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Find Coastal Master-Planned Communities.

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Find your ideal destination, lifestyle, and home. Explore more than 75 coastal destinations and lifestyles.

Virginia’s Eastern Shore

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is a 70-mile-long peninsula with coastlines on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Chesapeake Bay. Visitors find more than 78,000 acres of parks, preserves, and national seashores, plus the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge, where the resident ponies roam free. There’s also the Seaside Water Trail for kayakers, fishing piers in friendly beach towns, and an artisan trail with vineyards, museums, and studios.

New Bern, North Carolina

Historic New Bern on the North Carolina coast features a revitalized downtown with quaint shops, art galleries, and antique stores. Take a tour on the trolly or by foot to visit Tryon Palace and the local pharmacy where Pepsi-Cola was invented. There’s an impressive variety of restaurants, many located by the riverside docks, where you can also charter a deep-sea fishing boat or rent a kayak for the day. Cozy bed-and-breakfast inns and waterfront hotels offer comfortable lodgings.

Isle of Palms, South Carolina

The Isle of Palms is a South Carolina oceanfront community located 20 minutes north of the historic city of Charleston. Seven miles of wide public beaches are open year-round, and bike paths meander throughout the island. Large family beach houses and Wild Dunes Resort offer choice accommodations, and there’s live music every night at The Windjammer and other popular seaside nightspots.

St. Marys, Georgia

The Georgia coastal town of St. Marys is best known as the gateway to Cumberland Island because it’s from her docks that ferries depart for daily trips to that national seashore’s pristine beaches and historic sites. The town itself also offers unique attractions like train-ride tours, a submarine museum, and a seven-acre waterpark. The downtown area features a riverfront walkway and delicious local-catch seafood dinners.

Amelia Island, Florida

With 13 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches, Amelia Island on the northeast Florida coast is a complete sun-and-fun vacation destination. There are also six championship golf courses on the island and fishing charters to the nearby Gulf Stream waters. Kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards are available, or you can take a more leisurely horse-carriage tour. Accommodations range from upscale oceanfront resorts to hookups and campsites at Fort Clinch State Park.

Vero Beach, Florida

Located on Florida’s mid-Atlantic coast, Vero Beach offers visitors and residents the best of both worlds: The Oceanside area on Vero Beach island offers uncrowded beaches with free public parking, plus coral-reef snorkeling and seaside music concerts. Downtown Vero Beach on the mainland is home to boutique shops, art galleries, fine-dining restaurants, and the exotic McKee Botanical Gardens.

Cape Coral, Florida

Cape Coral is a laid-back community in southwest Florida where boating and fishing are major year-round activities. Work up an appetite on the city’s 90+ miles of interconnected bike paths, or take a hike in the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. Enjoy a relaxing dinner cruise on the Gulf of Mexico. Cape Coral is also the hub of a coastal region that includes the beaches of Ft. Myers and Sanibel Island.

Galveston Island, Texas

Galveston Island on the Texas Gulf Coast offers 32 miles of beaches and attractions like the famous Pleasure Pier Amusement Park. Amid the well-preserved Victorian architecture in the downtown district, you’ll find a local arts and culture scene highlighted by music concerts and Broadway shows at the Grand 1894 Opera House. Take a stroll through the living rain forest and aquarium at Moody Gardens, then enjoy dinner at an authentic Tex-Mex restaurant.

Looking for a way to escape? Looking to avoid the crowds? Lush fairways and beautiful water hazards might be the perfect solution. Many master-planned amenity communities feature championship courses designed by the masters. Here, we've broken it down by highlighting a few popular golf destinations.

Amelia National Golf & Country Club

Fernandina Beach, FL

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

More than 80 championship courses in the Myrtle Beach area welcome golfers from around the world, especially in the spring and fall months, when there are thousands of oceanfront condos and hotel rooms available. Brisk local club competition keeps the quality of play and service at a high level. Dunes Club, Caledonia, Tidewater, Grande Dunes, King’s North, and TPC Myrtle Beach top the list of must-play golf courses.

Florida’s First Coast

Stretching for 75 miles along Florida’s northeast Atlantic oceanfront, the First Coast features superb seaside golf resorts from Amelia Island to Hammock Beach. In between are Jacksonville gems like Bent Creek and Eagle Landing, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, and the famed TPC Sawgrass courses, and St. Augustine destinations like World Golf Village with challenging layouts named for their legendary designers—the King & Bear and the Squire & Slammer.

