your living room. The tunnels were converted to ossuaries in the eighteenth century to accommodate the many dead citizens from that time. ‘Stroll‘ through the labyrinth at your own pace and enjoy 360° views without fear of getting lost. You could even visit the catacombs on Halloween Eve. The virtual, self-guided tour includes 6 rooms and is free of charge.
Crescent Hotel
Billing itself as America’s most haunted hotel, The Crescent Hotel in the heart of the Ozark Mountains has ghost tours nightly. The tours have been revised to require masks, social distancing, and to follow a linear path. In addition to the tours, visitors to the area can book haunted rooms, such as room 3500 where apparitions purportedly appear.
Not headed to the Ozarks before Halloween? The hotel has posted a number of virtual tours and videos on their site. Some of them are actually episodes from Ghost-hunter type cable shows, but some are tours of the building and grounds. Worth a visit for a few moments of spook.
Crescent Hotel Self-guided videos
Point Sur Lightstation Haunted Moonlight Tour
The iconic lightstation, located on a tombolo island tied to the land just south of the famous Bixby Bridge in Big Sur, is notoriously haunted. Each year at Halloween, certified docents and other volunteers give one of the best spooky walking tours of any lighthouse. Because the lighthouse was closed last Halloween for bridgework, and then this year due to the pandemic, locals and visitors alike are waiting in anticipation for the tours to resume.
The California State Park owned light-station has reopened for tours. All tours will be outside with masks and social distancing required. There will be no entry into the historic buildings at this time, however all visitors will get a chance to soak in the stunning, panoramic Pacific Ocean views from the top of the island and roam around the outside of the several light station buildings. This tour should be on your list of fun places to check out for Halloween.
Point Sur lightstation tour information
