Witchy Travel Guide to Salem, Massachusetts

Disclaimer:

Gentle reminder that while some travel restrictions have lifted, and we are all anxious to venture outside our small little pandemic bubble, please be mindful when trip planning. Tourism is vital to some towns and regions, but the citizens who are full-time residents also want to remain safe and virus free. Although this is a travel guide to promote visits to the area, we ask that you perhaps put off your tourist plans until it is safer. If you absolutely must travel, you should be wearing masks, sanitizing and washing your hands, avoiding physical contact by maintaining social distancing, and always adhering to posted rules and regulations of businesses, restaurants, and local areas. Always be sure to check for COVID-19 amendments to tours, visitor rules, hours of operation, and accessibility. Please be cautious and conscious to abide by local rules. Some places mentioned in this article may be closed or temporarily reduced operations. Be patient and be kind. If you can, try to plan your trip using our guide but for 2021 or beyond. Thank you

Salem, Massachusetts

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 was one of the pinnacle seaports in early American History from the 1600s and through the American Revolution. It is also most infamous for being the site of “The 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. Making it one of the top destinations in the Northeast for fall travel destinations!

Hang on to your patootie cause we’re about to get spoopy!

Get into the spirit of spooky season by booking a stay at one of these spooky spots:

• The Haunted Hawthorne Hotel is named after local author Nathanial Hawthorne. Staff have reported seeing the apparition of a woman, 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 the premises, 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 is one of the most haunted hotels in the area, with no less than three spectral beings on site, including the ghost of a cat.

• Rent the Harry Potter Room and immerse yourself in the fantasy side of witchcraft and wizardry for restful sweet dreams after a day of historical witch research. This sleeps 2 adults and 1 child, and a full hot breakfast is served daily at 9!

• 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!

Once you’re all unpacked and you’ve had a chance to rest your eyes, it’s time to get up close and personal with the residents of Salem (the living and the dead, of course!)

• 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 favorite 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, 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.

• Book a Halloween Haunted Pizza Tour of the surrounding area and Boston.

And what vacation would be complete without a proper list of delectable eateries, pubs, and breweries.

• The Roof at Hotel Salem

• Kokeshi Asian Street Food

• Life Alive Cafe

• Far From the Tree Hard Cider Taproom

• Caramel French Patisserie

• Rockafellas Bar

• Turner’s Seafood (Rumored to be Haunted!)

• Witch’s Brew Cafe

• Deacon Giles Distillery

• Howling Wolf Taqueria

• Bit Bar of Salem

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. Check out Crow Haven Corner, White Light and Pentacles, HausWitch, Hex’s Old World Witchery, Pyramid Books.

Bookstores in the Salem area that you for sure don’t want to miss visiting:

• Pyramid Books

• Silvermoon Comics

• Wicked Good Books

• Calix Books

• Paper Asylum

• Bookshop of Beverly Farms

• Manchester by the Book

• Harrison’s Comics

• The Marble Faun Books and Gifts

Now that you’ve read our blog post and you’ve got a list of bookstores to peruse, why not dive into some wildly witchy reading material to take home with you!

 Here’s some of our picks for books that are sure to put a spell on you:

• The Malan Witch by Cat Cavendish (Silver Shamrock Publishing)

• The Familiars by Stacey Hall (MIRA Publishing)

• The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey (Back Bay Books)

• The Witches by Roald Dahl 

• Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within by Juliet Diaz

• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

• Basic Witches: How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven by Jaya Saxena

• Labyrinth Lost (Brooklyn Brujas Series) by Zoralda Cordova

• The Crucible by Arthur Miller

• The Witches of Worm by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

• Craft: How to Be a Modern Witch by Gabriela Herstik

• Witchcraft Cocktails by Julia Halina Hadas

Travel Guide Compiled by Ellen Avigliano

Twitter: @imaginariumcs

Website: www.imaginariumarts.com