To quote one of cinema’s best masterpieces, “A lot of spooky things happened here.” That here is Salem, Massachusetts and that masterpiece is Hocus Pocus. Okay, it’s subjective, as I realize Siskell & Ebert may not have given it two thumbs up, but it’s a classic that still captivates audiences 26 years after it was made. It’s also subjective when you say a lot of spooky things happened in Salem. Prior to visiting, I would have imagined this must be true, from all I have heard about it. But, after taking an amazing walking tour (I HIGHLY recommend Bewitched After Dark), I learned spooky isn’t really the right word to describe this historic town.

The history of Salem is more than witches, which is what we all know it for. It’s a place where early settlers made their homes, it’s a place where our initial leaders of the country visited, and it’s a place that claimed lives of many innocent people, convicted of being witches. It all started with a small group of girls (teenagers – not much has changed there!) who started acting oddly, and blamed their housekeeper Titiba of witchcraft. While Titiba never denied it, many others were accused, who claimed they were innocent. While hundreds were dying after being accused in England, here in the U.S. we lost 20 people in Salem alone – 19 to hanging and 1 to pressing (Google that one, it was pretty horrific to hear about). In Salem today, you can learn all about why people were accused, the horrible conditions they were put into while waiting for their trials and their sad endings. But, over 300 years of research also teaches us about the possibilities of why those girls initially started acting out, and how we can be more inclusive of people today – a message that rings true even 300+ years later.

While I still like to think witchcraft actually happened in Salem, I don’t think it was bad. Unlike the Sanderson sisters from my favorite movie, Hocus Pocus, I don’t think the witches of the 1600’s were trying to suck the lives out of little children. The spookiness is more like mysterious-ness, and one BIG reason I loved learning about the history of Salem and exploring it. It was especially fun to be there in October, the biggest month of the year for this Halloween inspiring town. It’s an adorable town full of New England charm. It’s walk-able and there is lots to do. Here are my recommendations for Salem…

Where to Stay: Without a doubt, The Merchant is where you need to stay in Salem. This is quite possibly my favorite hotel I have stayed in. (And there have been MANY.) Why I chose it might make you laugh, but as I was looking for hotels in Salem, it looked like the most renovated and least spooky. I wanted to avoid ghostly figures in my room. Come to find out, it’s apparently a haunted spot – but thankfully no tricks occurred in my room. Treats however did! This is a boutique hotel, with only 9 rooms, so they make you feel incredibly welcome from the minute you ring the front bell. There was a stocked kitchen, a handwritten note with chocolates in my room, and the most gorgeous décor ever! Plus, you get an actual key, not one of the plastic cards you receive at all other hotels. It just felt quaint and perfect for Salem! Bonus – they have a continental tapas style breakfast included in the price of your room. A second bonus – George Washington has stayed in the building. Yes, the 1^st president! It was obviously years before Lark Hotels opened The Merchant in 2015, but knowing he walked through the old home and slept in one of the rooms is pretty incredible.

Where to Eat: I was in town less than 48 hours, so didn’t get to try many restaurants, but a few I can recommend are Ledger and Turner’s Seafood. Ledger is a modern restaurant in an old bank building. The kitchen backdrop is the bank vault. They have a wide mix of eclectic cocktails, draft beer and wine, plus a seasonal food menu. Turner’s Seafood is known as one of the best seafood restaurants in New England. Their location in Salem is their second location, but the food is first if you ask me. I sat at the bar and had a wonderful meal and a great chat with Aaron the bartender. It was another spot, like The Merchant, where I felt welcomed from the moment I walked in. Everything coming out of the kitchen looked amazing, and I can attest to the fact that they have the most delicious lobster bisque, which is a must while visiting the East Coast. (And an added bonus, you will be in the same building where the first working telephone was presented by Alexander Graham Bell. That’s right, it’s the exact building where he presented the telephone!) If you need a sweet treat after a meal, Melt Ice Cream is a place to add to your checklist. I had the vegan chocolate ice cream, which was creamy and delicious, even without the dairy. They have unique flavors to fit any palate.

What to Do:

• Walk Around: As I always say, the best way to explore a new place is to walk around. You can take your time, stopping to take in the sights at your leisure.

  

  

  

• Take A Nighttime Walking Tour: A friend of mine recommended this and said it was the best way to learn about the history of Salem and to get your bearings on the town. She was definitely right! And her recommendation to take it with Bewitched After Dark was spot on. My guide Sarah, a historian, and fellow Michigander, was wonderful. She relayed the info in an easy to digest manner, focusing on the real history of Salem and avoiding silly ghost stories. It was incredibly informative, but also really fun.

  

  

  

• Go In The Kitsch Shops: They may not be kitsch to all, but I guess I just never knew so many shops for witches existed. And yes, I mean witches in the real modern world. Stores with crystals, wands, incense, etc. Essex Street is where it’s all at. While I only walked away with a cute witch hat ornament for my Christmas tree, it was fun to see all the goodies you could buy.

  

  

• See the Hocus Pocus spots: While much of the Halloween classic was filmed on a lot in Hollywood, the majority of the outdoor scenes were actually filmed in Salem. You can visit the cemetery where Max got his shoes stolen, the school where the Sanderson sisters were locked in the kiln, the house that Max and Dani lived in, Allison’s mansion and the Town Hall where the parents party the night away and get hypnotized by Winifred. This was and still is one of my favorite movies of all time – I even burnt out my VHS tape as a kid – so seeing these spots, so close to Halloween was Spooktacular! (See all filming locations here.)

  

  

  

  

  

• House of Seven Gables: If you plan to stop here, I would recommend reading the book or seeing the movie before visiting, otherwise, like me, you will be a little lost. In case you need the Cliff Notes version: Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote “House of 7 Gables” based on his cousins home and her family. It accounts the home as well as the Salem Witch trials. While the characters are fictional, the home is real and is pretty impressive. Plus, you can visit Nathaniel Hawthorne’s home, the one he was born in, on the same tour. It’s $17 for an adult and includes time to wander the grounds, plus a 45 minute guided tour through the home(s).

  

  

  

  

• Witch House: If you do a walking tour, you will learn enough about this house that you won’t necessarily care about visiting the inside. I learned that first hand, and recommend passing on the inside tour and saving $10. But, you definitely want to visit the home to see it from the outside. It’s the only building still standing that was present in 1692 during the witch trials. And, it was actually home to one of the judges on the trials, who ended up sentencing the witches to be hanged.
• Salem Witch Museum: I didn’t have time to tour this museum, but it sounds like it’s a good spot to add to your itinerary. They reenact the witch trials and have lots of memorabilia. It sounds like it takes a couple hours to get through, and the live performances only run at certain times, so check the schedule when you are planning your visit.

How to Get There: If you are coming from Boston, I recommend taking the MTBA commuter train. I left from North Station in Boston, and it cost only $8 to ride about 30 minutes to Salem. My hotel (The Merchant) was about 5 blocks from the train station, so once I arrived it was easy to get to. (As I said, Salem is a very walk-able town.) Apparently traffic into Salem is hectic in October, sometimes taking hours to get to from Boston, even though it’s only 16 miles away. The train was stress free! At the end of my trip, I took an Uber from Salem to the airport, and it was quick and cheap, likely because I was flying in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week, avoiding high traffic times.

Whether you get to experience Salem in peak season, to celebrate Haunted Happenings, or you go another time, you are in for a real treat, and maybe some tricks too!

Signed with Style,

 

 

Save This Guide To Pinterest: