Visit Salem While On Vacation In Cape Ann
Take a day trip to Historic Salem MA!
Salem is a magical place to visit during the Fall months but Fall doesn’t end after Halloween! You can visit Salem anytime of the year and sometimes it’s even better after the crowds have dissipated and the leaves have reached there full potential! Whatever time of year you visit this spooky New England town be sure to plan your trip with our great team at Atlantic Vacation Homes!
If you’ve ever watched Hocus Pocus at Halloween, you’ve daydreamed about what it would be like to explore a spooky yet charming Halloween town just like the one depicted in the Hollywood classic Hocus Pocus. Well, with train rides from Cape Ann to Salem MA leaving MBTA daily now you can enjoy a day in the charmingly spooky town of Salem Massachusetts anytime you want! Finding a place to stay in the heart of Salem during the holiday’s can feel like a trick but we have the perfect treat! Book your vacation rental in Cape Ann and enjoy the charming Fall leaves and brisk autumn air and take the short train ride to visit the town of Salem during the spooky season!
Experience the best of Fall and take a day trip from your Cape Ann vacation rental by train to Salem MA
The train ride takes roughly an hour and cost under $10 dollars, typically 5 services run weekly, more information about the train schedule can be found here: View Schedule
The easiest way to get to Salem from your Atlantic Vacation Homes rental is either by train or car. The MBTA’s commuter rail (Newburyport/Rockport) to/from Salem is a short 5- to 10-minute ride to/from Beverly. Kick back and relax while you enjoy the scenic sights of the area that you otherwise would have missed. Traveling through Manchester-by-the-Sea, Gloucester, and Rockport during the Fall is spectacular, watching the leaves change is nothing short of magic and if you look closely maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of one of the Sanderson sisters flying by too!
Once you arrive in the Historic Town of Salem you’ll have many options but here is a list of our favorite must do’s while in Salem.
Top 15 Favorite things to do while visiting Salem Massachusetts.
The best way to get an idea of the area is to start your trip off with a fun Walking Tour. The Essex National Heritage Organization offers a unique walking tour of the area focused on Myths & Misconceptions. Another great tour is The Salem History & Witchcraft Day tour.
#1 Take a guided walking tour of the area
After walking you’ll definitely need a caffeinated pick me up! Swing by Witch’s Brew Cafe or for a cup of coffee on Derby Street before heading over to our next favorite spot in Salem.
#2 The House of 7 Gables
For the literary lovers in the group a visit to the home that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne’s dark gothic novel “House of Seven Gables” also known as the Turner- Ingersoll Mansion is a must! Enjoy a tour of the iconic House of Seven Gables located in Salem, Massachutes. This home holds within it 300 years of rich Salem history and for the thrill seekers, they may even let you crawl through a secret passageway to a hidden room. Many visitors to this historic mansion have reported witnessing spirits and other apparitions, including the spirit of Susan Ingersoll who passed away in the home at 72 years of age in 1858. John Turner, a Sea Captain and Merchant is credited with building the home in 1668, before it was sold to the Ingersoll family in 1782 to Captain Samuel Ingersol the uncle of Nathaniel Hawthorne.
#3 Visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial
#4 Burying Point Cemetery
Another stop for the History Buff and literary enthusiast of your group that read the Crucible: “For it is MY NAME, I cannot have another ” is to Visit the Salem Witch Trials Memorial just next to the Burying Point Cemetery. This simple memorial site was created to show respect for the tragic loss of life that took place during the witch hysteria of 1692. The memorial was created in 1992 for the 300th anniversary of the Salem Witch Trials and is the first memorial in Salem dedicated to the trials.
#5 Old Burial Hill Cemetery
#6 Visit Ropes Mansion Garden
Stroll through The Cemetery located at Old Burial Hill, Marblehead before stopping by the Ropes Mansion Garden. This Colonial Revival garden was created in 1912 and provides the perfect backdrop for a photo! Admire the flowers and tour the mansion which are both open to the public & part of the Peabody Essex Museum.
#7 Peabody Essex Museum
#8 Salem Witch Village
#9 The Witch House
Give into the spooky fun when you visit Salem Witch Village. This Witch City lives up to the hype with attractions like Frankensteins’s Castle and walking tours of the Haunted Neighborhood.
Grab your lunch to go and have a hallmark worthy picnic at the Salem Common under the charming gazebo. The park is located an easy walk away from downtown and is the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor picnic in the crisp Fall air of Salem. Stop by America’s oldest candy shop that is still making sweets & treats by hand and using their original 19th century recipes. Grab a sugary pick me up from Ye Olde Pepper Companie on Derby Street before heading off to Salem Willows Park to burn through some coins and work off your lunch!
#10 Salem Commons
#11 Ye Olde Pepper Companie ( Oldest Candy Store in America )
Salem Willows Park which boasts two free beaches, walking trails, a seaside promenade, an arcade and depending on the season a live local concert! Enjoy popcorn, fun and a vibrant local atmosphere!
#12 Salem Willows Park
#13 Salem Pioneer Village
A visit to Salem wouldn’t be completed without visiting Old Salem Village, the home of Thackery Binx! This Pioneer village can be found at 98 West Avenue. It is mainly open during the weekends in October but is definitely worth a visit! As America’s first living history museum, Pioneer Village recreates the city of Salem in the 17th Century
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#14 Bewitched Sculpture
Don’t leave Salem without walking by the Bewitched Sculpture in Lappin Park on the Corner of Essex Street and Washington Street. Grab a selfie with the most beloved witch of the suburbs! While you’re in the neighborhood swing by Gulu-Gulu Cafe for a quick pick me up before dinner.
#15 Turner’s Seafood
Before heading back to your North Shore vacation rental in the safe unfeathered town of Cape Ann consider grabbing a bite to eat at Turner’s Seafood. Indulge in fresh locally caught seafood in the same building that hosted guests such as Nathaniel Hawthorn and even Alexander Graham Bell. Turner’s Seafood is located in Lyceum Hall which has been home to many restaurants over the years. This building is believed to have been built upon an apple orchard that was once owned by Bridget Bishop, who visitors frequently describe as seeing in a long white gown wandering the halls of this local restaurant.
This amazing little town has inspired many tales throughout the ages and behind its charming walls hides an albeit dark yet enchanting history. Enjoy the magic wafting through the air of this charming Massachusetts town for the day and then take the train ride back to your safe, ghost free vacation rental in Cape Ann, cozy up on the couch, pop the popcorn and watch Hocus Pocus for the millionth time with a brand new appreciation of the film!
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