Some U.S. cities are perfect to visit during Halloween because of their spooky or mysterious culture, like the above ground cemeteries and voodoo traditions in New Orleans, the famous 17th century witch trials in Salem, Massachusetts, or the Headless Horseman legend in Sleepy Hollow, New York. New Orleans, Louisiana From above ground mausoleums and tombs to haunted hotels to voodoo culture, New Orleans has a distinct culture that involves elements of the macabre. Founded in 1718 before the United States was officially founded, it has a history full of urban legends, including werewolves prowling the bayou or vampires in the French Quarter. Popular landmarks include the tomb of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau in the St. Louis Cemetery, walking past the gruesome past of LaLaurie Mansion, or Blacksmith’s Shop Bar where the ghost of pirate Jean Lafitte resides. Walk the cobblestone streets past brightly colored houses with iron balconies on a ghost tour on a foggy night to experience the unusual. Savannah, Georgia Savannah may ooze more than southern charm. With more than 300 years of gruesome history, the entire historic district is reportedly haunted. There’s been rumors and sightings of paranormal activity at Hamilton-Turner Inn as well as Marshall House, a haunted hotel that was a hospital three times in the past. Madison Square was the site of a bloody Civil War battle and has many haunted mansions that line the streets. Wander through Bonaventure Cemetery or Colonial Park Cemetery if you dare. Sleepy Hollow, New York This village thrives in its folklore history due to the Headless Horsemen in the famous story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. You may experience a ghostly encounter when walking through Sleepy Hollow Cemetery or exploring the town by lantern and shining jack-o-lanterns. Wander through popular colonial era manors include Philipsburg Manor, Van Cortlandt Manor, or Lyndhurst Mansion to learn more about local Sleepy Hollow history and haunts. Salem, Massachusetts Founded in 1626 as a Puritan fishing community, Salem is the location of the famous 1692 Salem witch trials in which Colonial America’s mass hysteria led to 19 people being hanged with more dying from other causes. Much of the town’s cultural identity revolves around this event, and many of the sites from the witch trials over 300 years ago still stand. Many historic sites are reportedly haunted, including one of the oldest cemeteries in the country, Old Burying Point Cemetery, and home of a Witch Trial Judge, The Witch House. Explore the muted colors of the town and brick-paved streets yourself to learn more about the sinister history rooted here. Tombstone, Arizona Riddled with a violent past, this historic mining ghost town is said to be home to lingering spirits of cowboys, grieving mothers, and citizens killed in large fires. OK Corral, the site of the famous Old West gunfight, is reportedly haunted by the cowboys. Boot Hill Graveyard and Bird Cage Theatre are popular destinations where unexplainable phenomena occur in Tombstone. St. Augustine, Florida Presumably the oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers and is home to centuries of history, beautiful houses, and supposedly, spirits. The masonry fortress Castillo de San Marcos is the location of many battles and invasions. Dangerous criminals in grotesque conditions were held at The Old Jail and apparitions with tragic deaths have been described at St. Augustine Lighthouse. Stroll the cobblestone streets among the Spanish colonial architecture to immerse yourself in this ancient city. San Francisco, California Among the vibrant scenery and sloping hills, some locations around San Francisco may send you chills even amidst the warm weather. Alcatraz, or “The Rock,” is a famous maximum-security military prison and haunted landmark that housed inmates including Al Capone. See if you hear voices or footsteps behind you if you visit. Take your pick of the macabre from friendly ghosts at The Queen Anne Hotel, dead army men performing their daily routine at the National Park The Presidio, or ethereal beings at the Sutro Baths. Charleston, South Carolina Known as a port city with cobblestone streets and horse-drawn carriages, Charleston also has some dark history from the first shots of the Civil War fired at Fort Sumter to slave labor on plantations. Learn about the macabre with locations like the White Point Garden where 50 pirates were hanged in the 1700s, the Old City Jail which housed the state’s first female serial killer, or The Old Exchange Building & Provost Dungeon which held Revolutionary War soldiers. San Antonio, Texas Bursting with rich culture and modern attractions, San Antonio also has a creepy past. The Menger Hotel is reputed to have strange occurrences but is decidedly the location of The Battle of the Alamo, Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders recruitment, and a devastating fire. The Southern Texas region also gives way to the Spanish urban legend of La Llorona, the weeping woman. Walk along the river or visit the Alamo Williamsburg, Virginia Existing as early as the 18th-century, Williamsburg has diverse Colonial America history, including part in the U.S. Civil War. Not all of its history is for the faint of heart though. Said to be cursed by the slave of the wife, the Peyton Randolph House was built in 1715 and the location of at least 30 deaths. The Public Hospital was the country’s first insane asylum. other haunted locations are the Wythe House, colonial prison Public Gaol, and Fort Magruder Hotel which was the site of the Battle of Williamsburg in 1862.

