Interactive history lessons, like those offered by guided tours, bring the past alive for kids (and adults). This month, in honor of Halloween, we’re highlighting five kid friendly ghost tours in the US.
Guided tours are a great way to learn more about the history and culture of a city. For kids, guided tours expose them to new places and personalities while also educating them about the history of an area and its people. This kind of historical learning expands a child’s understanding of the world and their place in it.
Ghost tours can span the spectrum from terrifying to amusing. For families, an emphasis on the quirky and odd history of a place makes ghost tours fun and appropriate for little ones. October is the perfect time to take your family on a ghost tour—the Halloween season is ripe for exploring the eerie and inexplicable stories that haunt our present.
We’ve highlighted our top five kid friendly ghost tours below. If you’re planning to vet your own ghost tour, consider the criteria we used when determining if a tour is appropriate for little ones.
Our criteria for kid friendly ghost tours:
Reasonable start time: All the tours featured here start at 7 p.m. or earlier.
Stroller friendly: We’ve verified that all these ghost tours can accommodate strollers (with the exception of the kayak tour, for obvious reasons). When possible, we’ve included some notes from the tour company about the use of strollers.
Kid appropriate subject matter: We’ve highlighted tours that focus more on sensational history and less on gory tragedies. If you have any concerns about age-appropriateness, please reach out to the tour company.
From east to west, here are our top five kid friendly ghost tours in the US:
1. Hocus Pocus Tours — Salem, MA
Reviewers agree that guide Susan at Hocus Pocus Tours is a captivating storyteller and her tours are engaging for the whole family. Tour highlights include Salem’s Old Jail along with the Witch Trial Memorial. Attendees will learn about the Salem Witch Trials and visit filming locations from the 1993 movie Hocus Pocus. As long as your kids are up for a 90 minute stroll around historic Salem and a little witch trial history, this tour is family friendly and educational.
Stroller friendly? Yes. The tour takes place on city streets and most have sidewalks with curb cuts.
Start time: Varies
Tour length: 90 minutes
Cost: Adults $17, Children 5–12 $10
2. Ghost Talk Ghost Walk — Savannah, GA
On Ghost Talk Ghost Walk you’ll be treated to stunningly strange tales and beautiful antebellum architecture in Savannah’s historic district. Guides weave local legends with investigations from Duke University and recent interviews with Savannahians. Billed as light-hearted and educational, this tour is fun for the whole family.
Stroller friendly? Yes
Start time: Varies
Tour length: 90 minutes
Cost: Adults $10, Children under 12 $5
3. Wateriders Ghosts and Gangsters Tour — Chicago, IL
image courtesy of Wateriders Chicago Kayak Tours & Rentals
You’ll see Chicago from an entirely different angle on this guided kayak tour. While navigating the Chicago River, paddlers will learn about the city’s rich and often infamous history. It’s a family-friendly tour that we think would be suitable for little ones three and older. But parental discretion is always advised. Preschool-aged kids will need to be content riding in a kayak with you and taking in the city lights at night. The tour includes life jackets and a quick kayaking tutorial.
Stroller friendly? No. It’s a kayak tour!
Start time: 7 p.m.
Tour length: Two and a half hours
Cost: Adults $65, Children under 16 $45 (children too small to paddle can ride in the middle of a double kayak at no charge)
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4. Spooky French Quartour Kids Tours — New Orleans, LA
Image courtesy of French Quartour Kids
French Quartour Kids is the passion project of owner/operator Jill Dresser. With a Masters Degree in Education, Dresser’s tours are designed for kids 5–10 years old. Kids will learn about New Orleanian history, Voodoo spells, ectoplasm, and ghost detectors. But don’t worry, “This kid-friendly NOLA tour is not designed to keep kids up at night but just to make them wonder, ‘What if…’”
Stroller friendly? Yes. There aren’t any stairs, but some uneven paving stones can make pushing a stroller tricky. We suggest a jogging stroller with air-filled tires.
Start time: 9:30 a.m. or 5 p.m.
Tour length: 90 minutes
Cost: Adults $17, Children 4–18 $20
5. Beyond Bizarre Ghost Tour — Portland, OR
Beyond Bizarre Ghost Tour is operated by certified members of the International Ghost Hunters Society and is not a theatrical performance. Guides will demonstrate how paranormal investigations work using real equipment and techniques. Attendees will learn about the seven different types of hauntings and how to use an electromagnetic field meter. The 6 p.m. all-ages tour is family friendly.
Stroller friendly? Mostly, there is a set of stairs, but otherwise the tour is navigable with a stroller.
Start time: 6 p.m.
Tour length: Two and a half hours
Cost: Adults $23, Children 5–10 $9
What kid friendly ghost tours do you recommend? Please let us know in the comments below.
