As boaters, we love being close to the water, and lucky for us, there are countless coastal cities across the United States for us to explore. Many of these coastal communities even made our list for the 10 Best Places to Go Boating—not to mention, a few of them happen to be historically relevant sites that were founded hundreds of years ago during the birth of our nation.

With all that in mind, Halloween is just around the corner; and our minds naturally turn to the supernatural. If you’re looking to take a spooky cruise under the moonlight this Halloween, here are the 5 most haunted coastal cities for you to explore…

1. New Orleans, Louisiana 

When most people think of New Orleans, they think of Mardi Gras, the French Quarter and delicious, Creole- and cajun-style cuisine. If you take a closer look, however, you’ll see there’s a darker side to The Big Easy—filled with above-ground cemeteries, voodoo shops, and even a few vampire legends.

Some of the most ghostly places in this Gulf of Mexico bordering town are Muriel’s Restaurant in Jackson Square, Pirates’ Alley,  the Le Petit Theatre, and so many others.

2. Savannah, Georgia

Similar to New Orleans, Savannah is a southern city filled with plenty of historic charm. The local ghosts in this town are rumored to be traced all the way back to the colonial and civil war eras. Haunted hotels are a dime a dozen in Savannah, but The Pirates’ House restaurant will be of most interest to boaters.

The Pirates’ House, located just a block or so away from the Savannah River, was once an inn for visiting sailors (and rowdy pirates). Legend has it that some of those pirates kidnapped sailors and forced them to sail against their will—and of course, their tortured souls still haunt the restaurant to this day.

3. St. Augustine, Florida

This coastal Florida city filled with beautiful European architecture easily made our list of the 10 Best Boating Destinations in Florida, and now it’s found its way to this list of historic haunts. One of the top tourist destinations in St. Augustine happens to be the Castillo de San Marcos Spanish fortress—which also happens to be one of the most haunted.

While the fortress itself has survived over 300 years of invasions, battles and raging storms, it’s reported that a Spanish soldier still walks its edge, looking out to sea just when the sun is about to rise or set.

4. Washington, D.C.

Most would agree that our Nation’s Capital is a scary place to be any time of the year thanks to dubious politicians—but we digress; Washington, D.C. has plenty of historical prominence, so it’s no surprise that there’s a long list of ghost stories that follow.

The White House is actually rumored to be one of the most haunted locations in the city, with spirits of past presidents like Abraham Lincolm, Andrew Jackson and William Henry Harrison still roaming the halls. Lafayette Square Park and the Cutts-Madison House are also two spooky spots to investigate.

5. Galveston, Texas

Last, but certainly not less spooky, is the city of Galveston, TX. This island town has quite a dramatic history that’s filled with pirates, devastating hurricanes, and other stories of tragedy. 

The Bishop’s Palace is one famous haunt on the island, while others include Ashton Villa mansion, the Hotel Galvez, and St. Mary’s Orphanage.