Halloween typically evokes images of ghostly encounters, haunted houses, and spooky spirits that may or may not be lurking in the shadows. New Orleans embodies all of that year-round, so why not make a special trip to see one of America’s most haunted cities during the Halloween season? Here are just a few of the spooky adventures you could have exploring one of the best Halloween towns in Louisiana, New Orleans.

1. Cemetery tour

Mark Twain once described New Orleans cemeteries as cities of the dead, and it makes perfect sense. Since New Orleans’ sea levels are subpar, the dead are buried above ground in elaborate tombs with mesmerizing architecture. St. Louis Cemetery No. 1 is the oldest cemetery in New Orleans, so naturally, it comes with a few ghostly tales. You’ll need a licensed tour guide to enter the sacred grounds, so keep that in mind prior to your visit. This particular cemetery is home to some of New Orleans’ most historic icons, including the Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. You may want to leave her an offering just to appease the spirits.

2. Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar

Tucked away on one of the most famous streets in the world, Lafitte’s has been a Bourbon Street landmark for centuries. Quite literally, actually... the building has survived numerous fires and is believed to have been constructed sometime around the 1770s (the exact date is unknown), and it's the oldest-known building being used as a bar in the entire country. It even served as a home base for infamous pirate Jean Lafitte to run his smuggling business for a while. You’ll feel the history of the building from the moment you step inside, but just be warned: you may also feel something else. Many patrons and employees of this historic watering hole have reported seeing Mr. Lafitte himself, standing quietly in the corner, observing the room only to disappear right before your eyes. He’s not the only spirit believed to be trapped within these walls, though. A much more malevolent spirit is believed to lurk in the shadows of the fireplace, and you might just catch a glimpse of a pair of glowing red eyes staring back at you.

3. Muriel’s

After your walking tour of the haunted cemetery and sharing a few spirits with some spirits, you’re bound to be hungry. You’ll find Muriel’s in Jackson Square, right next to the St. Louis Cathedral. Once the dream home of notable New Orleanian Pierre Antoine Lepardi Jourdan, who spent years fixing the place up to become his dream home, his story took an unfortunate turn when he lost the house in a poker bet. Rather than move out of his dream home, he took his own life inside the house, and many believe he’s still there. Muriel’s even sets a table for Mr. Jourdan every night, and you could reserve the table for yourself and keep him company... if you’re brave enough.

4. Bourbon Orleans

If you thought that you’d escape the paranormal encounters in your hotel room, think again. There are several hotels in New Orleans that come with their fair share of ghost stories, but the Bourbon Orleans might just be one of the most haunted hotels in the state. Many guests report seeing strange apparitions in the hallways, including one of a dark figure smoking a cigar that vanishes through a wall, leaving only the faint smell of cigar smoke behind. The most famous ghost likes to stick to the Grand Ballroom, and that’s the ghost of a lonely dancer who is often seen twirling underneath the crystal chandelier. Perhaps this is the spirit of one of the young girls who lived here when the space was St. Mary’s Academy, a school for young girls.

For more haunted adventures, gas up the car and take this haunted road trip in Louisiana, taking you to some of the most intense paranormal hotspots in the Pelican State.