Haunted Galveston Island (Galveston, Texas)

It was the deadliest storm in U.S. history. The Galveston Hurricane of 1900 leveled what was then Texas' biggest city, killing 8,000 people. The stench of bodies could be smelled for miles. Burying them all was impossible. Even some of those buried at sea washed back onto the beaches. Spirits of the dead, still dressed in 1900s attire, have a heavy presence here. They're most often encountered at Ashton Villa—a mansion that survived the storm—and Hotel Galvez, the island's oldest hotel.

Get creeped: See chilling images of the aftermath in The Great Storm documentary at the Texas Seaport Museum ($5 admission) at Pier 21. In October the Galveston Historical Foundation runs haunted tours of Ashton Villa, the harbor, and a cemetery. Paranormal expert Dash Beardsley leads $20 ghost tours throughout the year. There's also a new year-round haunted house: Mayfield Manor.

Stay: Featured on The Travel Channel and the Discovery Channel for its ghosts, the 100-year-old Hotel Galvez has $189 packages in October that include dinner or brunch and a ghost tour with your stay.