Lauren Mack

If you're a fan of all things that go bump in the night, read on. These scarily good Airbnbs put the BOO in booking. We've scoured Airbnb's most eclectic and eerie listings to find the most haunted Airbnb properties, from creepy castles to spooky spare bedrooms to mysterious mansions. These rental haunted houses feature charming creaking floorboards, whimsical wainscoting, and vintage vibes along with chills, thrills, and frights from spirited ghost hosts that are straight out of the best Halloween movies of all time. Probably not for the faint-hearted. Prepare to be spooked. You might not rest in peace in these haunted homes, but you're bound to have a memorable night preparing for paranormal activity, seeking the supernatural, and greeting ghosts. Or if you're among the skeptical, these Airbnbs will have you make or break what you believe. But beware, bookings go as quickly as ghosts playing tag, so secure these haunted hotbeds ASAP. This article includes affiliate links. These links have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, click here.

When date night in a romantic city – with its fancy Michelin-starred dinners and Champagne – simply won’t do, escape the bright lights to the backcountry and take a long, leisurely stroll outdoors. Relax with a peaceful picnic. Enjoy the sensation of the sun on your skin. From long walks on the beach in Florida to horse-drawn carriage rides in Michigan to clear star-filled nights in Alaska, these romantic places in the United States are sure to spark romance. So before you book a flashy romantic getaway, consider the classics. What could be more romantic than the great outdoors?  RECOMMENDED: The most romantic hotels in the U.S.

Get your beads, it's time for the most famous carnival celebration, Mardi Gras (French for "Fat Tuesday"). Mardi Gras has been celebrated for centuries, first in ancient Greece and Rome and then in Paris in the Middle Ages. The pre-Lenten Christian celebration made its way to the U.S. in 1699 when French explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville arrived on the west bank of the Mississippi River. Modern Mardi Gras celebrations in southern cities like Biloxi, Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida are inspired by French and Spanish colonial influences. The carnival celebrations of parades and parties begin as early as the 12th night of Christmas (January 5) and continue until Fat Tuesday (this year February 21), which is also known as Shrove Tuesday, the day before the start of Lent, a period of 40 days of sacrifice and reflection observed by many Christians. Get ready to party, watch parades and catch "throws" tossed by krewes (social clubs), including iconic purple, green and gold beaded necklaces, plastic doubloons, and hand-decorated coconuts—and, of course, eat king cakes (braided brioche bread topped with icing and colored sugar with a baby Jesus tucked inside). From St. Louis, Missouri to Galveston, Texas to San Diego, California, these are the 10 best places to celebrate Mardi Gras. Laissez les bon temps rouler (Let the good times roll)! RECOMMENDED: The best things to do in New Orleans

The most iconic American road trip is the 2,451-mile Route 66, one of America's original highways. Recently, this road well-traveled has faced a retro renaissance with renewed popularity from travelers eager for slow travel and a classic road trip. Established in 1926 and completed in the 1930s, Route 66 was the primary highway for folks seeking to drive to the west coast. Connecting Chicago to Santa Monica, California, Route 66 passes through eight states (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California).  What makes the multi-day road trip appealing are the slices of 20th century Americana and kitsch: mom-and-pop motels, retro soda fountains and service stations, neon-lit diners, and quirky roadside attractions. Follow our ultimate road trip itinerary so you won't miss any of the nostalgic fun. RECOMMENDED: The best glasshouse Airbnbs in the U.S. RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs with indoor pools in the U.S.

Forgo ubiquitous hotel accommodations on your next trip for a night to remember at one of these cool hotels in the USA that double as the destination. These quirky hotels offer brag worthy superlatives, like bunking in the world's biggest beagle at Dog Bark Park Inn in Cottonwood, Idaho and sleeping underwater at the Jules' Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida, the first and only underwater hotel that requires scuba diving to reach your room.  From sleeping in a former schoolhouse at the Davie School Inn in Anna, Illinois to slumbering in a tent or trailer at El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas, to catching some zzz's under the stars in a clear bubble at Basecamp Terlingua in Terlingua, Texas, we check in to the most unique hotels in the USA, complete with over-the-top hotel perks.  RECOMMENDED: The most unique Airbnbs in the US RECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in New England

These days, you never know where you'll find a bar: tucked in an alley, down a staircase, behind a back wall, or through a piece of furniture. Look too quickly and you just might miss the best speakeasies in the US hidden in plain sight. What were once secret bars serving clandestine cocktails during Prohibition are now a concept to evoke a setting still as alluring and intriguing. Just like decades ago, many speakeasies are hidden or disguised as things they aren't, a storage room, a business, or just another art mural, require a password or elaborate process to gain entry, and serve up mystery and surprise. The name comes from bartenders employing patrons to be quiet and "speak easy" during Prohibition. In doing so, police officers found it hard to bust bars because the locations were hush-hush and the drinkers discreet. While drinking on the down low and following a strict set of house rules isn't new, the best speakeasies in the US, which weren't around during Prohibition, embrace the concept, character, and cocktails. 

