Eerie tours

This president’s ghost was allegedly seen in the White House by Churchill

Old buildings keep lots of stories within their walls. Some are bright and beautiful, while others are so dark and disturbing. Across the U.S., many homes, estates, and other landmarks have become infamous for the ghost legends that surround them: Lincoln sightings in the White House, Mark Twain’s haunted home, and, of course, the entire city of Salem, Massachusetts. These sites welcome visitors year after year, and they offer a fascinating mix of history, mystery, and the supernatural.

When people think of the White House, they picture presidents, state dinners, and historic speeches. Yet for nearly two centuries, stories of ghostly encounters have haunted the premises.

Perhaps the most famous resident spirit is Abraham Lincoln. Numerous visitors have claimed to see his tall figure standing near windows or lingering in hallways. One of the best-known stories involves British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who reportedly emerged from a bath during a wartime visit in 1941 and found himself face-to-face with Lincoln’s ghost. Churchill supposedly decided not to spend another night in that room. Other stories involve President Andrew Jackson, whose laughter has allegedly been heard in certain rooms, and former First Ladies Abigail Adams and Dolley Madison. Adams is associated with the East Room, where she once hung laundry to dry, while Madison is said to still keep a watchful eye over the Rose Garden she helped preserve. Availability for the White House public tours varies, but you can still admire the building from Lafayette Square or the Ellipse.

The Whaley House looks like a charming 19th-century family home, but it has earned a spookier reputation. Built in 1857 by Thomas Whaley, the home quickly became one of San Diego's most important landmarks.

For generations, visitors have reported unexplained footsteps and shadows, and an overall sensation of a mysterious presence. Many of the stories center on James "Yankee Jim" Robinson, who was executed in 1852 on the site for theft. Today, the Whaley House operates as a museum and welcomes visitors year-round. Daytime tours focus on the home’s fascinating history, while evening experiences explore the legends that made it famous. Admission typically ranges from $18 to $41, depending on the tour selected. For travelers who enjoy both history and mystery, it's one of Southern California's most intriguing stops.

Greenwich Village is known for its beautiful brownstones, tree-lined streets, and bohemian history. One particular residence on West 10th Street, however, has become famous for an entirely different reason.

Known as The House of Death, the building has inspired stories for decades. Perhaps its most famous connection is to iconic author Mark Twain, who lived there briefly around 1900. Some visitors and local guides claim that his spirit remains in the building. Unlike many haunted attractions, this is still a private residential building, so visitors can’t step inside. However, the house is a popular stop on Greenwich Village ghost tours, many of which operate nightly throughout the year. These walking tours generally cost $30, and they provide a fascinating look at one of New York City’s most mysterious addresses.

No haunted houses list would be complete without including at least one located in Salem. Few places combine history, literature, and legend like The House of the Seven Gables in Massachusetts.

Built in 1668, the mansion is one of the oldest surviving homes, and it’s the spooky setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic Gothic novel of the same name. Over the centuries, visitors and staff have shared stories about unusual encounters inside the house. Some report seeing a young boy playing in the attic, while others speak of a mysterious figure using one of the home’s hidden staircases. But the most prominent figure is "the Woman in White", believed to be Susan, Hawthorne’s sister. Whether it’s the ghost stories that attract you or the beautifully preserved rooms, this house is worth a visit. Daytime tours are offered for tickets, which go from $18 for children and $26 for adults, and Salem ghost tours include this site during the autumn season.

The Lizzie Borden house is tied to a grisly true crime incident. In the summer of 1892, a shocking family tragedy unfolded inside the Borden home in Fall River. Andrew and Abby were found murdered inside the house, and the case quickly became front-page news across the country. Lizzie, Andrew, and Abby’s daughter found herself at the center of one of the most closely watched trials of the era. Although she was ultimately acquitted, public fascination with the case never faded. As the years passed, stories began to circulate that the home still held echoes of its past. Visitors reported hearing footsteps, laughter, and unexplained sounds.