Pinehurst, North Carolina

American golf tradition and Southern charm come together in the Pinehurst area, where legendary architect Donald Ross designed masterpieces for Pinehurst Resort, Mid Pines Inn, and Pine Needles Lodge. Those historic courses, plus 30 others in the neighborhood, welcome visitor play when they’re not hosting national championships. Fine dining and luxurious accommodations are available.

Tennessee Golf Trail

The Tennessee Golf Trail is a unique collection of nine resort-style courses that are all located in Tennessee state parks. Included in that number are three of the six outstanding Bear Trace golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus. The daily greens fees and complete packages available at all locations are an excellent value for golfers who appreciate a consistent quality of play in a variety of scenic settings.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Since the televised debut of Harbour Town Golf Links in 1969, Hilton Head Island has become synonymous with lowcountry golf vacations. Sea Pines, Palmetto Dunes, Port Royal, and Hilton Head Plantation are all multiple-course destinations that can be paired up with oceanfront or golf villa accommodations. The complete roster of 30+ area layouts includes award-winners like Old South in Bluffton.

Georgia’s Sea Islands

The barrier islands on the south Georgia coast include championship-caliber play on three Sea Island Golf Club courses with accommodations at The Cloister or The Lodge. Sea Palms and the on-site layout at the elegant King and Prince Resort are featured on St. Simons Island, while Jekyll Island offers four public seaside courses with rooms on the oceanfront or at the historic Jekyll Island Club.

Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Alabama

An unparalleled collection of 26 championship courses by one of the game’s greatest architects, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail is also a tour of Alabama from the mountains to the sea. Oxmoor Valley in Birmingham and Magnolia Grove in Mobile are among the most popular sites with multiple courses.

Orlando, Florida

Although best-known as a theme-park destination, the greater Orlando area in central Florida is home to more than 100 golf courses open for visitor play yearround. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill is a PGA TOUR site, while Shingle Creek, ChampionsGate, and Grand Cypress are also must-play local layouts. The Disney, RitzCarlton, Four Seasons, and Reunion resorts feature onsite courses in complete vacation packages.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale is the hub of an Arizona region where 200+ golf courses have been built, so there’s no shortage of tee times and resort accommodations for visitors. Among the top-ranked layouts for serious players are Troon North, Grayhawk, We-Ko-Pa, and the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Just outside of town are scenic championship courses at Verde River, Desert Canyon, and McDowell Mountain.

Water is known to provide a calming effect, and living on or near the water can provide that feeling every day. These lake communities offer tranquil surroundings for master-planned developments. Imagine waking up, drinking a cup of coffee, and looking out over your deck as serenity washes over your soul.

Tellico Lake, Tennessee

The 33-mile-long Tellico Lake in eastern Tennessee was created with the completion of Tellico Dam in 1979. Along its more than 350 miles of shoreline are a variety of private residential communities and publicaccess areas. The tranquil waters are perfect for paddling and catching largemouth bass or rainbow trout. Noteworthy attractions include the Fort Loudon State Historic Park and the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.

Lake Thurmond, South Carolina

Lake Thurmond straddles the border between South Carolina and Georgia, where it’s still called Clarks Hill Lake. By any name, the reservoir is the third-largest man-made body of water east of the Mississippi and a popular recreational hub for boaters, water skiers, paddlers, and anglers. Surrounded by public beaches and campgrounds, lakeside destinations include 1,900-acre Mistletoe State Park and Hickory Knob State Resort Park, with a top-rated public golf course among its vacation amenities.

Lake Lure, North Carolina

Located 25 miles northeast of Asheville, Lake Lure has been a popular North Carolina vacation destination for more than 50 years. The big public beach includes a splash park and a waterslide into the lake. The surrounding conservation land is laced with trails for hiking and mountain biking. There’s also a nine-hole golf course and a toy train museum, plus lakeside cabins and cottages for romantic couples or the entire family.

Lake Lanier, Georgia

Created in 1956 as a reservoir to supply water for the city of Atlanta, Lake Lanier has become a major regional vacation destination. It’s the largest lake in Georgia with nearly 700 miles of shoreline that includes 45 public parks and 10 campgrounds, plus lakefront cabins, hotels, and an RV resort. Boating and fishing are among the most popular activities, while the lakeside towns of Gainesville and Buford feature historic downtown areas with local restaurants and shops.

