Asheville, North Carolina: Haunted Ghost Tour and Historic Riverside Cemetery Tour

Asheville, in western North Carolina, is known for its beautiful foliage in the fall as the leaves in the mountains turn red, yellow and orange. But there is also a spooky side to Asheville, so as Halloween draws near, why not admire the beauty by day and hang out with the haunts by night.

If you think you can stand 90 minutes of scary stories in Asheville, take the Ashville Haunted Ghost Tour in downtown Asheville. On this walking tour you will walk down shadowy streets and learn about the ghosts that haunt the downtown buildings.

The old county jail where six legal hangings took place and several lynchings occurred, is part of the haunted tour. Yep, that's where ghosts and spirits haunted and terrorized jailers and inmates alike one night. Learn about the site of a brutal murder and how the victim still haunts the building where it happened.

Since these tales are based on truth, you don't even to wait until Halloween to get goosebumps. Beginning March 10 and running through October, tours begin nightly at 9 p.m. In November, tours run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and begin at 7 p.m. Just remember--when it gets dark, no matter the time of year, the ghosts come out to play!

Tickets by phone are $19.95, but purchase online and get them for $17.95. Tickets for ages 8-14 are $9.95, and children 7 and under are free. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and don't forget the camera--it's a must have for snapping those paranormal shots. Ready to be skeered? Go to www.ashevilletours.net or call toll-free 800-713-7421.

If you're scared of the dark, no worries, hee, hee. Opt for the Historic Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour in Asheville, but be sure to wear comfortable shoes because you'll need them when running from the ghosts! Actually, this walking tour that winds through the Riverside Cemetery takes place in daylight, is more historical than hysterical and covers hilly terrain. The scariest part may very well be getting out of bed early enough to get a decent breakfast before the tour begins at 10:30 a.m.

In the Riverside Cemetery, you'll see the final resting place for Thomas Wolfe and O. Henry, along with other notable residents of Asheville. The historic district, one of the largest in North Carolina, features 600 buildings that were constructed between 1890 and 1925 and includes Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Tudor, Georgian and Colonial Revival. You'll also take in the charm of 11 Bed and Breakfast Inns throughout the neighborhood, and who knows, you may even stay in one of them.

Cost is $17.53 for adults,$15.95 for students ages 7 to 15 and free for children under age 7. To book your tour go to www.ashevilletours.net or call toll-free 800-713-7421.

Sources: www.ashevilletours.net