Los Angeles is known as “City of Angels” or the "Entertainment Capital" is known for world-class museums, championship sports teams, beautiful beaches and one-of-a-kind culinary experiences. Travel beyond these typical tourist activities and enjoy 5 unique Los Angeles experiences. 1. Haunt O' Ween LA: The Biggest Family Halloween Experience Haunt O' Ween LA - Courtesy of nbclosangeles.com September 30 – October 31, 2022 at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland HillsDuration: there is no time limit - spend as much time as you'd like!Cost: $40 - $70 - all ages welcome. Children under the age of 2 go free Enjoy every Halloween activity in one expansive family-fun adventure.Go trick-or-treating in the Town of Haunt O' Ween, wander through the streets of Ghoul City, visit the Farm House, venture into the Hidden Hollows…Explore over 200,000 sq ft. full of performances, games, decorations, photo ops, rides, and more immersive entertainment. Take part in a dance-off in the spooktacular Beyond the Grave Rave or jump the sugar off in multiple custom bounce houses & inflatable slides. Make your own potions at the Moonlight Magic DIY Potion Bar. Participate in an exclusive “Daniel Spellbound” experience hidden within the adventure. Enjoy a wide selection of food & beverage, including adult treats! Get Tickets for the Haunt O' Ween LA Experience 2. Flutter: A Multi-sensory Immersive Experience Flutter Experience - Courtesy of Flutter Now – End of 2022 at Flutter, 217 S La Brea, L.A.Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutesCost: $35 - $90 - all ages welcome Need an escape? Make your way to flutter! Rated as America’s number one art experience, enjoy the one-of-a-kind immersive adventure where art and happiness meet. Flutter has brought incredible artists together to transform 14 rooms into spaces that will inspire you to play, create, imagine, and explore. Let the guide take you through the multi-room experience with a different sensation and adventure in each art-filled space. From projection mapping and virtual reality to painting and dancing, there is something around every corner to stimulate your mind. If a museum and a playground had a baby, it would be flutter! Get Tickets for the Flutter Experience 3. Candlelight Día De Los Muertos: Celebrating the Day of the Dead Candlelight - Courtesy of Fever November 1, 2022 at Ovation Square Long BeachDuration: 60 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted)Cost: $35 - $70 - 8 years old or older. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Los Angeles. Get your tickets now to discover the music from traditional songs to music from Disney Pixar’s Coco by Divisi String Quartet at Ovation Square Long Beach under the gentle glow of candlelight. Get Tickets for the Candlelight Día De Los Muertos Experience 4. 2nd Annual Long Beach Oktoberfest Octoberfest Longbeach - Courtesy of Fever Now – October 9, 2022 Friday thru Sundays at 855 Elm Ave, Long BeachDuration: there is no time limit - spend as much time as you'd like!Cost: $20 - $125 - 21+ with valid ID on Fridays. All ages are welcome on Saturdays and Sundays. Children ages 14 and under enter free of charge It’s Long Beach’s second annual Oktoberfest extravaganza! Celebrate all things German with authentic Bavarian beer, delicious food, and more. The world-famous Festmeister Hans und Die Sauerkrauts will command the stage with music, performances, and games. And don't forget to don your Lederhosen or Dirndl as dressing up for the event is highly encouraged. The brats and beverages are waiting for you! Get Tickets for the Long Beach Oktoberfest 5. House of Spirits: Vaughan Hall House of Spirits: Vaughan Hall - Courtesy of Fever October 15 – October 31, 2022 Mondays & Thursdays thru Sundays at Casa Vertigo, Los AngelesDuration: 2 hours. Pre-show lounge opens 45 minutes before your scheduled show time. Cost: $65 - $101 - 21+ with valid ID - You are encouraged to dress up for the evening, be it in costume, cocktail attire, or your favorite time-period clothing! This is an immersive theatrical cocktail soirée, where adults do Halloween in a haunted mansion. Enjoy miniature craft cocktails and enjoy a night of macabre magic, tarot readings, strange roaming specters, secret games. There is a dark legend surrounding Vaughan Hall, but the truth behind the legend is far more disturbing. You will have 2 hours to savor a flight of miniature craft cocktails, sample darkly decadent chocolate truffles, and unravel the mystery to learn the sinister truth behind the demise of the Vaughan clan. The characters and themes of House of Spirits: Vaughan Hall are loosely based on the famous haunting of Loftus Hall in Ireland. The show also touches on Irish folklore and myths throughout the centuries. Get Tickets for House of Spirits: Vaughan Hall Note: If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission from our partners - thank you!