Lake Keowee, South Carolina

Lake Keowee covers 18,000 acres in the Upstate South Carolina highlands, and its Christmas-tree shape means that there are hundreds of coves to explore by kayak. Fishing in the emerald blue waters is a year-round attraction, while the Keowee/Toxaway State Park on the lake’s northern end includes hiking trails to scenic waterfalls. The mountain towns of Salem, Walhalla, and Clemson are nearby day-trip destinations.

Hot Springs, Arkansas

Hot Springs is surrounded by the Ouachita Mountains and several popular state parks. Crystal-clear Lake Ouachita, a destination for sailors and other water-sports enthusiasts, as well as hikers on the 36-mile Vista Trail, is the largest freshwater body in Arkansas. Lake Catherine is renowned for its rainbow trout, bass, and bream fishing, while Lake Hamilton features resort-style accommodations, riverboat cruises, and the unique Garvan Woodland Gardens.

Great Salt Lake, Utah

Salt Lake City is a surprisingly diverse vacation destination that offers scenic hiking trails in lakeside wildlife refuges and nearby national forests. Along the surrounding mountain slopes are ski resorts and golf clubs for year-round recreation, while the downtown area features lively evenings in trendy restaurants, brew pubs, and wine bars.

Lake Naomi, Pennsylvania

Located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, Lake Naomi has been a recreational destination since it was created in 1895. Because motorized watercraft are not allowed, the lake is a popular retreat for sailing, kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding. Lake Naomi Club is a family resort that features a nine-hole golf course, tennis complex, and fitness facilities, as well as an expansive lakeside activity center with indoor/outdoor pools, playgrounds, and a dog park.

Eastman Lake, New Hampshire

Eastman Lake—often called “Eastman Pond” by the locals—is a four-season vacation destination owned by the state of New Hampshire. Surrounded by hiking trails and fed by clean mountain streams, the lake features six public beaches, canoe/kayak launches, and plenty of fish in the water. The Eastman resort and residential community offer championship golf, tennis, and fitness amenities, plus cross-country skiing in the winter.

Year after year, the most requested community amenity is "Walking Trails." The overwhelming majority of planned developments throughout the U.S. and abroad have walking trails. Following are destinations known for the best walking and hiking vacations.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

There are more than 850 total miles of hiking trails within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that straddles the North Carolina-Tennessee border. Many circuits are under four miles in length and have been created specifically to showcase waterfalls and panoramic views. Longer and more strenuous hikes are also available, with trailhead shuttle services from Gatlinburg and other towns around the park.

Schuylkill River Trail, PA

The Schuylkill River Trail currently runs for about 75 miles through four counties in historic southeastern Pennsylvania. Most of the trail follows abandoned railway lines, recycling those corridors for a new generation of travelers. Long sections are paved for bicyclists, and the completed trail will eventually extend 120+ miles. There’s also the adjacent Schuylkill Water Trail with 18 designated sections for canoeists and kayakers.

Walking and Hiking Vacations

Find your ideal destination, lifestyle, and home.

3 Day / 2 Night Discovery Travel

The Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail is 2,200 miles long, runs from Maine to Georgia, and takes about six months to walk from end to end. But, you and your family or friends can enjoy a portion of the Appalachian Trail experience with a single-day hike. All of the 14 states along the trail have access points with parking lots and offer walking paths of under five miles that loop around lakes and climb to the hilltops.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado

Garden of the Gods Park is a registered National Natural Landmark located just outside of Colorado Springs. The spectacular vistas and abundant native wildlife can be enjoyed during daily naturalist-led walks, self-guided hikes, and tours on electric bikes or Segways. Additional fun diversions for the kids and grandkids include the Geo-Trekker Theater Experience and Outdoor Scavenger Hunt.

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness, New Mexico

The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness in New Mexico offers five distinctive hiking trails from three to seven miles in length through some of the most otherworldly landscapes on the planet. Once an ancient seabed, the receding waters left amazing rock formations and mazelike canyons where prehistoric creatures once flourished. Guided tours are available, but camping isn’t permitted within this protected national wilderness.

Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina

A mile-high ecological preserve in western North Carolina, Grandfather Mountain offers day hikers and backpackers a variety of choices. Within Grandfather Mountain State Park are several walking trails that aren’t very strenuous but come alive with blossoms and birdsong in the springtime. More challenging are the 11 backcountry trails that reward hikers with panoramic mountaintop views.

