Travel: Small Town Series-Salem, MA
A hauntingly good time, with a dash of great seafood.
Have you ever wanted to visit Halloween town? Well, step right up ghouls and gals. Anytime of the year is a grand time to visit New England, but Salem becomes the apple of everyone’s eye during October.
Warning: It is a known fact that booking accommodations for the month of October in Salem requires, at minimum, one year’s notice. Plan ahead.
Carry on.
Salem has put a spell on me. I became beguiled with this small waterfront town from the moment I delved into the history of the Salem witch trials during 2009. Now, I have been obsessed with Halloween since the age of eight (come on, who hasn’t dressed up as a witch at least once in their lifetime). Salem currently has a population around 45,000 residents. In comparison to Boston’s 4 million, it fits the bill of a small town. Are there multiple other quaint and colonial small towns around Salem? You betcha.
My first visit to this small town was in 2010. A holiday was booked for a stay in Beverly, MA as I missed the opportunity to book the historic Hawthorne Hotel package for their famous costume ball. The beautiful park next to the Hawthorne brings in ample green space. The wharf is about a 15-20 mins walk from the center of town and is a favorite for locals and seafood lovers wishing to dine away from Essex Street. Take a peek below from the local trolley tour.
During Halloween week many hotels, BnB’s, and local establishments only allow you to book a stay of a minimum of 2-3 nights (this includes the Hawthorne Hotel). Trust me, the annual costume ball is the event of the season! It sells out every year. It is a global and ever revolving genre of folks seeking out spooky October fun. I’ve visited on and off again over the years, even winning a few prizes in the costume ball!
1692 History
The Massachusetts towns around Salem are steeped in puritan history, colonial history, and yes the ever famous Salem witch trials. You can learn about the steep history here at the PEM. If you fancy a ghost/cemetery tour, please book a tour with ONLY a local company. Last September I partook in the infamous Satanic Salem Walking Tours with Thomas and his lovely poodle companion. Here are a few other local favorites for tour companies.
If you don’t mind a little drive, take a day trip up to Marblehead for some Hocus Pocus cemetery exploration! The famous Old Burial Hill cemetery is a 1693 picturesque burial site for Revolutionary War soldiers. Yes, this is also the same cemetery where Max rides his bike up the hill and gets his shoes stolen. Bonus: there is a delish lobster shack just up the road from the site!
We are now officially 100 days away from Halloween! Ya’ll better get planning!