An October visit to Salem MA
I have a friend who lives in Maryland. Before I started looking after grand kids, her and I used to take trips and visit one another. This past weekend she returned to MA. Since she was here again, she told me there was a place in this part of the country she always wanted to see. I asked what that would be and she replied "Salem". Then I had to innocently ask "what's there"? She said "that's where they had the Witch Trials". I've lived in this area all my life and it never occurred to me that the town of Salem might actually be a visitor's attraction. I said "ok, let's do it", not expecting to find much of anything up there. I was in for a shock. We arrived in the small town to find it's main streets full of people and food trucks. I asked someone if it was always this busy and I was told "only when it get's close to Halloween" .
The first point of interest was the t he Jonathan Corwin House, which was the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin and is the only structure still standing in Salem with direct ties to the Salem witch trials. There was a line waiting to get in. Inside were artifacts from the period and a sense of what happened there so long ago. (BTW these are not pictures taken by me). I forgot to bring a camera.
After leaving the Judge's house we walked down Essex street, it seemed to be the center of activity. There was a store called "The Witch City consignment" which had everything involving Halloween and over by the Chamber of Commerce were 3 men dressed up as the "ghostbusters". Then there was a statue of Elizabeth Montgomery in her role from the TV series "Bewitched".
A block away is the "Witch History Museum". There is a guided tour at the Museum and the story of the witch trials is explained.
After the museum we found an Italian restaurant. Sorry, I don't have the name because the food was excellent, although the place was packed. Then we went out and made our biggest mistake. We walked all the way to the waterfront district to look at what I can best describe as a pirate wax museum. That meant walking all the way back up Essex street, through the now expanded crowd to where the car was parked. It made for a long day with plenty of exercise.
My advice for anyone planning to visit Salem MA in October is to plan accordingly.
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One place I've wanted to visit all my life. Lucky you.
Others (from outside of MA) have said the same thing. It's strange that I live here yet never thought about it until somebody got me to go.
For me, it would be like a Muslim going to Meca.
Lol. I have to admit it was fun and I thought I met enough witches.
We is everywhere!
Salem is a terrific place to visit, especially in the autumn. We took our kids there twice and had wonderful times. So much to see and learn.
Vic - if you haven't seen these, make another trip when you can:
Will do, but next time not so close to Halloween.
Good idea! Lots of "haunted happenings" in Salem in October, and October is their busiest month.
Here's another place of interest. It played a part in Hawthorne's novel, "The Scarlett Letter"
Busy! Tell me about it! That walk back to the car through that mob was a bit more exercise than I had planned for on a Saturday afternoon. I shouldn't complain, it was unexpected fun. I bought my friend a witches hat and we still talk about that crazy day.
Thanks, maybe I'll take the grand kids when they're old enough
We went in November during the kids' Thanksgiving breaks and stayed at the Hawthorne Hotel. Even if you don't stay there, the bar is a very nice place to stop for a drink after sight-seeing ... wood paneling, big fireplace.
So you went right after Halloween (well, about 3 weeks) and still had the autumn scene minus the crowds, I assume. Good idea.
Yep. It was really nice. Still a good amount of people but not crowded. The only glitch happened on our 2nd trip. We saved the pirate museum for Sunday. When we came out, we were met with an unexpected snowstorm. We didn't have boots, so our feet were soaked, and I didn't have the brush, scraper etc in the back - so I had to clean the van off with my gloves.
Ok, now your'e making me feel better about the long walk. You are right about something else. That pirate museum should be for a different day. You made it a weekend with family, which was a good idea. At this rate I don't know when I'll get back to my Casino's!
Your article has been a walk down memory lane for me today.
Here's another place to go: The Witch Dungeon Museum. Live re-enactment of a trial and a tour of the prison cells where "witches" were imprisoned.
We took our kids before there was easy access to the Internet and combination pricing. If your grandchildren are older than 2nd grade, they'll enjoy a lot of what Salem has to offer. My kids did!
I have just the woman in mind for that one.
If your grandchildren are older than 2nd grade, they'll enjoy a lot of what Salem has to offer. My kids did!
Unfortunately, they are still to young. The youngest, less than 1 year - enters day care in about 5 months and my duties end, at which time I'll be "on the road again."
I guess I'll be going back
Enjoy each moment, because we all know how quickly babyhood flies by.
The only reason I said 2nd grade was that's what my youngest were when we went, and most of the places we went to at least partially held their interest. The pirate museum was their favorite!
I'm sure they enjoy everything you do with them!
I am so glad that when my daughters were young, we took the time every year for family vacations. The state of Maine and Cape Cod are sacred places in my memory.
The pirate museum was their favorite!
Ya, I can understand why. The wax figures combined with the tour guide's blood curdling stories! How can you beat that?
I'm sure they enjoy everything you do with them!