Tallulah Gorge State Park, Georgia

Georgia’s Tallulah Gorge State Park is a natural wonderland with a variety of options for trailblazers of all ages: the Shortline Trail is a paved three-mile loop, the North and South Rim Trails feature scenic overlooks that include several waterfalls, and the 15mile Stoneplace Trail can be a challenge for both hikers and mountain bikers. A permit is required for the steep Gorge Floor Trail that descends into a pristine nature preserve.

Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas

Trailheads for hiking in the Hot Springs National Park are located within the city of Hot Springs, affording convenient access from hotels and attractions in that popular destination. The Hot Springs and North Mountain trails offer shorter walks with scenic views, while the West Mountain trails often feature wildlife sightings. The Sunset Trail is a 10-mile circuit that can extend to 17 miles on the park’s interconnected paths.

Foodies from coast-to-coast brag about having the best eats in their hometowns, and it’s time we all started paying attention. But, from covert taco joints to food halls chock-full of choices to awardwinning fine dining establishments—the sheer amount of buzz-worthy bites in these culinary-centric cities can seem overwhelming. That’s where we come in. We’ve chosen and dissected our picks for the top 10 best food cities in America.

Denver, Colorado

A permanent champion in the craft beer world (boasting a whopping number of breweries per capita), Denver also snags a spot as one of the U.S.' most desirable dining destinations. In addition to the steady wave of stellar restaurants, 2017 brought filming of the acclaimed Top Chef to the area. Start with anise-seed beignets at The Bindery and then swoon over Spanish tapas at Union Station’s Ultreia. Traveling with an indecisive eater? Zeppelin Station’s collection of innovative vendors offer superior snacks ranging from banh mi to fried chicken to gelato. For mind-blowing Mexican, pop over to Platt Park where Adelitas Cocina Y Cantina wins for wildest Taco Tuesday, and Uno Mas Taqueria y Cantina’s pozole will change your life.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa has been quietly arising as a seriously munchable metropolis, and sorry (not sorry) Floridians—your secret’s out. For starters, there’s the flood of family-friendly food halls (like waterfront Sparkman Wharf and Armature Works) that offer customers countless options for getting their grub on. In south Tampa, the Epicurean (a food hotel—yes, you read that right) is a self-proclaimed “foodie’s paradise come to life.” Historic Ybor City is swamped (no pun intended) with reliable eateries like off-the-beatenpath El Puerto and The Columbia Restaurant that opened in, wait for it, 1905. If that didn’t convince you to add Tampa to your list of upcoming foodbased getaways, you’re on the wrong page.

Honolulu, Hawaii

Sure, Honolulu has double rainbows, epic surf, and infinitely gorgeous weather. But, you haven’t truly experienced paradise until you’ve slurped The Pig and The Lady’s star anise-scented pho broth. This diverse island offers a plethora of gourmet specialty food shops and markets—and that’s only the beginning. The restaurant scene has recently shifted with chefs stepping into an era of tweaking traditional Hawaiian fare with a rustic spin. For the latest upand-comers, trendy neighborhoods like Kaimuki and brewery-heavy Kaka’ako (don’t miss farm-to-table Merriman’s) are on everyone’s lips. Opal Thai Food is still a divine Chinatown staple, and lavish newcomer Mugen in Waikiki is getting all the hype.

Charleston, South Carolina

This celebrated coastal food capital is esteemed for its ability to extract anything and everything edible from the surrounding land and seas. The diverse history and multicolored architecture may draw the tourists in. Still, it’s the bountiful seafood, extraordinary seasonal produce, and legendary lowcountry wizards (lookin’ at you, Sean Brock) that convince them to surrender to the South and stay awhile. Upscale bistro FIG and Brock’s righteously revered Husk are no-brainers, and newcomers include Chinese-American hot spot Jackrabbit Filly and dinerinspired Big Bad Breakfast. Still hungry? Hop over to King Street’s Edmund’s Oast for an American sour ale and wood-fired pizza with clams, salami, and garlic butter.

Asheville, North Carolina

Undoubtedly, one of America’s most honored hubs for all-things food and beer, Asheville is quickly creeping up on Disneyland’s title of happiest place on earth. Cúrate, Katie Button’s nationally-acclaimed tapas haven, is an undeniable show-stopper. Hit the South Slope for brewery bliss where Bhramari bangs out eccentric libations (like Girl Scout Cookie-infused stouts) and eclectic eats. Next, Buxton Hall for ethereal BBQ, then Sierra Nevada for duck fat fries with Pale Ale raspberry mustard that are just as impressive as the facility’s tour. For dinner, splurge at Cucina 24, Nine Mile for veg-friendly Caribbean, or Rhubarb where you’ll want to sit at the chef’s bar and get lost inside the gooey goat cheese burrata.

