If you are willing to spend the money, take both the Mansion and Behind-the-Scenes tours (it costs about $6 extra). You will see how amazing and bizarre the house is on the first tour and then see how Sarah Winchester’s employees tackled the craziness of working for her with all her eccentricities and restrictions on the second.

I have known about the Winchester Mystery House since I was eight years old and have wanted to go there ever since. I finally got there at age 34 and, while I didn’t see any ghosts, I was not disappointed by the house at all. It is a fascinating story and, despite its inherent oddness, a beautiful home.