With previous adventures as varied as searching for Bigfoot among the Redwoods and traversing the Headless Horseman Bridge in Sleepy Hollow, I’ve visited scores of peculiar places in my travels. However, there remain plenty of eccentric locales yet to discover. Here are five weird places on my own bizarre bucket list. After all, Weird Wanderings can still get a whole lot weirder.
Bell Witch Cave in Adams, Tennessee
In the annals of American history, only one death ever went on the books as being inflicted by a ghost. Starting in 1817, a malevolent spirit named Kate besieged the Bell family of Tennessee until patriarch John ultimately succumbed to her torment, possibly by way of poisoning. Some say the homicidal trickery was the work of a scorned school teacher eager to marry the Bell’s daughter Elizabeth, but no one knows for certain. Visitors today can peruse a re-creation of the Bells’ cabin as well as tour the supposedly haunted cave on the property.
Loch Ness near Inverness, Scotland
While college life took me abroad, these days I root my weird travels firmly in America. I figure the U.S. boasts enough strange and haunting locales to keep me occupied until my husband renews his long-expired passport. However, when I do finally cross the ocean again, my first stop will be Scotland’s Loch Ness. Offbeat explorers can’t find another body of water in the world that plays host to such a storied sea monster.
The French Quarter in New Orleans
Like Salem and Gettysburg, much of New Orleans’ intrigue arises from a deeply tragic history. Case in point: LaLaurie Mansion whose 19th-century party girl purveyor held lavish soirees while secretly torturing slaves in the attic. Supposedly, their spirits still haunt the house today. Bolstering an already eerie ambiance are the city’s above-ground cemeteries and voodoo connections, making it a veritable haven for the weird wanderers among us.
The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado
During his stay there in the 1970s, Stephen King experienced such an uncanny dose of otherworldly phenomenon that the incident fueled a winter-plagued haunted house concept. That, of course, became his well-loved creep fest, The Shining. Nowadays, the Stanley Hotel embraces its spectral-laden heritage, though the website ensures potential guests know only “happy ghosts” frequent the premises. That means you’ll have to get your fix of malicious poltergeists elsewhere.
Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida
For almost three decades, Edward Leedskalnin constructed—and even moved—his Florida castle singlehandedly, an unbelievable feat considering many of the building materials weighed over a ton. He dedicated his masterpiece to the teenage fiancée who abandoned him the day prior to their wedding. Though no one knows the specifics of his construction methods, this ethereal wonder is a must-see for all fans of unusual sights.
What weird places do you want to see? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy haunting!