A beach vacation is the perfect way to spend time as a family and is a great opportunity to reconnect and forget about the stresses life can bring. The combination of the sea and the sun is ideal for creating unforgettable memories you and your family can cherish forever. However, with over 1,000 beaches in the United States, it can be difficult to decide where to go. Florida alone, for example, has 189 beaches and 360 miles of coastline The Family Vacation Guide took a deep-dive into Instagram and Tripadvisor data to determine which beaches are the most beautiful, and which you absolutely cannot miss visiting. And it’s perhaps no surprise to learn that every single one of the country’s top 5 most beautiful beaches can be found in Florida.#5 Navarre Beach, FloridaNavarre Beach, Florida - Courtesy of visitflorida.com 8.37 beach beauty scoreNavarre, a compact beach community found just east of Pensacola at the far northwestern tip of Florida, beckons with 12 miles of pristine white shoreline. Nestled between Gulf Islands National Seashore and Navarre Beach Marine Park, this beach community offers solitude and simplicity. Its pristine beaches are named among the best in the nation year after year, and visitors compare crossing Navarre Bridge to transcending paradise time and time again. Relaxation is the main attraction in Navarre. Visitors can sun on the beach, swim in emerald waters, enjoy a picnic in the park or pedal along a scenic bike path.#4 St. Pete Beach, FloridaDon Cesar Resort on St. Pete Beach, Florida - Courtesy of doncesar.com 8.68 beach beauty scoreReady for a break? Kick back on the sandy white beaches of St. Pete, as the balmy waters of the Gulf of Mexico lap at your toes. With an average of 361 days of sunshine per year, St. Pete Beach is guaranteed to please. You can also find the architecturally and historically grand Don CeSar resort (Pink Palace - yes! it's really PINK) which is a must see! #3. Clearwater Beach, FloridaClearwater Beach, Florida - Istock/Morgan Somers 8.74 beach beauty scoreCompleting the top three Florida beaches is Clearwater Beach. This beach is a great place to go with the family. The amazing weather and white sandy beaches make it a wonderful option to explore. Its calm waters also make this beach a great place to jet ski or paddleboard, which could be a fantastic experience for you to share with your family.#2. Pensacola Beach, FloridaPensacola Beach, Florida 9.12 beach beauty scoreRunners-up on our list is Pensacola Beach, just eight miles along the coast. This beach in Florida also boasts beautiful sea and sand, which makes it a great place to make a sandcastle or two. After a busy day in the sun, you’ll want to put your head down on a comfy bed.#1. Panama City Beach, FloridaPanama City Beach - Istock/TerryKelly 9.52 beach beauty scorePanama City Beach has been crowned the most beautiful beach in the US. The mixture of white sand and blue clear water has this Florida beach topping our list, and after enjoying some of the best things to do in Panama City Beach with kids, you can round the day off with a phenomenal view of the sunset. This beach will certainly give you and your family that ‘wow’ factor. Methodology - To calculate which beach in the US can officially be crowned the most beautiful, they looked at Tripadvisor reviews and found the total number and percentage of reviews mentioning the word, ‘beautiful’. They also looked at how many times each beach had been hashtagged on Instagram, to create an overall score of how beautiful each beach is. To see the full rankings and article click here.