Portland, Oregon

You’ll be hard-pressed to find an assemblage of America’s finest food meccas that doesn’t include this one. Portland is a medley of magnificent chefs (like Ataula’s José Chesa) using the city—and its inquisitive diners—as a blank canvas for their originality. Also famed for its affordability, craft breweries, abundance of food carts, and unexpectedly lively weekday breakfast scene—Portland is a vacationer’s utopia. For a seriously soulful Southern fix, Screen Door’s fried chicken and waffles will set you free. Tucked away in Goose Hollow, Ichiza Kitchen produces perfect vegan pan-Asian specialties like tapioca dumplings with bamboo shoots and shiitakes.

Orlando, Florida

Ranking high in similar food roundups all across the internet, this vibrant city is finally getting its day in the sun. Orlando’s heap of touristy entertainment venues and chains may have gotten it a bad rap in the past, but times have changed. Sensational, yet subtle, gems in neighborhoods like Thornton and Winter Park have aided O-Town in breaking through its former stereotype. And, from modern, inventive gastropubs like The Ravenous Pig to farm-to-table favorites like the seasonally diverse Rusty Spoon, you’ll have a hard time deciding where to begin. I vote for the glorious garlic naan flatbreads at James Beard-nominated Hari Pulapaka’s Cress.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Cincy’s signature Skyline Chili obviously earns a mention, but there’s so much more to tell. With a nod to its multifaceted Midwestern location, Cincinnati has continued to create a fanfare in food communities far and wide. The star-studded lineup of rock star chefs doesn’t hurt, making the ample options for memorable meals (like classically delicious spoonbread at The Eagle) only that much more exciting. One of the most notorious restaurants in the Queen City, the Orchids at Palm Court, is filled with noshable nostalgia and locally-sourced comforts. Hit Pontiac BBQ for tropical cocktails and brisket burritos, and let e+o Kitchen downtown curb all your Asian cuisine cravings.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago may be iconic for saucy, high-edge pizzas and pickle-clad hot dogs—but those foodie fetishes barely scratch the surface of this culinary landscape. (Though if you visit Lincoln Park without chomping down on Pequod’s cheesy, caramelized crust, you’ve made a mistake.) Think every block is swarming with swanky Michelin superstars like Alinea? Think again. Chi-Town’s best bites span from humble brunch institutions like Lula Café in Logan Square to rustic, Avondale-based Honey Butter Fried Chicken. For a pricey yet praise-worthy feast in the West Loop, Oriole’s clever, multi-course menu is an experience worth every penny.

Austin, Texas

Dubbed “the best place to live in America,” this constantly growing city is clearly no stranger to topping charts. Renowned for its delightfully weird, whimsical spirit—this colorful Texas kingdom is booming thanks to its reasonably modest cost of doing business. Food truck fixtures include Soursop, Luke’s Inside Out, and Abo Youssef (whose sticky baklava is drool-worthy). In South Lamar, house-made breads at Odd Duck are always necessary, and Franklin Barbeque is a lunchtime duh for dope smoked meats. On the newer end of the spectrum, Nixta Taqueria’s artistic tostadas (like the beet “tartare” with salsa macha aioli) are all the rage.

There are over 7,000 craft breweries in the United States, including over 2,500 brewpubs. The following are some of the best cities to visit if you are a beer aficionado or just like to drink beer in a cool town while you search for your ideal destination.

Asheville, North Carolina

With 26 local venues, Asheville has more breweries per capita than any other U.S. city, and they offer a total of 100 craft beers to sample. Take the three-hour Brews Cruise bus tour to visit many of the best downtown locations or hop on the people-powered Amazing Pubcycle to burn a few calories between refreshment stops. The Beer City Festival (May 30) in Pack Square Park is the grand finale of Asheville Beer Week.

Wilmington, North Carolina

The growing Wilmington beer scene now includes 20 craft breweries in the historic downtown area and nearby beach towns. The Wilmington Brewing Company has recently added a new 5,000-square-foot event space, and Front Street Brewery will be celebrating its 25th anniversary throughout June 2020. Flytrap Brewing and Waterline Brewing Company are perfect spots to enjoy a beer outdoor throughout the year.

