Is Alexandria really haunted, or is just a gimmick to lure in tourists? I took the Alexandria Ghosts tour to find out, and by the end, something strange happened that made me believe every single story I heard on that tour.
I’ve always had a deep interest in ghosts, the other side, and basically anything spooky. That probably explains why Halloween is my favourite holiday and why the Exorcist was my favourite film growing up.
In fact, when I was a teenager, it wasn’t uncommon for me to turn off all the lights and watch that movie alone in my bedroom.
My mother would come into my room to check on me, take one look at the TV screen and run out screaming. I say all of this to say, I don’t scare easily.
Recently, the fine folks at Alexandria Ghosts invited me to come on a tour. They had seen my past vlogs on Alexandria and thought I would enjoy their tour.
Over the years, I have done a number of ghost tours stretching from Savannah, Georgia to the UK to Dublin, Ireland. I’ve been on some crappy ones and some excellent tours.
(If you’re short on time and want to skip through this post, please check out the table of contents)
About The Alexandria Ghosts Tour
The Alexandria Ghosts tour is part history lesson, part spine-tingling encounter with the other side.
I expected a casual stroll through the colonial streets of Old Town, but got much more than I bargained for.
If you’ve ever been to Alexandria, Virginia, you’d know that it is gorgeous during the daytime. It literally looks like a city in a Hallmark Christmas movie with its Federal-style homes, cobblestone sidewalks and flickering gas lamps.
The centuries-old buildings scream American history. They also scream American horror.
My tour guide, Jessica was waiting for me at City Hall. She was dressed in all black with a lantern in hand. Several people had booked the tour, but they were late, so we left without them. I cannot stress enough how I appreciated the company valuing my time.
As a result, I got a private tour.
The Stories Are Creepy
Jessica led me through my walk with the dead. We stopped at various points where I learned the grisly details of some murders and the ensuing ghosts that people reported seeing.
I don’t want to spoil the tour by revealing too many details, but let’s just say I got a chill down my spine listening to some of the stories.
You’ll learn about the Female Stranger who haunts Gadsby’s Tavern. This story gave me the creeps. I believe in ghosts and I know that some of them have a hard time moving on, so this story got my mind going.
Our tour took us through familiar, and not-so-familiar parts of Old Town and even through a cemetery where we learned a very important man is buried inside the church. Yes, I said inside.
As the sun quickly set and our paths were lit solely by the street lamps and Jessica’s lantern, the stories started feeling creepier.
On several occasions, I turned around expecting someone to be there. At one point, there was. It was a lady asking my tour guide where she bought her lantern from. Let’s hope she wasn’t a ghost.
Who Is This Tour For?
The Alexandria Ghosts tour is a must-do experience for history-loving tourists, especially those who love a little bit of haunted history.
It’s also for all the folks who are bored of going to the national monuments. I live in DC and have seen most of the monuments. At some point if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen ’em all.
A ghost tour is different, interactive and memorable. What I especially love is that it doesn’t have to be spooky season in order to enjoy this tour.
Aside from tourists, I feel high schoolers, college students, couples and families would really enjoy learning about the history, and who doesn’t like hearing about ghosts while standing in a graveyard?
Did I Sense Something Or Was My Mind Playing Tricks On Me?
What many of you don’t know is that I am very sensitive to spirits – mostly malevolent ones. I can feel a presence watching me or drawing near me. I am not kidding.
When the tour was over and I was walking back to my car, I kept looking back because I felt like someone – or something was following me.
Even when I had gotten into my car and drove out of Alexandria, I kept giving quick glances in my rearview mirror because I felt something was sitting in the back seat. It’s not uncommon for spirits to follow you home.
What To Bring On Your Alexandria Ghosts Tour?
- Comfortable walking shoes – Alexandria is not the place for cute shoes. Cobblestone roads will hurt your feet. So, pack your most comfy pair
- A light jacket – weather in the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) can be a bit unpredictable – sunny in the daytime, much cooler at night, so pack a jacket or sweater, especially if you get cold easily, like me
- Cash, if you plan on tipping your guide – I rarely travel with cash. Luckily, my guide accepted Venmo. So, you should be fine if you use that app
- A willingness to learn and have fun – If you’re a sourpuss who hates tours, walking, seeing people happy and smiling, do not book a tour. But, if you have an interest in interesting stories and history, you will absolutely love it
- As far as parking goes – you might want to get to your tour ahead of time to park. There is a parking garage next to City Hall, but spots fill up fast. I was lucky to find a spot. There is street parking, but the ones in the surrounding area go fast. You may have to walk a few blocks.
Final Thoughts: Would You Walk With The Dead?
The Alexandria Ghosts tour was fantastic. It’s history, horror and exceptional storytelling all rolled into one experience that will haunt you for days.
My experience was incredible. As a history and horror lover, this tour fused the two worlds. I plan to return with a few of my friends. The only reason they didn’t come is because they had to work. But, we’ll be back for sure.
Ready to Plan Your Alexandria Ghosts Tour?
Visit alexandriaghosts.com for booking and details. Tours run nightly.
Also, don’t come alone. If you do, you might not leave alone.
Finally, because I love you all so much, you can use my code, ROGAN10 for a 10% discount off the tour in Alexandria.