It's time to party like it's 2023! For centuries, revelers have welcomed the new year with baller bashes beginning with the original Greenwich Time Ball, which first dropped in the 19th century at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. The time-ball was dropped at 1pm daily so ship captains could set their chronometers. Arguably, today's most famous New Year's Eve ball drop is the 12-foot, 11,875-pound geodesic sphere that falls in New York City's Times Square, but there are dozens of rival celebrations coast to coast. In the last century, the act of dropping time-balls has evolved from dropping simple spheres to descending hometown icons, creating quirky New Year's Eve traditions in cities and towns across the U.S. From an acorn in Raleigh, North Carolina to a MoonPie in Mobile, Alabama to a wrench in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, we drop in on the 23 craziest New Year's Eve drops for New Year's Eve 2022.

Winter is coming, and that means it's time to welcome the winter carnival season. Never heard of a winter carnival? Then you're missing out on these multi-day festivals featuring winter sports, festive foods, and frosty fun. For decades, these homages to winter, winter sports, and winter activities have warmed the hearts of locals, offering respite and revelry from long, arduous winters. From coast to coast, cities, mountain towns, and colleges are hosting super chill winter carnivals this winter season. From the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the oldest winter carnival in the USA, to Saranac Lake Winter Carnival, the longest running winter carnival in the country, these winter carnivals across the US wipe out the winter blues, proving winter can be snow much fun. RECOMMENDED: The best winter vacations in the US RECOMMENDED: The most spectacular snow and ice festivals in the US

This winter, it's time to chill. Celebrate frigid temperatures with frosty fun in the form of snow and ice. From castles formed from icicles to slides made of blocks of ice to sinuous sculptures handmade from snow, parks and city centers across the US are hosting the most epic snow and ice winter festivals in the US.  From mounds of powdery white snow typically used for skiing reshaped into snow sculptures at the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado to 4,100-pound clear blocks of ice hand carved and chiseled into awesome ice art at the World Ice Art Championship in Fairbanks, Alaska, check out the most spectacular ice and snow festivals in the US this year. RECOMMENDED: The best winter vacations in the US RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas vacations in the US

When it comes to the best Christmas lights in the USA, some folks tend to go over the top. Decking the halls with boughs of holly and a traditional Christmas tree and wreath seem sedate compared to these elaborate displays of Christmas affection that incorporate as many tiny bulbs as there are dollars in our national debt. Going beyond just thousands of strands of lights, these outrageous holiday displays make Clark Griswold's 25,000 light setup seem basic. From suburban streets transformed to a winter wonderland in Los Angeles to a zoo-turned-illuminated park in Chicago to the world's largest holiday theme park in Miami, these are the most festive Christmas displays sure to spark wonder, joy, and spirit this holiday season. Check out these flashy Christmas light displays—yule love them!

Long before the 12 days of Christmas, revelers can get in the holiday spirit at Christmas markets across the USA. A staple of Christmas prep since the first-ever German Christmas market popped up in Dresden back in 1434, these holly, jolly gatherings have spread throughout Europe and beyond. Taking a page out of Europe's holiday playbook, the holiday market tradition has been increasingly replicated in cities and towns across the USA. Cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. now host multi-day Christmas markets complete with wooden stalls adorned with twinkling lights, live Christmas music, and tempting treats, bringing merchandise, merriment, and memories. Get ready to deck the halls and stuff the stockings of everyone on your list with handcrafted goods made from local artisans. Sample signature holiday delights like bratwurst, roasted almonds, and glühwein (mulled wine) while sauntering through these pop-up markets hosted from mid-November through to the New Year. Check out these 12 Christmas markets, one for each day of Christmas! ​​ RECOMMENDED: The best Christmas towns in the USA

Nicknamed 'The Mother Road' by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath, Route 66 is filled with history, nostalgia, roadside attractions, and quirky curiosities — all meant to entertain and comfort drivers on the open road. The iconic road was the highway for folks wanting to travel from middle America to the west coast in the 20th century.  With the completion of Route 66 in the late 1930s, one of the most iconic American road trips was born. While the times and the landscape of Route 66 have changed, much of the kitsch remains. From roadside architecture like Cadillac Ranch to superlative selfie spots like the world's second largest rocking chair to amusing slices of 20th century Americana like Wigwam Village Motel #6, these are the quirkiest roadside attractions that are worth the drive. The 2,451-mile Route 66 begins in Chicago and meanders through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, ending in Santa Monica, California...so we shall list our attractions as if driving from east to west.