Charleston's numerous cemeteries add a spooky air to this enchanting city. Credit: askaped.
By Blane Bachelor
The quintessentially Southern city of Charleston bills itself as one of America’s most haunted, and October – with its cooler temperatures and plentiful Halloween offerings – is a fantastic time to visit. Here’s how to dip into the city’s spookier side, from some great Charleston walking tours to Halloween-centric events at the South Carolina Aquarium, plus Charleston plantations where the Southern spirit takes on a whole new meaning.
To start soaking up the city’s genteel charms and gorgeous architecture – and, perhaps, some Southern specters — begin your visit with one of several Charleston walking tours offered by the award-winning Charleston Walks. These informative, historian-led excursions cover specific aspects of the city’s rich history, but two timely choices are the Ghosts & Legends (1.5 hours), which highlights haunted Charleston’s most eerie tales, and the Pirates & Buccaneers (2 hours) tours, which includes a stop at the unnerving Old Provost Dungeon.
Charleston plantations are another must-do for any visit, and during October, they take on a deliciously spooky vibe. By day, Boone Hall Plantation, a bucolic beauty that has been a living and working plantation for more than 300 years, delights visitors with its rolling pastures and oak-lined lanes; by night throughout October, it morphs into Boone Hall Fright Nights, complete with experiences like Psycho Clowns in 3-D and the Terror Trail Hayride (not recommended for anyone under 12).
At Charleston’s South Carolina Aquarium, however, you’ll find not-quite-so-terrifying, Halloween-focused offerings targeted to young’uns. The aquarium’s October schedule features several “Scary’um” events, including “Creepy Crawly Critters” presentations and dive shows called “What Lurks Beneath,” both offered every afternoon.
One aspect of any Charleston vacation that should never be scary: booking a great place to stay. Among our favorites for Charleston hotels are the Renaissance Charleston and the Planters Inn Charleston, both located in the city’s historic district — which, with its narrow alleyways and stately cemeteries — is a superbly spooky area to explore on your own.
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San Francisco-based travel writer Blane Bachelor will never forget how her camera battery inexplicably drained during a Charleston walking tour about the city’s haunted history a few years ago.