Things To Do in Salem, MA
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Salem, MA Attractions
Salem’s historic district extends well inland from the waterfront (the visitor center can provide a walking-tour pamphlet). Many 18th-century houses, some with original furnishings, still stand. Ship captains lived near the water at the east end of downtown, in relatively small houses crowded close together by today’s standards. The captains’ employers, the shipping-company owners, built their homes away from the water (and the accompanying aromas). Many lived on the grand thoroughfare of Chestnut Street, part of the National Registry of Historic Places.
By car or trolley, the Salem Willows (tel. 978/745-0251) amusements are 5 minutes away; many signs point the way. The strip of carnival-style diversions and snack bars has a retro honky-tonk air, and the waterfront park is a good place to bring a picnic and wander along the shore. There's no admission fee; meter parking is available. To enjoy the great view without the arcades and rides, have lunch one peninsula over at Winter Island Park.
A Face in the Crowd -- On the traffic island across from the entrance to the Salem Witch Museum is a statue that's easily mistaken for a witch. It's really Roger Conant, who founded Salem in 1626.
Party Line -- Alexander Graham Bell made the first long-distance telephone call from the building that now holds the Lyceum Bar & Grill.
Salem Celebrations
In August, the 2-day Salem Maritime Festival fills the area around the Salem Maritime National Historic Site, with live music, food, and demonstrations of nautical crafts. The festival kicks off Heritage Days, a weeklong event celebrating Salem’s multicultural history with musical and theatrical performances and a street fair. (For a schedule of events, go to www.salem.org). Salem’s biggest event, however, is its month-long Halloween celebration, Haunted Happenings, which includes ghost tours, costume balls, haunted houses, a street fair, a parade, and family film nights on Salem Common. If you plan to visit then, plan extra time for traffic and make advance reservations where possible.
- Museum
Peabody Essex Museum
One of New England’s premier art museums, the Peabody Essex originated as a maritime museum (The Peabody) and the county’s natural and historical society (the Essex Institute). The two merged in 1992 and have since developed a national reputation for extensive collections of Asian… - Historic Site
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Docked in the National Park Service’s waterfront center is a uniquely memorable exhibit: a full-size (171-ft.) replica of a 1797 East Indiaman merchant vessel. The Friendship is open to visitors by guided tour and you can also study it from the shore if you don’t want to climb… - Museum
Salem Witch Museum
There are a slew of witch-trial-related sights and walking tours to choose from in Salem and no single option hits every note. Many are seasonal and play up horror over history. This year-round museum, in a building that used to be a church, provides an informative overview of the… - Historic Site
The House of the Seven Gables
Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote the 1851 novel that inspired the name of this attraction (and if you haven’t read the book since high school or haven’t read it at all, keep in mind that it’s scary). Visits to the rambling 1668 house are by guided tour. Hawthorne visited his cousin at this…
Salem, MA Shopping
Pickering Wharf, centrally located at the corner of Derby and Congress streets, is a waterfront complex of shops, restaurants, and condos that popular for strolling, snacking, and shopping. Along the retail-rich Essex Street pedestrian mall, there are housewares at Pamplemousse, 185 Essex St. (tel. 978/745-2900) and, right next door, playful vintage and new clothes at Modern Millie, 3 Central St. (tel. 978/745-0231). Front Street (btw. Central St. and Washington St.) is another nice stretch for shopping; here you’ll find clever cards and gifts at Roost & Company, 40 Front St. (tel. 978/744-4663).
Several shops specialize in witchcraft accessories and psychic readings. Bear in mind that Salem is home to many practicing witches who take their beliefs very seriously. A team of psychics at Crow Haven Corner, 125 Essex St. (tel. 978/745-8763), offer readings by appointment; the shop also carries herbs, potions, and spell kits. For a modern twist on the “sacred feminine,” HausWitch Home + Healing, 144 Washington St. (tel. 978/594-8950) has sleek home goods, vegan cleaning products, and community events.
Shops throughout New England sell the chocolate confections of Salem’s Harbor Sweets, Palmer Cove, 85 Leavitt St., off Lafayette Street (tel. 800/234-4860 or 978/745-7648). Its retail store overlooks the floor of the factory; tours begin Tuesday and Thursday at 11am (call ahead to reserve). The deliriously good sweets are expensive, but candy bars and small assortments are available. It’s closed Sunday.