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is home to more than 20 craft breweries, many offering local-food menus, and nearly all feature the live country music that’s made the city famous. Unique tastes are available from neighborhood micro-pubs in East Nashville and New Heights to the renowned Yazoo Brewing Company. Make a side trip to sample the hard stuff at the Diskin Cidery or the Jack Daniel Distillery among other area producers of craft spirits.

Greenville, South Carolina

In revitalized downtown Greenville along the Reedy River and in nearby neighborhoods are 15 local breweries, plus four new venues that open in 2020. More than 60 craft brews, ranging from pale ale to black lager, are available to enjoy before, during, and after dinner at scores of casual-dining restaurants. The Brewery Experience van tour visits up to seven locations on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis currently has 33 local breweries and taprooms about evenly divided between the visitor-friendly downtown area (with several peddle-pub guided tours) and welcoming neighborhoods that surround the city. Sun King Brewing, Metazoa Brewing Company, Broad Ripple Brewpub, and the iconic St. Joseph Brewery & Public House are not-to-be-missed highlights. The annual Indiana Microbrewers Festival will be held this year on July 25 with more than 75 beer crafters from around the state.

Salt Lake City, Utah

The surprisingly strong Salt Lake City craft beer scene features 30 local breweries, many located in the comfortably walkable downtown area. May is the city’s Official Craft Beer Month and a great time for visitors to get extra discounts at more than a dozen of them by downloading the Salt Lake Brewery Mobile Pass. The tour can include historic Fisher Brewing (est. 1884) and award-winning locations like Desert Edge Brewery and Red Rock Brewing Company.

Denver, Colorado

The Mile High City features more than 50 breweries, and many of the best are located downtown within walking distance of one another. Guided tours are also offered with bus, van, and bicycle transportation. The Great Divide and Blue Moon brewing companies are must-sample venues, along with a tasty tour of the Coors Brewery in nearby Golden, which annually produces 17 million barrels of beer, more than any other single site in the world.

Portland, Oregon

Portland’s unofficial nickname is “Beervana,” and that seems only appropriate in a city that claims 75 local breweries and counting. Breakside, Ecliptic, and Gigantic are trendy names to look for, as well as traditional favorites like Hair of the Dog and Modern Times. Portlanders celebrate their brews at 2020 events like Bridge to Brews (April 5), PDX Beer Week (June 12-21), and the Portland Craft Beer Festival (July 3-5).

History lives on through ghost walks around the country. It seems if a town has a history, they have some terrifying tales that attract visitors from all over. Here are nine such locations that are filled with spirited history and much to do and see for the living.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

The Gettysburg National Battlefield is a destination for all students of American history. Nine local companies offer a variety of spirit-filled experiences from haunted-house ghost tours in the city to candlelight walking excursions at well-documented paranormal locations. For more light-hearted adventures, Gettysburg Goofballs offers family-friendly ghost stories and other themed activities.

Williamsburg, Virginia

America’s finest outdoor museum of living history by day can get spooky at after dark. Ghost tours in Williamsburg can include visits to both the town’s most famous and lesser-known historic sites. Some include haunted graveyard tours, while others feature the witches and pirates of local legend. Experienced guides in Colonial-period costumes complete the historical illusions.

Charleston, South Carolina

Charleston is called “The Holy City” for its numerous churches, and nearly all have adjacent cemeteries with graves that are hundreds of years old. More than a dozen local operators offer walking tours in the historic downtown area that include haunted tombs of the famous (and infamous) and the Old Charleston Jail, plus the chilling Provost Dungeon under the Old Exchange Building.

Savannah, Georgia

The historic Georgia city that gave us Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil has long been a ghostly destination. Visitors can take a two-hour trolly tour of the downtown area’s scariest sites or choose to be chauffeured around in a funeral hearse. Guided walking tours include visits to spooky historic homes, haunted pub crawls, and sojourns to the tombs and graves in Bonaventure Cemetery.

Wilmington, North Carolina

The award-winning Ghost Walk of Old Wilmington features professional storytellers leading familyfriendly tours of the historic port city’s most spooky homes and graveyards. The Haunted Cotton Exchange Tour explores the paranormal world at additional locations in the downtown area, while the Haunted Pub Crawl visits the spirit-filled abodes after dark. To top it off, the USS North Carolina is known as one of the most haunted locations in Wilmington.