The property now operates as both a museum and a bed and breakfast. Guided tours are offered throughout the week for $30, and overnight stays are available for $310 for those who want a truly memorable experience.

Long before the advent of ghost-hunting TV shows, the Bell Witch story was already terrifying Americans. The legend began in the early 1800s on the farm of John Bell near Tennessee's Red River, where sightings of strange animals soon escalated into mysterious noises, moving objects, and physical attacks. The disturbances reportedly focused on John Bell and his daughter Betsy. According to legend, the mysterious presence eventually identified itself as the Bell Witch.

The story spread far beyond Tennessee and became one of the nation’s earliest paranormal sensations. Perhaps the most remarkable detail is that future President Andrew Jackson reportedly visited the area after hearing the stories; whether he witnessed anything unusual remains a matter of debate, but his interest helped cement the legend. Today, visitors can see the reconstructed Bell cabin and the nearby cave, where the spirit was said to hide after haunting the family.

Fans of the paranormal have likely heard of the Sallie House. The story centers on a Kansas home that operated as a doctor’s office, which was visited one day by Sallie, a local young girl, and his mother. As a consequence of a failed surgery, Sallie died in that house and, according to legend, her spirit never left the premises. Residents began reporting unusual experiences they believed to be connected to the doomed girl.

The house gained national attention in the 1990s, when renters Tony and Debra Pickman described strange events that only grew intense over time. Lights flickering, misplaced objects, mysterious voices, and more attracted visitors and investigators alike from across the country. Today, the house is open for self-guided tours with tickets starting at $20, and special events like overnight stays for $125.

At first glance, Franklin Castle looks more like something from a fairy tale than a Midwestern city neighborhood. With its towers, stone walls, and Gothic architecture, it has sparked curiosity since the 1880s. The mansion was built by businessman Hannes Tiedemann, and during the following years after finishing it, he suffered the loss of his wife, Louise, his daughter, his mother, and three more infants. Naturally, rumors concerning Tiedemann and his house accumulated quickly.

Stories ranged from secret passages, hidden rooms, and unexplained sounds to additional tales involving bootleggers, spies, and more. While the stories were challenged by historians, the castle remains one of Cleveland’s most famous historic homes. Visitors can join special tours and occasional overnight events to explore both the architecture and the legends that have surrounded the building for years.

Unlike many haunted locations, the Biltmore Estate isn’t known for tragedy or scandal. Instead, one could say its former residents simply enjoyed the home too much to leave.

George Washington Vanderbilt II completed the magnificent estate in 1895, creating what remains the largest privately owned home in America. The mansion was a symbol of elegance and hospitality.

Over the years, visitors and staff members have reported hearing a woman’s voice calling George’s name. Many believe the voice belongs to his wife, Edith Vanderbilt. Others have reported seeing figures in hallways or catching glimpses of movement where no one appears to be present. Whether one believes the stories or not, the estate's hidden passageways, grand rooms, and mountain setting have contributed to making this place one of the most haunted in North America. Tickets start at $80, with a great variety of tours offered. You can tour the mansion, visit the gardens, visit the winery, and even stay overnight.

Some haunted houses gain local notoriety, but The Conjuring House became famous around the world. Built in 1736, the farmhouse sat quietly for generations before gaining widespread attention in the 1970s. During that decade, the Perron family reported a variety of unusual experiences that they believed were connected to the home’s long history.

Their story eventually attracted paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, whose involvement brought more attention to the property. Years later, Andrea Perron, the family’s daughter, wrote about her experiences in a series of books that inspired the blockbuster Conjuring film franchise. The house is open for visitors over 7 years old for $25, and private overnight investigations range from $960 to $1,280 per group, depending on the day of the week.

Family travel simplified

Take these steps to pull off an unforgettable family road trip

Some people envision a road trip like those in car commercials: windows down, everyone laughing, the open road stretching out ahead like a promise. Then there is the real version, where someone needs a bathroom fifteen minutes after you left, or two riders are already arguing about the radio. With the right amount of planning, a family road trip can actually be one of the best things you do together all year. These ten tips will get you a whole lot closer to the car commercial version than you might expect.