When the first skyscrapers were built in Chicago and New York in the 19th century, no one could imagine how this new trend would end up transforming the urban skyline of cities across the globe. In fact, the success of skyscrapers is such that many of them have become must-see attractions, especially if they have incredible viewpoints at the top. September 3rd marks World Skyscraper Day and to commemorate this date Musement, has compiled a ranking* of the world's most Instagrammed skyscrapers. Skyscapers in the US make up half of this list - see where they ranked: #2. Empire State Building (New York) Image by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Pixabay More than 4,200,000 mentionsThis symbol of the Big Apple was the first building to have more than 100 floors in the United States. In addition, it was also the tallest skyscraper in the world between 1931 and 1972. Built in a record time of 410 days, the Empire State Building attracts more than 4 million visitors each year. It’s now open 365 days a year, and the 360-degree views of the city from the observatories on the 86th and 102nd floor are a pleasure for tourists and locals, both day and night. #4. One World Trade Center (New York) One World Trade Center - Istock/william87 More than 797,000 mentionsOne World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. It’s part of the World Trade Center, the new complex built after the tragic attacks of September 11. Its height of 1,776ft (547m) is a nod to the year the United States Declaration of Independence was signed. Visitors can ride the Skypod elevators to the observation deck between floors 100 and 102 in just 47 seconds. Once there, in addition to enjoying the views, the interactive exhibitions allow you to delve both into the history of the building and the city itself. #5. Willis Tower (Chicago) Willis Tower - Istock/alexphi More than 561,000 mentions. Located in the heart of Chicago, after its completion in 1973, the Willis Tower held the title of tallest building in the world for 25 years. Its enormous success on social media is due in large part to its Skydeck, the observation deck on the 103rd floor, which attracts more than 1.7 million visitors a year. And as if this weren’t impressive enough, in 2009 The Ledge was unveiled. This glass balcony offers a unique perspective of the Windy City at more than 1,300ft high. On a clear day it’s possible to see up to four different states: Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. #9. 30 Hudson Yards (New York) 30 Hudson Yards - IStock/WillEye More than 74,000 mentionsThe popularity of this building located at number 30 in the Hudson Yards neighborhood, west of Midtown Manhattan, is due in large part to the Edge, the incredible outdoor deck opened in March 2020. At 1,100ft high, it’s the highest viewing platform of its kind in the western hemisphere. From here, visitors can admire some of the Big Apple's most iconic attractions, including Central Park and the Statue of Liberty. The brave will get a thrill from seeing the city far below them, as they walk on the glass-bottomed area of the observation deck. #10. One Vanderbilt (New York) One Vanderbilt - Flickr/Anthony Quintano More than 59,000 mentionsAlthough it opened only two years ago, One Vanderbilt has already carved out a deserved place in our top 10 ranking. At 1,401ft tall, it’s one of the newest skyscrapers in the ever-changing New York skyline, and the observatory between the floors 91 and 93 has become one of the most popular attractions in the city. The transparent glass cubes jutting out 1066ft above Madison Avenue, also offer a rare thrill for those unafraid of heights. In addition to the dreamy views, the combination of art and technology explains its success and the installation by Kenzo Digital offers visitors a one-of-a-kind, immersive experience. Complete Ranking: 1. Burj Khalifa (Dubai), more than 6,300,000 mentions. 2. Empire State Building (New York), more than 4,200,000 mentions. 3. Taipei 101 (Taiwan), more than 816,000 mentions. 4. One World Trade Center (New York), more than 797,000 mentions. 5. Willis Tower (Chicago), more than 561,000 mentions. 6. Petronas Towers (Kuala Lumpur), more than 221,000 mentions. 7. Lotte World Tower (Seoul), more than 110,000 mentions. 8. Shanghai Tower (Shanghai), more than 104,000 mentions. 9. 30 Hudson Yards (New York), more than 74,000 mentions. \ 10. One Vanderbilt (New York), more than 59,000 mentions. \ *Methodology: To carry out the study, the 100 tallest skyscrapers in the world have been taken into consideration and the number of mentions on Instagram of the two most popular hashtags of each building has been analyzed. Data from July 2022.