Halloween is on its way, bringing with it pumpkin-flavored everything, cemetery walks, and the scent of wet leaves. For some, October is nothing more than a precursor to the stressful holiday season and cold weather. For others, October is the month they look forward to all year round.
Finally, the horror movies come out. Fake tombstones crop up in front yards, and the world is painted red — not by blood, of course, but by bright, shining leaves that burn like fire against gray skies. Cinnamon-scented candles are lit and Ouija boards dusted off. Everyone knows Oct. 31 is the night the dead are free to roam, the boundary between the living and dead at its thinnest. Friends band together and eat too much candy while children own the streets, disguised to keep the goblins away. If you are of the spookier ilk, a fanciful trip might even be in the works, but where will you go?
There are so many choices when it comes to “scariest places on Earth.” Whether you’re into ghosts or voodoo, witches or history’s real monsters, there is a Halloween haven for you. We offer you fifteen to choose from all around the world. Some you’ve probably heard about. Others may come as more of a surprise; just ask Washington Irving and Bram Stoker. (In autumn, it’s dangerous to think their stories mere works of fiction.) It’s time to don your most ghoulish gear and plan a trip for Oct. 31.
Don’t worry, ghosts don’t bite much … but I hear Dracula is one hungry dude.