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We headed to Asbury Park, where we had booked a Ghosts and Legends Tour of the Downtown. We arrived at 8pm, flashlight in hand, ready to explore the ghostly secrets of this historic Jersey Shore town.

Our tour guide led us by lantern through the streets, stopping at various sites to tell us stories of phantom carousel music, the lady in the lake, the blue ghost, and other unsettled spirits. Most stories started with a bit of a history lesson about the area and buildings before revealing things that go bump in the night. At first, I was worried it would be too slow-moving for my child, but he got totally caught up in the tales and listened attentively. It helped that our guide was super engaging and each tale was only about 10 minutes, so there was a lot to see and hear. Overall, we had a great time, but ended up calling it a night after about 90 minutes when bedtime called.

I have to admit; while we loved our ghost tour, it may not be appropriate for all kids. But if you have a teen or tween who loves a good scary tale and has the patience to take it all in, these ghost tours are an awesome bonding experience for the whole family (grandparents included).

Read on for more details on the Asbury Park tour, plus other locations offering ghost tours in New Jersey this fall:

Go on a lantern-guided ghost tour in Asbury Park. Photo by the author

Ghosts and Legends of the Downtown – Asbury Park

Paranormal Books & Curiosities hosts lantern-led ghost tours most of the year on Friday and Saturday nights, as well as boardwalk ghost tours during the summer. Hear all the untold secrets of the historic downtown district, visit scenes of ghastly crimes, and find out the truth behind some of New Jersey’s spookiest ghosts. Tours are about 90 minutes, so be prepared to be on your feet for a while.

East Brunswick Ghost Walk – East Brunswick

This annual event, hosted by the New Jersey Ghost Organization, takes a tour of the historic Old Bridge District in East Brunswick. Explore the haunted history of this little village with real paranormal investigators. The walk is limited to public streets and is stroller/wheelchair friendly. Tours are held Friday and Saturday nights from Friday, October 15-Saturday, October 23, and step off at 7pm.

Jersey Shore Ghost Tours – Keyport and Red Bank

These lantern-lit walking tours are held Fridays (Red Bank) and Saturdays (Keyport) from August through Halloween at 7pm and 8:30pm, rain or shine. Tours last anywhere from 60-90 minutes and routes follow town sidewalks.

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Take a 30-minute trolley tour through darkened streets of Cape May beneath flickering gas lamps and discover the history of the Cape May ghosts.

Ghosts of Cape May Trolley Tour – Cape May

Ride around Cape May in a trolley as you hear tales of the town's haunts. These tours are pretty short (30 minutes or so) and are held several times per week.

Ghost Tour/Hunt & Cemetery Visit – Princeton

On Fridays and Saturday nights in late October, take a PG-13 rated tour through Princeton's spookiest spots. Guests use science and technology to track down souls of the past and hear spooky legends from Princeton's history. Ghost hunter guides train guests to use EMF meters, dowsing rods, therma-meters, and the Psyleron Lamp to interact with the other side. The tour enters the cemetery of Nassau Presbyterian Church, and while you won't conduct any investigations there, you can see the resting places of some famous locals. Stories are uncensored and border on graphic.

In addition to these recurring tours, Haunted History Productions offers single-day ghost walks in October such as the Woodbridge Ghost Walk on Saturday, October 9; Campfire Stories, Ghosts, and Legends in Cranford on Saturday, October 16; Haunted Somerville on Saturday, October 23; and Mischief Night Madness in North Branch on Saturday, October 30.

Unless noted, photos courtesy of the tours