USA Travel Guide

Congress ain’t the only scary thing in DC! Have yourself a spooky good time in our nation’s capital this Halloween season with a historical ghost tour. Whether in beautiful President’s Park or the nearby town of Alexandria, we’ve got a great selection for you.

Washington DC Ghost Tours
The Washington DC Ghost Tour company has all-pro credentials. The company also runs the Nashville Ghost Tours, a really fantastic selection of tours down in Music City (we’ve even written about them).

Just like in Nashville, the DC ghost tour provides many a chilling tale, but also a terrific and accurate historical account of the locations and happenings. Your tour begins Lafayette Square (President’s Park), but you’ll soon be on the move to explore the haunted history behind the Hay-Adams Hotel, Dolly Madison House and St. John’s Church. Expect some fun little tidbits about the nearby White House as well. Lovers of history, the paranormal and architecture will all have something to enjoy.

As we’d expect from the people behind Nashville Ghost Tours, Washington DC Ghost Tours hires first-rate guides. Lantern in hand and dressed to the Victorian nines (well, maybe eights), the guides will fascinate you as readily as have you chuckling. Frank’s the man!

Adult tickets cost $15. Tours run nightly through mid-November, starting at 8:00 p.m. Additional times may be added in October. Learn more.

Recommended Washington DC Hotel:
Phoenix Park Hotel

Alexandria’s Ghost & Graveyard Tour
Just a hop, skip and healthy jump from Lafayette Square in DC, visit charming Alexandria, Virginia. This dynamic city is steeped in American history, including a fair bit of its haunted history.

The Alexandria Colonial Tours company offers a selection of fine tours, from African American history to the Christmas tour, but me being me, my favorite has to be the Ghost & Graveyard tour. The at times quaint architecture of Old Town takes on a menacing grimace in the pale lantern light, and for just a moment, you feel transported back nearly 300 years.

Among several tales of folklore, legend and ghostly happenings throughout Old Town, the tour includes the tragic twists of romantic misfortune suffered by Laura Schafer and Charles Tennesson back in the 19^th Century. The company even recreated this story for a show on the Travel Channel awhile back.

On select October nights, they offer a special Halloween Tour, which includes access to areas not on the regular tour. We haven’t done this one at USA Travel Guide.

Adult tickets cost $10. Tours run nightly through October, then weekends after that. Starting location depends on the date, so read carefully. Learn more.

Recommended Alexandria, Virginia hotels:
Holiday Inn Alexandria-Historic District
Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria

Have a little haunted fun in Washington DC.