The single biggest mistake people make with family road trips is underestimating how long everything takes to organize. It all adds up fast: booking accommodations, mapping the route, figuring out who's riding with whom. Give yourself at least a month of lead time, even for a relatively short trip.

Start with the big decision first: destination, dates, and budget. Once those are locked in, everything else falls into place more naturally. A simple shared document or group text where everyone (or at least those grown-up enough to access a shared document or group text) can see the plan goes a long way toward keeping the chaos manageable.

A proper snack situation is the unsung hero of every successful road trip. Pack a dedicated bag or cooler with a mix of easy, non-messy options: nuts, granola bars, fruit, string cheese, crackers, maybe a few sweet treats for morale. Avoid anything that melts, crumbles, or produces a bad smell.

Stopping at a gas station every time someone is hungry adds up in both time and money surprisingly fast. And remember: nothing tests a road trip quite like an empty stomach.

Before the trip, ask everyone (kids included) to name one thing they really want to do or see. It doesn't have to be elaborate: a specific diner, a roadside attraction, or a state park.

You won't be able to fit everything in, and that's fine. The point is that everyone feels heard.

Roadside attractions are wonderful, and stopping for them costs nothing but fifteen minutes and a few photos. Roadside America has an app and a website, roadsideamerica.com, full of weird, delightful detours that are often the most memorable part of any road trip.

Some of the best road trip moments come from the spontaneous stop, the accidental discovery, the thing nobody planned but everyone remembers.

There is a version of a road trip where you drive ten hours a day, eat fast food in the car, and arrive at your destination barely speaking to each other. Don't be that family. A comfortable daily limit of five to six hours of actual driving keeps everyone in decent spirits and leaves room for the unexpected stops that often turn into the best memories of the whole trip.

Build in buffer time between destinations: an extra hour here and there for gas, stretching, and the inevitable "I need a bathroom right now" announcement.

Podcasts, audiobooks, playlists, downloaded movies for the kids: get all of it ready before you pull out of the driveway. Trying to download a six-hour audiobook on a spotty rural signal while simultaneously navigating a highway interchange is not a relaxing experience. Pick things everyone can enjoy together, but also have individual options for when tastes diverge.

After a full day in the car together, a single small hotel room with everyone piled in is a recipe for short tempers and a very long night. Wherever the budget allows, look for suites, adjoining rooms, or vacation rentals where people can spread out a little. Having a common area — even just a small living room — makes evenings feel like a break rather than an extension of the car ride.

Well-known brand sites like Vrbo and Airbnb are worth checking for family-friendly options, especially for longer stays. A house or condo with a kitchen also lets you eat breakfast in before hitting the road, which saves money and time.

Flat tires, wrong turns, a restaurant that turned out to be permanently closed, a kid who gets carsick on a mountain road… Something will probably go sideways. The families who handle it best are the ones who went in expecting imperfection and decided in advance to laugh about it rather than spiral.

Keep a basic emergency kit in the trunk: jumper cables, a flashlight, a first-aid kit, and a phone charger that actually works. Have a backup restaurant or activity in mind for each day, just in case.

Don’t spend so much energy managing everyone else’s experience that you forget to enjoy your own. Claim your preferences too: the restaurant you've been wanting to try, the scenic overlook you read about, the afternoon nap you absolutely need after two days of driving.

Take turns driving if you can; even short stretches help. And let someone else handle the GPS.

Before the suitcases are even fully unpacked, take ten minutes as a group to talk about what worked, what didn’t, and what everyone’s favorite moment was; it’s fun, and it makes the next trip significantly easier to plan. You'll remember which hotel chain everyone liked, which route was more scenic, and which snack was a hit versus which one caused a minor revolt.

Write it down somewhere you'll actually find it again. A note on your phone, a page in a travel journal, even a voice memo works fine. Future you will be grateful.