I think there’s nothing more beautiful than a lush, green cemetery in the summertime. Flowers blooming, birds singing, soft breezes at play, and beautiful statuary: what could be more relaxing?
I’ve listed my favorites below, but I’m hoping you’ll also tell me what graveyards or memorial parks you like to visit when it’s time to unwind.
My book of cemetery travel essays -- Wish You Were Here: Cemetery Travel Adventures -- has just come out from Western Legends Press.
Coming in June is The Haunted Mansion Project: Year Two, which I edited for Damnation Books. The book collects fiction, poetry, and site reports by 21 authors who spent four days in a haunted house.
Also out this year will be This Morbid Life, a memoir, and As Above, So Below, my first novel, written with Brian Thomas. It's gonna be the best year ever.
For 10 years, I edited the cult nonfiction magazine Morbid Curiosity. Scribner collected my favorite essays into Morbid Curiosity Cures the Blues: True Stories of the Unsavory, Unwise, Unorthodox and Unusual.
You can follow my fascination with graveyards at CemeteryTravel.com. I also blog about writing at RedRoom.com.
Spring Grove Cemetery, Cincinnati, OH
I haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list. Thanks for voting!
I’m also a fan. Since we’ve relocated to Brazil, I’ve discovered some amazing one in Sao Paulo full of art and history.
The only South American cemetery I’m familiar with is Recoleta in Buenos Aires. I’d love to hear more about your Sao Paolo favorite. Thanks!
Poublenou cemetery, Barcelona Spain. The kiss of death monument alone is worth a visit.
I’ve had plans to visit Barcelona twice and forces beyond my control made things fall through. I have a book about Igualada Cemetery, though, which is extremely modern. I’ll add Poublenou to my must-see list. Thanks!
I’ve been to all those cemeteries except Swan Point in Rhode Island and they all all great. I remember doing a photo shoot in Metairie in August and it was more than a little hot and sticky. However, my vote goes to Mountain View in Oakland, CA. Spectacular views of San Francisco and the fog rolling through the Golden Gate, but at Mountain View you’re bathed in sunshine and crisp blue skies. It is also very tourist friendly. Pére Lachaise in Paris is great for people watching.
Swan Point is spectacular in the spring, too, but I hadn’t figured out the poll-taking thing yet.
I can’t believe I forgot to add Mountain View Cemetery to this list. It truly is beautiful, especially on a summer’s day when it’s foggy in San Francisco and sunny in Oakland. Thank you for reminding me!
Bonaventure in Savannah
That’s another one I haven’t had the good fortune to visit yet! Thanks for putting it on my list.
Mountain View cemetery in Oakland, California.
Hi Dan! That’s 2 votes for Mountain View.
AUSTIN, Texas—With high gas prices keeping many folks close to home this summer, consider volunteering your time to help save a historic Texas cemetery during your break. Cemeteries are some of the most vulnerable historic sites, often located in remote and unprotected locations. Of the approximately 50,000 historic cemeteries in Texas, the precise coordinates of only a small portion have been recorded. This information is scattered in various sources and is not complete. In some cases, only a verbal description gathered by volunteer preservationists exists. Determining the exact location of a cemetery is critical to preservation efforts.
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Stephen