Ghost hunting may, to many, seem like a silly and frivolous endeavor. To those who truly believe in the supernatural and the existence of trapped spirits, however, ghost hunting is an incredibly serious hobby. Many states even have formal Ghost Hunting clubs and organizations where individuals can get together to discuss tips, techniques, ghost hunting tools and, of course, the best places to watch for ghosts.

Ghost Hunting Tips and Guidelines

Most novice ghost hunters think it’s alright to simply grab a flashlight, find a deserted building or area, and simply start exploring. While these may be great places to watch for ghosts there are a few rules and regulations you need to keep in mind before you embark on your first ghost hunting adventure.

First of all, you should never go on a ghost hunting expedition alone. You should have at least one other person with you at all times, even if he isn’t really into ghost hunting the way you are. Having a second person with you will ensure you have a witness if anything strange happens but, most important, will ensure you have a second person on hand in the event of an emergency.

The next important step is to visit any ghost hunting site in daylight before exploring it at night. The reason you need to visit during the day is because you will be able to see any warning signs or hazards. Doing so will help you to avoid being arrested for trespassing and will ensure you don’t injure yourself in ditches, holes, or in areas with unstable construction.

Speaking of unstable construction, you really shouldn’t do any ghost hunting in a building that has been condemned, on strange cliff sides, or in any other area that could cause you to risk your life. Seeing a ghost isn’t worth the chance if it means you may be joining them on the other side.

Always carry a watch, logbook, tape recorder, camera, flashlight, and any other necessary equipment you can think of. Carry extra batteries so that your records of the event aren’t cut short. Carry only what you need. The more you carry, the more your attention will be turned away from the hunt itself.

The Best Places to Ghost Hunt

There are tons of ideal places to go if you want to look for ghosts but the absolute best places to go ghost hunting are in old churches, graveyards, and old castles. Old churches, the ones with their own graveyards out front, are usually always crawling with some sort of supernatural or paranormal activity. Look for old, rural towns and do your research. If you don’t find a church with its own graveyard nearby you may find one that was built on top of an old graveyard instead.

Graveyards are a great place to look for ghosts for a couple of reasons. The history at your average graveyard usually isn’t littered with strange stories of torture and murder. They’re usually exactly what they are supposed to be – simple graveyards. The size of the graveyard you choose to visit doesn’t really matter but it’s reasonable to assume that the larger the graveyard the better your chances of spotting a spirit.

Old castles are usually rich with incredible history. There are stories of plots to take over lands, dungeons, tortures, murders, and outright community punishment. Visit an old castle (if you can get in legally) if you want to search for some of the most troubled spirits.

Trukee, California

One of the most notable recent ghost hunting adventures took place this past September in Trukee, California. Ghost hunters from Haunted and Paranormal Investigations (HPI) gathered at the The Truckee Hotel so that they could tour the hotel itself, the local town jail, a local restaurant and a few other Lake Tahoe locations believed to be haunted.  You may have missed the formal tour but if you head on out that way yourself (with a ghost hunting partner, of course) you never know what (or who) you might see.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans has long been embraced as an incredible place to research paranormal activity, with stories of spirits and haunting dating back decades. If you contact the New Orleans Paranormal and Occult Research Society you may even be able to find someone familiar with the area and join in on a local hunt.

West Virginia Penitentiary – Moundsville, West Virginia

Not ready to try your hand at ghost hunting on your own? The West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville is believed to be haunted and ghost hunters from around the country flock there between March and November each year to try to track looming spirits. Tickets go on sale for the upcoming season each January and your session lasts from 8pm until 6am the following morning on the evening you book. You’ll get a guided tour of the facility, a dinner, and will then have the chance to try your hand at ghost hunting on your own.

Ghost hunting isn’t for you? No problem. If it is your cup of tea, though, you’ll want to proceed with extreme caution. You never know what spirits may be awaiting your arrival!