An *Updated* Travel Guide to Salem, Massachusetts (New Items included for 2021!)
Your Updated Magical Guide to Visiting Historic Salem!
Just because October is over doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the dark and mysterious all year round in a mystical port city rich in local history and magical lore: Salem, Massachusetts! The city is rife with metaphysical shops and spooky tourism to enjoy all year round, but of course the prime time to visit is in the Autumn as the local region really leans into the Halloween season!
A Brief History of Salem
The town of Salem was founded in 1626 by Roger Conant and a group of settlers from Cape Ann. Originally called Kaumkeag, the settlers decided to change the name to Salem after the Hebrew term for “Peace.” It has been one of the pinnacle seaports in early American History since the 1600s and through the American Revolution. Its ports have long served as prime dock space for many trade ships from Europe, the Pacific, and Asia. It is also most infamously known as the site of The Salem Witch Trials.
In the late 1600s, witchcraft allegations were made against several young citizens including Abigail Williams, Betty Parris, Giles Crey and others. Instead of trying to hide from its dark history, the town of Salem fully leans into its Witchy roots and rich, but shadowy history. As a result, this is one of the top destinations in the Northeast for fall travel destinations, especially on Halloween! Check out our travel guide below for fun historical tours, spooky haunted locations, gift shops, museums, and more.
Get into the Spooky Spirit at one of these fine historic hotels or magical lodging options:
The Haunted Hawthorne Hotel is named after local author Nathanial Hawthorne. Staff have reported seeing the apparition of a woman who is believed to be the spirit of Bridget Bishop. Guests also often report the haunting aroma of fresh apples, even if none are being served on premise, thought to be Bridget’s way of communicating that the hotel is built on her family’s apple orchard lands.
The Salem Inn has some conflicting tales to its hauntings; the owners are adamant that the existence of ghosts is questionable, but the staff and visitors beg to differ! Visitors and employees claim this to be one of the most haunted hotels in the area, with no less than three spectral beings on site, including the ghost of a cat.
The Thomas Brown House was built in 1781 and is one of the oldest homes on Winter Street. It’s a gorgeous property right in the heart of the Salem Commons and the Peabody Essex Museum.
Stay at The Daniels House - one of the oldest BNB’s established as early as 1667. It boasts 9 gorgeous fireplaces and is inspired by Salem’s long standing maritime history. The facilities were restored in 2019 by the new owners, Adele and Patrick, and they kept many of the antiques from the original home. It’s a one-of-a-kind stay!
Now that you’ve cozied up and met some of the local residents, living and undead, it’s time to hit the cobblestones and explore the intersections of past and present in this wonderful witchy locale!
Activities to Explore in Salem
Enjoy Salem’s Haunted Happenings and take a tour of the city with additional Halloween and fright-filled events all month long in October!
Explore Salem with a Local and see the city like you’ve never seen before. A Walk-and-Talk guide with a long-time resident will give you a personal view of nearly 20 locations.
Visit these 7 places from the movie “Hocus Pocus” including Max and Dani’s house, Allison’s Halloween Party House, the Old Town Hall, and many more!
Check out Salem’s Haunted Happenings for an ever changing list of ongoings in town such as Markets, Costume Contests, Virtual House Tours, and more.
Catch a Screening at the Salem Horror Fest and indulge yourself in the latest and greatest in horror, dark fantasy, and spooky films. Hop onto panels or Q&A meetups with your favourite talents in the horror industry!
Visit one of the dozens of museums in the area including the Peabody Essex Museum, Pioneer Village, House of the Seven Gables, The New England Pirate Museum, The Salem Jail, The Old Burying Point Cemetery , The Joshua Ward House and More.
Book a Bewitched After Dark walking tour of Salem and poke around in the dark, mysterious history of the city. Learn about haunted sites, witchcraft in Salem, the hysteria of the witch trials, and its colonial history.
The Salem Wax Museum and Witch Village host year-round fun including spellcasting workshops, candle-lit walking ghost tours, and more. Visit haunted houses, an animatronic show, and more.
Chambers of Terror is a popular haunted house attraction in Salem for seasonal spookiness and Halloween fun!
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery offers year round exhibits catering to horror, sci-fi and fantasy cinema as well as hosting a seasonal haunted house!
Check out the Punto Urban Art Museum if you need a break from all the spooky! This gorgeous open-air museum has 85 large-scale murals from over 30 world famous artists. Best of all, it’s just 5 minutes walk away from Downtown Salem.
The ever-changing Artists’ Row is another amazing destination for the arts in Salem including performance art, local artisans, wall murals, sculptures and more.
Take advantage of the gorgeous maritime town of Salem by booking a Sailing Cruise, Boat Tour, or other aquatic excursion.
Book a Halloween Haunted Pizza Tour of the surrounding area and Boston.
Visit the Salem Art Gallery on Bridge Street and explore special lectures, teas, dinners, and even a spooky Black Mass if you’re up for it. Special October Hours and events can be found on the website, but it’s open year round. It’s a public art gallery opened in the former Dubiel Funeral Parlor, and also home to the Satanic Temple of Salem. Stop by for tours, special screenings, and the gift shop!
And what vacation would be complete without a proper list of delectable eateries, pubs, and breweries.
Turner’s Seafood (Rumored to be Haunted!)
Looking for some fun ways to bring a bit of Salem’s magic back home? We’ve got you covered with a few picks for witchy gift giving and unique shopping experiences:
If you’re venturing out for some Halloween fun, October is really the city’s time to shine! But we hope we’ve shed a little light on just how magical a trip to Salem can be year round.
Travel Guide updated and compiled by Ellen Avigliano
Twitter: @imaginariumcs
Website: www.imaginariumarts.com
