Curator’s statement
Tis the season for hot cider and popcorn, fresh apples and leaf diving, and lighting a virgin candle with friends. If you are into history, you probably want to visit Salem, MA. If you are interested in the occult, you probably want to visit Salem, MA. And if you are a Sanderson Sisters fan, you must visit Salem, MA!
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Where to stay
Omni Parker House
Elegant hotel from the 19th-century with high-end rooms and suites.
Hawthorne Hotel
Luxe property in a redbrick building from 1925 with quaint rooms and suites.
Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites
The Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites is a well-known hotel located in Salem, Massachusetts. This charming waterfront hotel offers comfortable accommodations and beautiful views of the harbor. It's conveniently situated near popular attractions such as the Salem Witch Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, and historic downtown Salem. With its nautical-inspired decor and a range of amenities, the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites provides guests with a pleasant and memorable stay in this historic New England town.
The Merchant Salem
A sophisticated, luxurious stay housed in an 18th-century building.
The Red Lion Inn
For history buffs and vintage lovers, there is no greater place to lay your weary heads than this great American inn.
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Day 1: Arrive in Salem
Get to Salem or stay in Boston
If you are nearby, a road trip to Salem as the colors are changing is a drive well worth the gas money. If you fly in, you are going to start your spooky travels in Boston. You can choose to stay in Boston; I recommend the most historic and haunted Omni Parker Hotel. Salem is only a 30-minute train ride away or a 45-minute drive or a 50-minute ferry ride. If you choose to stay in the heart of it all, there are some lovely and haunted accommodations available in Salem. The Hawthorne Hotel and the Merchant have both reported mysterious happenings along their corridors.
After checking into your hotel, head out for some lunch at Howling Wolf Taqueria or the Derby Restaurant and Bar.
For your first night in town, view the city from the lesser-known pirate perspective. Join the Pirates and Privateers Walking Tour. It comes with admission to the Real Pirates Museum where you can see and touch real pirate booty! Unfortunately, the One Piece is not among its treasures.
The tour ends at The House of Seven Gables (admission not included), the house that launched the legendary novel. After exploring this and the author's house just across the street, spend the evening the way pirates do, with a drink! The Mercy Tavern is nearby (not far from Ye Olde Pepper Companie Candy Store) or take a trip to Deacon Giles Distillery.
Day 2: Sanderson sightings
Start your day with breakfast. Try a personalized omelet at Brothers Taverna or a fresh donut from the longest-running donut shop and bakery in Salem, Ziggy's and Sons Donuts.
Now get ready for your close-up, because it's time for your photoshoot at Witch Pix. Get dressed in any of the 400+ costumes that they offer (in all sizes) then choose one of the four offered backgrounds. You will get your pics right away. Highly recommend making a reservation, especially the closer you get to Halloween.
Next, "let's walk" toward the Salem "Hocus Pocus" Movie Locations Tour meet-up point. You'll visit five locations used in the film and other historic landmarks from the Salem Trials. Be advised, this tour is 2.5 hours and 3.2 miles, so don't forget your walking shoes!
If you have walked up an appetite, head over to Christina's Pizza, the best pizza in Salem, since 1988. After lunch, check out other tours like the Smugglers Tour, learn about how Salem survived Prohibition or the Trolley Tours, just make sure you purchase your tickets early for this popular attraction. Or if you want to slow down a little bit, visit a museum. The Salem Witch Museum allows you to take a step back in time and put yourself in the middle of the trials and also see how the views and opinions of witches have changed over the years.
For dinner, stop by Rockafellas located in the historic Daniel Low & Co. building, for a burger, pasta or even a strip steak. Your evening activities can take a varied turn. If you are into the spookier side of life, take a nighttime walking ghost tour. The most popular is the Salem Night Ghost Tour where you wander the city by lamplight listening to the ghastly "legends and true tales of witchcraft, murder, mayhem and more!" If you are interested in learning about the haunted history of the Witchy City but need some liquid courage, join the Boos and Brews Haunted Pub Crawl. Hear the haunting tales of witches and murder while exploring secret tunnels and the happy haunts of some mysterious spirits; both distilled and devious.
Day 3: A festive end
After checking out of your hotel, head over to Witch's Brew Café for brunch. Before you leave, if you can stock up on your tarot cards, crystals or virgin candles, head over to the Pedestrian Walkway Mall. You will find loads of quirky little shops like Bewitched in Salem Gift Shop and Emporium 32, occult shops like The Coven's Cottage and more!
Need to know
With there being so many exciting, mysterious and historical places to visit between Boston and Salem, I would highly suggest getting the Go City: Boston All-Inclusive Pass. It gives you access to over 45 attractions for 1-7. In my experience, these passes are a great time saver and well worth the value!
Travel Advisor
Lauren Angel Martin
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Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out Fora advisors Nicole Freedman's guide, 3-Day Itinerary for Salem Massachusetts.
This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Massachusetts.