How to Spend a Spooky Weekend in Florida

Estimates date Florida's original inhabitants as far back as 12,000 years ago. Post-Columbus, the Spanish, French and British fought to claim its lands. The American Indian Wars followed after Florida's establishment as a United States territory, and it even suffered Civil War conflict. Maybe its tumultuous history contributes to the weird and unexplained attractions that draw thrill-seekers of the mysterious, macabre and downright spooky travel to Florida.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Walking shoes
• Camera
• Nerves

1. Stay in a haunted hotel or bed and breakfast. Ask when you make your reservation if your hotel of choice has any known specters—and what parts of the hotel they haunt. Some have never checked out of their rooms.
2. Take a ghost tour. They're offered in most of the major tourist destinations, including St. Augustine, Daytona, St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, New Port Richey and Key West.
3. Get your fortune told in Cassadaga, a spiritualist camp established in the late 19th century that's now home to two dozen psychics, mediums and healers.
4. Venture into the Bermuda Triangle—if you dare. Miami's shores makes up one of its points.
5. Roll uphill at Spook Hill in Lake Wales. Park on the white line, put your car in neutral and wait for it to start rolling backwards—seemingly up the slope.
6. Plan your trip during the month of October when many of the theme parks transform their grounds into haunted spectacles after dark, complete with haunted houses, chainsaw menacing stalkers and other ghouls.
7. Tour one of the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museums. There are four in Florida: Key West, Orlando, Panama City Beach and St. Augustine.

Tips & Warnings

• Some of the more recognized haunted hotels and bed and breakfasts include Amelia Island's Bailey House B&B, St. Augustine's Casa De La Paz Bayfront B&B or the Casablanca Inn or St. Pete Beach's Don CeSar Beach Resort.
• Both Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights and Busch Gardens' Howl-O-Scream (see Resources below) use high tech special effects and detailed, elaborate costumes to create terrifying experiences. Try Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom's (see Resources below) tamer version, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, for a less intense adventure if you have little ones.
• St. Augustine also has Ripley's Sightseeing Trains.
• Don't forget to watch for cars behind you at Spook Hill.