Cute New England Coastal Towns Perfect for Day Trips: Salem

I have always been a big fan of Halloween, so what better town to visit in October than Salem, Massachusetts? Not a fan of Halloween but looking for a great day trip in New England? Check out my post about Gloucester!

Best Way to Get To Salem

Driving to Salem is always an option but when we lived in Boston, the best way to get to Salem was by the Ferry or Commuter rail. We did both and I preferred the ferry because coming back at night you get the most amazing view of Boston with all the buildings lit up.

great activities in Salem for families

Not saying Salem isn’t fun year around, but we always visited in October to enjoy the Halloween festivities. Salem is obviously known as the witch town because of the Salem Witch Trials held here in the 1600s.

Here you can visit witch museums, the Witch House, and a graveyard you can walk around and see memorials for the accused that were sentenced to death. All of this is super kid friendly.

Don’t be afraid to dress up to walk around the town either. You see people in costumes and regular clothes so it is however you are feeling.

According to my ancestry, one of my ancestors was actually one of the women that went to trial and was sentenced to death. Obviously, we had to locate her memorial and pay tribute.

The whole town during October is basically just a huge festival. There are shopping tents, food trucks, and all kinds of activities for kids. There are haunted houses that you can purchase tickets to as well.

hocus pocus house

If you are a fan of Halloween, then you have obviously seen the movie Hocus Pocus. This movie was based in Salem and there are many sites you can see that were in the movie. When we first got to Salem the first time we visited, going to see Max and Dani’s house. From the ferry it is about a 20 minute walk. The house is privately owned, but numerous people came to take pictures of it.

Salem Witch Museum

If you want to learn more about the Salem Witch Trials, check out this museum! It is appropriate for older kids but I probably would not take toddlers as some parts might be scary. My husband and I enjoyed learning more about the trials.

If you want to do Salem right and truly learn about all the history of this amazing town I suggest buying a walking tour. With this you get to see and learn more that you thought was possible.

great places to eat in salem

There are lots of great restaurants in Salem but here are a few that we’ve enjoyed!

Turners Seafood

I would say this is more of an adult style seafood restaurant. We made reservations for Turners for basically right when it opened for lunch. My husband ordered a lobster roll and I got the lobster Mac and Cheese. To start we had some great tasting oysters to start. It was extremely busy by the time we finished. I would suggest getting there early or having reservations!

Bambolina

Bambolina is definitely a family friendly restaurant in Salem. We enjoyed pizzas and a salad while we were there. It was Halloween so it was very crowded but we were able to get a table without reservations.

Notch Taproom and Brewery

This is a great brewery with indoor and outdoor space.

Jaho Coffee Roaster and Wine Bar

This coffee shop is on the way to town from the ferry terminal. I love a warm cup of coffee while walking in the Fall. Definitely recommend!

where to stay in salem

We personally never stayed overnight in Salem but that should not stop you from wanting to. There is so much to do I think staying a weekend in Salem would actually be beneficial. There are different hotels and bed and breakfast places all around town. I would suggest this hotel because of location but I there are lots of options!

What are your favorite things to do in Salem?