Halloween is a huge deal at our house. On May 1^st my nephew and I were already discussing our Halloween costume options. We are freaks.

So, despite the fact that it’s May, it’s not too early to begin planning a fall trip for Tomo. And what could be more fun than a tour of Haunted California? Due to the adventurous nature of many of the early settlers and those who later arrived to seek fame and/or fortune in the area, CA is reportedly extremely haunted. Murders, suicides, lovers’ pacts….you name it, Haunted CA has it.

There’s no need to be wimpy, so let’s start out with Old Town’s haunted history. With ghost sightings since 1857, San Diego is reportedly the most haunted town on the West Coast. This tour includes the Whaley House, which The Travel Channel proclaims the #1 most haunted house in the U.S. The tour guide also shares actual EVP’s (voice recordings) and ghostly photos that he has personally taken. Spooky!

For something a lot more bizarre and a little less haunted in nature, visit the Winchester Mystery House in San Francisco. This 160-room California Historical Landmark highlights the eccentricities of Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune. Oddities include a window built into the floor, staircases leading to nowhere, a chimney that rises four floors, doors that open onto blank walls, and upside down posts. You may also want to consider the home’s Behind the Scenes Tour to see how the mansion operates and some of the extras that aren’t on the main tour (for example, the unfinished ballroom and one of the basements).

Next I’d send Tomo to Sonoma Wine country, but not for the vino this time! The Healdsburg Ghost Walking Tour brings the whispered secrets of ghosts and local hauntings out into the open for everyone—or at least, those who dare—to enjoy. Healdsburg also happens to be the town in which scenes from the movie Scream were filmed, and this twilight tour makes certain to visit the spots that were included in the film. This is a truly macabre area!

Of course, what would a CA ghost tour be without a trip through Haunted Hollywood
in Los Angeles? Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and nowhere is that more apparent than in L.A. This tour visits the haunted Hotel Roosevelt, celebrity grave sites, and the scenes of famous deaths. Be prepared to see the places at which John Belushi, River Phoenix, and Marilyn Monroe died, as well as the scenes of the grisly murders of Sharon Tate and the Black Dahlia.

Because I am not truly heartless, I’d send Tomo to an award-winning restaurant for an exquisite dining experience in Anaheim to finish out this chill-seeker getaway. The Anaheim White House restaurant features eight different dining rooms, a Verona, Italy-inspired menu, and a wine list with over 200 Californian and European wines. The Grand Marnier Souffle dessert alone seems good enough reason to visit.

Oh, and did I mention….. Anaheim White House is haunted? ‘Tis true. It seems I’m not so kind after all. But hey, at least with this haunting I would allow Tomo to pair his apparitions with a lovely aperitif.

Boo!

Posted on May 22nd, 2008 by Thomas
Filed under: Restaurants, San Francisco, Vacation