In this charming New England town, you can immerse yourself in Halloween themes even in advance of the actual Halloween holiday. Salem’s bewitching sights year-round include the Witch Trial Memorial (free admission, located on Charter Street), the Salem Witch Village, the Salem Wax Museum of Witches & Seafarers (admission to both is included in the “Salem Hysteria Pass” available for $8.95 at www.salemwaxmuseum.com, or call 800-298-2929), the Salem Witch Museum ($6; 978-744-1692), the Witch Dungeon Museum ($6; 978-741-3570), the Witch History Museum ($6; 978-741-7770) and the Witch House ($6; 978-744-0180). The Peabody Essex Museum ($10; 800-745-4054), the country’s oldest continually operating museum and one of the largest in New England, has the original papers from the trials among its vast collection.
During the entire month of October, Salem gets into the holiday spirit with a host of events: Enter the House of the Seven Gables to visit the world of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel in Spirits of the Gables ($8; 978-744-0991), shop along the Essex Pedestrian Mall at Bizarre Bazaar and mark the end of Salem’s 21st annual Haunted Happenings Festival with a bunch of all-ages activities Halloween night.
While Salem has a number of bed-and-breakfasts, many are already booked up for the Halloween festivities (and require lengthy stays). For other housing options, refer to the Destination Salem Web site, www.salem.org, of the Salem Office of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, or the comprehensive Salem City Guide, online at www.salemweb.com.
For more details on Salem’s Halloween events, area attractions or lodging, contact Destination Salem at 877-SALEM-MA.
More Top Picks Best Cat Fountains For Picky Drinkers