My oldest daughter takes her kids to the very places I took her. She even makes the Kittery Trading Post the customary first stop on the trips up to Maine. It's funny, you never know what your kids and grand kids will remember.
I agree, our yearly family vacations are still some of the best memories of my childhood.
You'll remember them with even more reverence the older you get
LOL.. I may be past the turning point headed the other way these days. It seems the color memory pictures are slowly fading to black and white the older I get.
So many years slippin by !!!
lol
Cape Cod! We spent 20+ years of family vacations there, winter and summer. Did you ever go to The Christmas Shop? It's closed down now, but it was on 6A in E. Sandwich. We'd stop there every trip and let the kids choose 1 ornament each. Then, while my wife chose 2 more per child, I played with the the kids in the parking lot. Result? Each one now has dozens of handmade or unique ornaments for their own trees.
Here's the shop's history:
Funny story - As a last family vacation before everyone went their separate college/career ways, I wanted us to take one last "BIG" one ... Alaskan Cruise, Disney, a national park, Hawaii. I was overruled by everyone and we all went to ... you guessed it ... Cape Cod!
I don't know how old you are, Steve, but I have to echo what Vic said. Sometimes, I scare myself when I suddenly remember something from my early childhood that I'd forgotten about for over 50 years!
Was it expensive to go to Salem? I've heard that it is.
It wasn't cheap, but it wasn't outrageously expensive like Disney. We went over 20 years ago, and back then they didn't offer the tourist packages they have now (such as 3 exhibits for $xx). Each venue was individually priced when I went.
While I was looking for the names of places we visited so I could share them here, I noticed that there are more motels than when I was there that are reasonably priced, so that's one way to cut costs.
If you're interested in Puritan/Colonial history, visiting Salem is well worth the money, IMO. A weekend (2-3 days) is more than enough for adults. If you're taking kids, you might need more time.
Please keep in mind that some of the venues and shops are pure tourist traps and really hokey, so it's good to do some research and read the Yelp/Trip Adviser reviews if you're looking to learn actual history.
That can be a killer at times. Should we tell them about the traffic near the bridges?
Yes. I got to go any weekend I wanted, I had a sister who lived in Dennis. Ya, 6A was the road with all the antique shops etc. I remember all those little places. Do you remember the spot in Brewster where they allowed the kids to use nets to take 1 net full of Herring during the Herring run? Don't know if they still allow it? I never understood it. The Cape always meant a day at the beach. How about Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Have you ever taken the car on the ferry over? Yup, those were great days.
I'm Wiccan so, I'm interested in a different kind of history tour, one that isn't really on the books.
Actual history for me leads in different directions, there is some His story that isn't always in the books. Tourist traps don't impress me either but, there are a few shops there that I'd find interesting and, trust me, they ain't on the books.
Ugh, those bridges were horrible, especially on summer weekends.
I don't remember that herring spot in Brewster, but there was a good restaurant in town - The Brewster Fish House.
We took a day trip on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard on our first trip. Beautiful!
Cape Cod, to me = beautiful beaches and lots of good restaurants.
We stayed on the Vineyard one weekend. I took pictures of the family in front of Gay Head Lighthouse, by the cliffs. The lighthouse was one of the backgrounds in the movie "Jaws". Whenever that scene is shown one of my daughters will laugh.
I know very little about Wicca but from what I've read, it was created in the 20th century. I don't think that Salem's focus is Wicca; its focus is to explain, through documentation, what happened to men, women, and children who behaved "strangely" during Puritan/Colonial times.
There are several little easter eggs in that movie. Right after they catch the first shark, the photographer says, "Get Dave Axlerod out of NY...." blah blah blah..
In any case, never have been to Mass., thinking I could swing a stopover for a few days and check it out. Wife wants to go to the Isle Of Man for the TT races next year.
That is kind of a unique spot. Have you ever been there?
This is very true but, I'm always interested in history, especially when it comes to such things as the trials. I also like to put myself into certain situations, really places were history not only resulted in something bad, like the trials but, were I can "feel" the "vibe" of the place. I know it sounds strange but, it's the way I'm "built".
I have not. Wife has when she was in the Army.
Then it should be a bit of an adventure for you
Just don't let a virgin light a black candle. The witches might run amok, amok, amok.
In my school days we use to take field trips all over. DC, Philadelphia etc. Sadly, I think I have only been to Mass once.
Sounds like fun to me,
Great article Vic, thanks for this.
I had a trip planned to go there many years ago with my now x-wife. She balked at the idea and when I asked her why she didn't want to go.... "They burn my kind at the stake there". So to make her feel better, I bought her a new broom since her old one was pretty beat up, (too many rough landings).
Your welcome my friend. I can relate to the x story
I have to agree Vic, this is really great, thanks for putting it up.