Boston's Best Haunted Graveyard Tour
If you're longing for a chill in the air that isn't just the onset of winter, you're in luck. This Halloween season, there's no better time to take part in spooky happenings across town. Here are a few ideas for some of the best spine-tingling ways to take on the town both here in Boston and the legendary town of Salem, home of the famed Witch Trials.
Boston Night Tour
The Bostix Booth at Faneuil Hall
1 Faneuil Hall Square
Boston, MA 02110
(978) 741-1170
www.bostonghosttours.com/
Price: $15 for adults/$11 children younger than 18, seniors and students.
Learn more about Boston history with a touch of the paranormal. Catch this tour near the Bostix Booth at Faneuil Hall. You'll follow Boston's Freedom Trail from Faneuil Hall to the Boston Common while visiting haunted sights along the way. Stops include the Old Granary Burying Ground, the King's Chapel Burying Grounds and the site of the Boston Massacre. Using documented encounters, you'll take part in a real investigation of things that go bump in the night.
Ghosts and Gravestones - Boston Frightseeing Tour
200 Atlantic Ave.
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 269-3626
www.ghostsandgravestones.com/
Price: $39.90 for adults/$36.75 for seniors, students and military/$25.50 for children ages 4 to 12/free children younger than 4
A short walk through Faneuil Hall will lead you to Atlantic Avenue and the Ghost and Gravestones tour. With a rotating cast of scary and opinionated characters, this trolley ride will take you through some of Boston's most haunted sites, combining history with a dollop of satire. Stops on this tour include Copp's Hill Burying Ground in the North End and the Old Granary Burying Ground near the Boston Common.
Salem Trolley: Tales & Tombstones Tour
8 Central St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 744-5469
www.salemtrolley.com
Price: $21 for adults/$16 for seniors/$11 for ages 6 to 14/free children younger than 6
It is not possible to celebrate Halloween in Massachusetts properly without a visit to Salem. Infamous for the witch trials of 1692, Salem is crawling with spirits who are dying to tell you more. Salem is 40 minutes north of Boston and accessible via car or the Commuter Rail from North Station. The centrally-located National Park Service Salem Visitor Center, located at 2 New Liberty St., offers easy access to restroom facilities. This one-hour trolley tour will transport you into Salem's historic past that includes murder, mystery, ghosts and documented paranormal activities. Get ready to familiarize yourself with the occult and Salem's deepest secrets. Reservations are strongly recommended.
Daily Graveyard Walking Tour at the Salem Wax Museum
288 Derby St.
Salem, MA 01970
(978) 740-2929
www.salemwaxmuseum.com
Price: $12 for adults/$8 for children, seniors and students
Take a tour of the Charles Street Burying Point, the second oldest graveyard in the United States, to learn more about Salem history, including the famed witch trials. Col. John Hawthorne, the hanging judge for the trials, is interred here. Reservations for this tour are strongly recommended. Tours are 30 minutes in length and can be combined with other tours.
Related: Boston's Best Secret Bars
Grabbing a Bite
If you're in the Faneuil Hall area, don't forget about all of the conveniences located at the Quincy Market. You'll get access to restrooms and myriad casual dining options. The Market is located just beyond the Bostix Booth where many of the tours begin. While in Salem, head to Victoria Station in Pickering Wharf. This family friendly restaurant will offer you plenty of options, views of the water, and no one will look twice if you are in costume. If you're not able to head to the Wharf, stick to the pedestrian mall near the Visitor Center on Liberty Street.
Cristy is a city dwelling enthusiast, an arts, culture, and technology lover, and an all around curious person. As an examiner, she covers all things Boston. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
