Looking for a thrilling getaway this fall?

You don’t have to drive far for a trip that will send shivers down your spine. Take a trip to one of these nearby destinations for a scary good road trip. 

MASSACHUSETTS

Salem

One of the most popular destinations for fans of spooky tourism is Salem, although the coastal city in Essex County is historic in its own right beyond its affiliation with witchcraft.

Still, Salem has truly embraced its notoriety from the Salem witch trials of 1692. Today, the city’s police cars have witch logos, and there’s a public elementary school named Witchcraft Heights!

Many of Salem’s tourist attractions are related to the history of the trials and supposed witchcraft, including the Jonathan Corwin House (also known as The Witch House), which today operates as a museum. There is also the Salem Witch Trials Memorial in downtown Salem. This memorial features 20 granite benches commemorating those accused in the infamous trials.

After you’re done being bewitched, be sure to take in Friendship of Salem, the replica tall ship at Salem Maritime National Historic Site, and the Peabody Essex Museum, a major museum of international art and culture, early American maritime trade, and decorative arts.

North Adams

If you dare, continue your haunted journey through Massachusetts by visiting North Adams. There, you will find the Houghton Mansion, which allegedly holds the ghost of AC Houghton, the first mayor of North Adams. The home is said to also be occupied by the spirit of Houghton’s daughter Mary, who died in a tragic car accident in 1914.

North Adams is also a great destination for art lovers. As the home of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, there are many art galleries to visit throughout the city.

PENNSYLVANIA

Altoona

Altoona is home to the Mishler Theatre, which has hosted world-class entertainment since opening in 1906. Some say that founder Isaac Mishler was so fond of the theater that his spirit has never left. There have been other reports of ghostly howling dogs and a female apparition who likes to play pranks in the restroom.

The historic Mishler Theater stands on its own as a historic attraction even if you aren’t visited by any ghosts. If you are still looking for a thrill, check out Leap-The-Dips, the oldest operating roller coaster in the world, at Lakemont Park.

Jim Thorpe

Visit Jim Thorpe, Pa., and you will find the Old Jail Museum, which combines two museums into one. Visitors will learn the story of McKean County through the years as well as the history of the jail itself.

Only the brave will take the museum’s ghost tour, which is also an education on the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish society that had 20 of their members executed after violent conflicts in the region from 1861 to 1875. Seven Molly Maguires members were hanged at the Old Jail Museum, a major contributor to its spooky status.

An interesting fact about the picturesque Jim Thorpe, Pa.: famous Native American athlete Jim Thorpe never lived there, but he is buried there. The former borough of Mauch Chunk was renamed as a tribute to Thorpe after the Olympian’s death in 1953.

OHIO

Cleveland

One of Cleveland’s greatest live music venues is also one of the city’s most haunted places. The Cleveland Agora Theater opened as the Metropolitan Theater in 1910 before transitioning into a live concert hall known as the WHK Auditorium in 1949. Elvis and the Beatles performed there, and the venue would change ownership and names over the decades.

With so much hallowed history, it’s no surprise that some spirits have become attached to the Agora. Many inexplicable things have been seen there, including a ghostly man in a yellow raincoat spied in various locations throughout the venue.

The city of Cleveland has plenty to offer besides ghosts. Check out the Arcade Cleveland, a historic retail center that opened as the first indoor shopping center in America in 1890.

Fairport Harbor

Just northeast of Cleveland is Fairport Harbor, home of the Fairport Harbor Lighthouse. The story goes that the lighthouse owner’s wife owned a grey cat named Sentinel. The cat disappeared after her death, but Sentinel’s remains are believed to have been found years later during an air conditioning installation! Of course, Sentinel’s spirit was never captured, as fleeting encounters with the feline have been documented through the decades.

Fairport Harbor is also a great location for water leisure activities on Lake Erie, and it’s the home of the Finnish Heritage Museum.

ONTARIO, CANADA

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Fort George was the site of key battles during the War of 1812, where American forces took over the fort during the Battle of Fort George in 1813. Most of Fort George's military structures were destroyed, but the site was restored in the 1930 and is now used as a living museum with historic reenactments.

Encounters with spirits of the war dead are said to be common at Fort George, and frequently seen ghosts have been given nicknames like "Irving" and "The Women in the Mirror."

 You don't have to be a ghost hunter to enjoy Niagara-on-the-Lake, a popular tourist destination known for its bed & breakfasts, wineries and shopping.

Toronto

People from around the world choose to live in Toronto. Some never, ever leave.

One permanent resident is known as Dorothy, a young bank teller who died at the Bank of Montreal in 1953. That building is now the Hockey Hall of Fame, but Dorothy's ghost continues to flicker lights and open and close doors, according to reports.

If you escape Dorothy, visit Toronto's pedestrian-only Distillery District, famous for its cobblestone streets, outdoor sculptures and hip restaurants.

Taking a road trip this fall? Don't be scared of breakdowns or flat tires. Your AAA membership gives you roadside assistance services 24/7 no matter where you drive!

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