In many parts of the world, especially in the northern U.S. and throughout Ireland, the U.K. and Europe, ghost hunting moves indoors as winter arrives.

it’s a good time to review your notes [...]]]> Ghost hunting doesn’t start (or stop) at Halloween.  In fact, the increased ghostly activity generally continues through the first week of November.

In many parts of the world, especially in the northern U.S. and throughout Ireland, the U.K. and Europe, ghost hunting moves indoors as winter arrives.

it’s a good time to review your notes from the previous year.  Research the history of the sites that produced the most interesting results.

Visit your local bookstore, shop at Amazon.com, or browse the public library for regional books that identify indoor sites for you to research.

Ask people if they’ve heard any ghost stories nearby, or if they’ve ever encountered a ghost.  (In some areas, you’ll be overwhelmed with personal stories about living in haunted houses.)

Remember, you’ll often find ghost stories (and perhaps ghosts) at theaters, restaurants and hotels.  In November, many of them are wishing they’d had more Halloween publicity for their ghosts.  Recommend an investigation so you can help them talk about their ghosts in the media next year.

Speaking of next year:  The winter is an ideal time to start planning your outdoor research for the coming year.  If you’re planning a summer vacation around haunted sites, start a list of every ghost story around the area you’ll be visiting.

Check HollowHill.com’s listings, plus regional lists of haunted places.  See when they’re open, which sites charge admission or have restrictions (such as no photos or recording devices), and how much history you can learn ahead of time.

November and chilly weather don’t mean you’ll stop ghost hunting.  Generally, winter is a welcomed time to catch up on academic research and study, plan ahead for the coming year, and a good excuse to explore indoor haunts.

However, in other parts of the U.S., cooler temperatures mean greater outdoor ghost hunting opportunities.

When I was researching in Texas, the drier winter air reduced the chance of false orbs in photos.  In the winter, our team usually encountered fewer bugs, snakes and other annoyances.

In Florida, we enjoyed quieter times at theme parks and around popular tourist areas.

Like many entertainment centers, Florida’s theme parks often have great ghost stories.  We highly recommend the Haunted Mansion at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom; ask cast members about their encounters with some real ghosts in the park.

You’ll be looking for the oldest neighborhoods, the oldest cemeteries, battlegrounds and parks steeped in history.  While those same locations can be crowded during the summer vacation months, they’re blissfully quiet during much of the winter.

No matter where you live or what the weather in November, December and January, there are many great ways to continue your ghost research.

Ghost hunting doesn’t stop after Halloween.  We ghost hunters simply change our activities to suit the weather.