Witches Aren’t the Only Ones Getting Action in Salem, Massachusetts

There's more to the notorious New England town of Salem than witchy history, though there's plenty of that to go around. Spend a few days there. You'll find it all, dare we say, bewitching.

SALEM, Massachusetts – We had just seen The Witch, a horror movie set in 1630s New England. So when my boyfriend and I visited Salem, Massachusetts — a town that has transformed a historical injustice into a year-round mecca for Halloween tourists — the creepiness of the supernatural, amidst puritanical rigidity and fear, was fresh on our minds.

THE SCENE

Multiple witch-related attractions either offer merchandise (tarot cards, spell candles, animal bones), enlighten the public about the Salem Witch Trials, or both. But there's far more to this town than witches. After all, Salem thrived for centuries as a merchant seaport. A brief walk around cobblestones of the historic town square — especially along Derby and Essex Streets — offers view of stately Georgian and Federal-style homes, remarkably preserved and typically open for viewing.

IF YOU DO ONLY ONE THING

Get Thee to Peabody Essex
With an atrium lobby shaped like a trading vessel, mast-like rafters aloft, this museum has unexpected range and depth. For example, in a town full of historic American houses, we were surprised to find one from imperialist China. The Yin Yu Tang, a 19th-century rural Chinese house, was disassembled piece by piece, shipped to the United States, and painstakingly reassembled. During a 30-minute, self-guided audio tour, it was great to get a peek at how some of my ancestors, from the same province on the other side of the globe, may have lived, in small rooms separated from the graceful central courtyard by a hand-carved lattice. The tour covered daily rituals up to Maoist China. I shuddered in view of a pair of state-controlled Communist loudspeakers that used to play 24/7, at full blast. Wow.

WHAT TO DO

Shop Essex Street
"Shoplifters will be blood eagled," reads an ornate sign next to the cash register at Coven's Cottage. Another sign forbids photos; I complied, missing what would have been awesomely menacing shots of potions, a cast iron cauldron, and piles of polished wolf teeth. And so goes the cobbled stretch of pedestrian shops on Essex Street, some more touristy than others. At Modern Millie, off Central Avenue, I eyed new 1950s-style circle skirts and bought a flouncy coat, then went next door to New England Dog Biscuit Co. to watch the frosting of canine biscuits (smelled yummy). Around the corner, I checked out well-priced sweaters at J. Mode. Down Washington Street, I liked Haus Witch for its feminist take on witchcraft and spied non-sexist tarot cards and a book for people who menstruate.

Visit the Salem Witch Museum
The main tour in the museum is a 35-minute animatronic experience that relays the year-long horror of the Salem Witch Trials. I'm glad I went, although I can't say we skipped away from the sobering lesson against societal hysteria and ungrounded accusations. (The museum is closed in January.)

Take in a Witch Trial or Ghost Tour
If you want to really get inside the minds of the Puritan townsfolk during the witch trials, Cry Innocent is a must-see. Run by History Alive!, the interactive performance invites audiences to sit on the jury and even vote on the outcome at the pre-trial of Bridget Bishop, the first person executed during the 1692 ordeal. The show, which has been running for decades, gives a fascinating insight into fear and paranoia in a community. October is peak season, but private off-season performances for groups can be booked via the website.

With such a turbulent history, Salem naturally has its fair share of ghost tours as well. Spellbound Tours offers the Voodoo, Vampires, and Ghosts Tour, which visits several of the city's infamous haunts, including the cemetery where one of the leading judges during the witch trials is buried. Led by a paranormal investigator, this one might not be for the faint-hearted. Proton packs at the ready!

WHERE TO EAT

Fresh-squeezed juice and fresh fruit-filled pastry is always a great way to start the day, and they have both at Front Street Coffeehouse. Try the blueberry muffins.

Turner's Seafood at Lyceum Hall is part fish market, part eatery. The oysters are insanely clean; there were four New England varieties on offer, and an oyster sommelier to provide details on each. The place is known for lobster pie (buttery) and lobster bisque (delicate, creamy). We rounded out our meal with super-moist cornbread and charred, maple-glazed brussel sprouts.

Cozy cafe The Ugly Mug Diner is the place to go for comfort food made with fresh local ingredients. Named after a mismatched collection of strange mugs, your cup of joe — served with or without a dab of Nutella — can double as a conversation starter. The brunch menu, which includes items like the Elvis waffle and Benedict Batch (an eggs Benedict mini-menu), plays light tribute to the celebrity departed. Allot plenty of time on weekends: The place gets packed.

WHERE TO STAY

The Merchant
Bygone spirits haunt this town — if only in lore. At The Merchant, there's a portrait of the original owner, molasses merchant Joshua Ward, who commissioned the brick Federal-style building in 1784, setting it regally back from busy Washington Street. Fun fact: President George Washington once slept here. Not-so-fun fact: The house occupies the same lot where Sheriff George Corwin, the man who approved the arrest and execution warrants during the Witch Trials, lived and maintained a jail. Full of plush nooks and crannies, the house is a beautifully renovated throwback. You'll want to raid the pantry for Pirate's Booty and tea, then settle into a velvet chair by the fireplace. Our room housed a dumb waiter, a private fireplace, and a giant bathtub for two.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

How to Get There
Salem is 20 miles and 45 minutes by car from Boston. It's a four-hour drive from New York City, especially if you avoid Boston traffic on the approach. The closest airport, Boston's Logan International (BOS), is 14 miles from the city center. By train from Boston, Salem is a half hour on the Newburyport/Rockport Line.

Getting Around
The historical portion of Salem is incredibly walkable: It's about eight square blocks full of historical eye openers.

When to Go
A year-round destination, Salem has a nice sea breeze wafting through it. We visited in fall (mid-November), with the wind appropriately howling and the crunch of leaves underfoot. Locals recommend avoiding all of October, when it's high season for witch lovers the world over.

What to Pack
Casual. Remember, this town has Puritan roots. But do bring layers as it can get chilly fast.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE EXPLORING THE BERKSHIRES

At Ramblewild, Spend Your Day Up in the Trees
Brimfield: The Ultimate Treasure Hunt
Breathing Lessons in the Berkshires

This story was originally published in 2017 and has been checked and updated in 2021. Fathom: We find things that last!