Places to Visit in New England – Salem
There is no place in the United States with as much history as New England! Our vacation continued with a day trip to Salem, home of the infamous witch trials.
Salem – Home of the witch trials
To tell you the truth we are not Halloween people. But Salem, just 24 miles from Boston, makes a nice day trip. Salem has a unique charm and is probably one of the best “people watching” places we’ve been to — and every witch-wanna-be is in Salem in October. Just about everything in Salem is witch-themed from the infamous witch trials to the giant statue of Samantha from Bewitched. When arriving in Salem we had three things in mind to do: visit the House of Seven Gables, buy a decorative Halloween witch, and take a guided walking tour. Unfortunately, we arrived too late for our scheduled tour but did take a ghost tour that evening. On the tour, we saw several locations where Hocus Pokus was filmed.
Park in one of the parking garages and off you go. Salem is walkable which makes it an excellent place to just wander and take in all the sights. Consider taking a daytime walking tour or an evening ghost tour. Both are full of facts and myths or a mix of the two. You might want to read up on the 1692 witch trials before you go: Salem Witch Trials
Shops & Restaurants
Roam the perpetual street vendors or stores along the Essex Street Pedestrian Mall where many are witch-themed. Then grab some lunch on Pickering Wharf. There are plenty of quaint boutique shops and cafes to check out and the homes surrounding the wharf date back to the 1600s. This is a lovely area to roam looking at homes of every color or sit and enjoy the fresh sea air.
House of Seven Gables
In 1668, this amazing house was built on Salem Harbor. The House of the Seven Gables is best known today as the home of American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel. We enjoyed the tour of the old home, roaming the beautiful gardens, and the view over the harbor. There is a cost to enter the grounds. There are also two performances related to Hawthorne during October. Details: House of Seven Gables. While visiting the house roam through the Counting House or Living History Labs which give you a glimpse into life centuries ago.
Salem Trolley
If you’re spending a long day or have small children you might consider the trolley. The Salem Trolley provides a narrated one-hour tour and all day shuttle service through historic Salem. The eight-mile ride around the city takes you past the Charter Street Burial Ground, the House of the Seven Gables, Witch Dungeon Museum, Salem Witch Museum, the historic waterfront area, including Chestnut Street considered one of the most beautiful streets in America. Schedule & Stops of Salem Trolley
Salem Maritime Park and Museum
For over two centuries, Salem has been home to sailors and merchants bringing new and exotic goods to America. In this 9-acre park, you can explore historic buildings, wharves, and a replica tallship. Visit Salem Maritime Park and Museum to learn more. Children can also earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Learn more about Junior Ranger Badges
Salem has scary attractions based on the witch trials — not our thing — but maybe yours.
- McIntire Historic District – Historic homes, old buildings, also called Chestnut Street
- Broad Street Cemetery & Howard Street Cemetery – Significant to the Witch Trials
- Salem Witch Trials Memorial – A memorial built for the victims of the witch trials. Each individual memorial says a name and how they were executed. Important note: the memorials jut out of a stone wall and look like benches
- Corwin House also known as The Witch House dates back to the witch trials of 1692
- Proctor’s Ledge – Confirmed execution sight of the Salem witches.
- Salem Witch Tours – Take a variety of tour in Salem. We enjoyed our fabulous host on a ghost tour
- The Original “Clue Board Game” House – Parker Brother’s Clue Home
- Haunted Happenings in Salem – Tours and places to visit if you love the haunted side of Salem
This is just a glimpse into Salem. I would have loved a second day to explore but … there were others things on our agenda to see. If you’re planning a trip to New England you can read more of our adventures: Maine Lighthouses & Quaint Seaside Towns or New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Still writing about Boston and other locations …
