A humid yet somehow still dusty capital, Santo Domingo most likely will make the first impression a traveler to the Dominican Republic gets. The largest international airport in the country, Las Américas International Airport, is located here. Flying in, the planes look as if they could miss the runway and end up splashing into the shimmering blue Caribbean. The city is located along the southern coast of the Dominican Republic; between Santo Domingo and the surrounding villages are many gorgeous beaches to explore. Santo Domingo has a unique colonial past, and the architecture can be surprising. The city offers hidden buildings that date back to medieval times. The Catedral Santa María La Menor was the first cathedral built in the New World by European settlers. The remains of Christopher Colombus were originally uncovered at this site before being sent to their final resting place back in Spain. The streets are lined day and night with youngsters playing baseball hoping to build up their talent and catch the same stroke of success as David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez. The nightlife in Santo Domingo is thriving -- merengue and salsa keep everyone out until the wee hours of the morning. Locals are always out right alongside tourists, so it is easy to get a taste of true Dominican culture.
Instead of visiting a museum or a famous restaurant on your next vacation, get in the Halloween spirit by exploring a haunted destination. From hotels to sanatoriums to entire cities, the world is full of creepy adventures. 'Anywhere you go, you can find haunted locations to visit,' says Jeff Belanger, editor of 'Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Revised Edition.' Belanger used to work in software and would find haunted places during his travels by asking the locals. 'You can't put your trust completely in the tour guide or travel agent,' he says. But you can trust that this list of creepy hot spots will get you started: 10. Queen Mary, California 'The Gray Ghost,' as it was nabbed, was a transatlantic ocean liner put into military service during World War II and painted gray. About 14,000 to 15,000 troops were transported at one time during the war, Belanger says. The ship, which was designed for the cooler North A...