30 Spooky And Historic Things To Do In Salem, Massachusetts
When thinking about Salem, Massachusetts your first thought likely isn't that it’s a great family destination or that it’s disability friendly. You’ll probably think about witches as Salem is where the 1692 witch trials occurred. During this time over 200 people were accused of witchcraft. Twenty of these people were executed and five didn’t survive their time in prison.
While Salem does have a very dark chapter in its history it is a chapter from which we can learn valuable lessons. Hubby and I enjoy learning about history, even the hard parts because often those are the parts we need to examine the most. And I’ll also admit I do enjoy a little spookiness now and again. Emphasis on a little!
Given these things we decided Salem was the perfect town for a small family getaway. We were not disappointed. It's a beautiful city with lots of things to do that appeal to all age groups and interests. And as a family with a child with a disability we found the city to be relatively disability friendly.
30 Spooky and Historic Things To Do In Salem, Massachusetts
Salem Heritage Trail
Marked by a yellow line the Heritage Trail connects all of Salem’s main sites. The intention of the Heritage Trail was to be a self-guided walking tour to help visitors experience all that Salem has to offer. It starts and ends at the National Park Service Visitor Center on New Liberty Street. We walked the Heritage Trail our first day and it was a perfect introduction to Salem!
Witch Trials Memorial
The Salem Witch Trial Memorial is a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Salem witch trials. The Memorial is a granite wall with twenty stone benches within the perimeter each inscribed with the name of a victim and the date of their execution. Located on Liberty Street between Charter Street and Derby Street it is open from dawn till dusk. It’s handicapped accessible and is appropriate for all ages.
The Salem Witch Trial Memorial. I thought it was a very well done and thoughtful memorial.
Old Burying Point Cemetery
Also known as Charter Street Cemetery, this is a historic cemetery established in 1637. It's the final resting place of Nathaniel Hawthorne who wrote The Scarlet Letter and is right next to the Witch Trials Memorial. The cemetery is open to the public. There’s a gravel path that is wheelchair accessible. Take note, you must stay on the gravel path. Max loves cemeteries and immediately went off the path before I could intervene to get a closer look at some of the gravestones. I thought we were going to be thrown out by one of the workers! Luckily we were not!
Old Burying Point Cemetery in Salem, MA.
Salem Witch Museum
The Salem Witch Museum examines the Salem witch trials and consists of two presentations. In the first presentation you’re gathered into a room where you sit on stools surrounded by thirteen life sized stage sets that then light up and narration takes you through the events of the Salem witch-hunt. The second exhibit explores the meaning behind the word witch and the evolution of the image of the witch over time. After the second presentation you’re released into a large gift shop.
Before the first presentation Max was a little nervous it was going to be loud and he covered his ears in preparation. The narration really wasn’t too loud for him and he soon uncovered his ears and did fine. If your child is really sensitive to noise you may want to make sure they have their headphones.
There are large benches to sit on if you’re not interested in sitting on a stool but the benches are next to walls and it’s harder to see the stage sets. On a stool you can easily swivel around to see all stage sets.
The museum is wheelchair accessible including the bathroom and offers scripts for those that are deaf or hard of hearing.
The Salem Witch Museum.
House Of The Seven Gables
The House Of The Seven Gables was built by merchant and shipowner John Turner I and is the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel. You can tour the mansion and the grounds or simply get a grounds pass that does not allow a tour of the mansion. It’s important to note the mansion is NOT wheelchair accessible. The visitor center, restrooms, gardens, grounds, and a portion of the museum store are. There is a discounted accessibility ticket where you can tour the ground floor and then are given information on the upper floors. You can also buy a virtual ticket.
The Witch House
The Witch House in Salem, Massachusetts is a museum that’s said to be haunted by the ghosts of the Salem witch trials. The house was built in 1642 by Jonathan Corwin, who was a judge in the Salem witch trials. Corwin presided over the trials of many of the accused witches, and he is said to have been a cruel and unjust judge.
After the Salem witch trials, Corwin continued to live in the house until his death in 1685. After his death, the house was passed down through his family. In the early 20th century, the house was purchased by the Essex Institute, which is a historical society. The Essex Institute restored the house and opened it to the public as a museum.
Visitors to the Witch House have reported seeing ghosts, hearing voices, and feeling cold spots. Some people have even reported being scratched or touched by unseen hands. Yikes! If you are looking for a haunted place to visit, the Witch House is definitely worth checking out.
The Witch House. Don’t get too close…it’s said to be haunted!
Witch Dungeon Museum
The Witch Dungeon Museum does a live reenactment of the witch trials followed by a guided tour of the dungeon. A beam from the actual jail is on display.
Ropes Mansion and Gardens
Hocus Pocus fans will want to check out the Ropes Mansion and Gardens! In the movie this home is Allison’s house. The mansion was built in 1804 by Nathaniel Ropes, a wealthy merchant and shipowner. The gardens around the house are designed in the English landscape style and are really quite pretty.
The Ropes Mansion and Gardens are open to the public for tours although we were not able to tour the inside of the house as it was not open the days we were there. Being the Hocus Pocus fans we are, we were sure to take pictures outside of the house and we did walk in the garden too.
Ropes Mansion and Garden. AKA Allison’s House in Hocus Pocus.
Book A Walking Tour
Walking around Salem is nice but when you book a walking tour it brings things to an entirely new level! A beautiful old mansion isn’t just a beautiful old mansion after you get some history behind it. It then becomes a beautiful old mansion that a murder occurred in after a dinner party and inspired the board game Clue!
We did the History and Haunting walking tour with Witch City Walking Tours and it was such a great experience!
Get Spooked On A Ghost Tour
Our kids are older and can handle a certain amount of spook so we decided to do The Salem Night Ghost Tour. Our tour guide was fabulous and while we didn’t see any ghosts I did get a few chills down my spine!
Witch Photo Shoot
Witch Pix will do a fun witch inspired photo shoot for you!
Bewitched Statue
Pose next to the Bewitched statue. As a kid I grew up watching Bewitched on TV Land and absolutely loved the show!
Posing in the rain beside the Bewitched statue in Salem, MA
Pioneer Village
Pioneer Village, also known as Salem 1630, is a living history museum. It recreates a 17th-century village and is very charming. Scenes from the movie Hocus Pocus were filmed here too.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Salem Maritime National Historic Site is another living history museum. It’s located on a 12-acre waterfront park on Salem Harbor. The site is administered by the National Park Service and is part of the Salem Maritime National Historic District.
The site includes a variety of historic buildings and structures, including the Custom House, the Derby House, the Ropewalk, and the Salem Witch Museum. It also has a working wharf, a variety of exhibits, and a visitor center.
Salem Maritime National Historic Site
Peabody Essex Museum
If you enjoy art you’ll definitely want to stop here. All public areas of the museum are accessible by wheelchair. The historic houses are not. Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are available and private family bathrooms are available on the first floor. There are two entrances for wheelchair drop off and accessible parking is available in the paid garage on New Liberty Street.
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
If you can’t take the Hocus Pocus tour you can always do a self guided tour and visit the different sites. This is what we did.
Hocus Pocus Filming Locations
Hocus Pocus Filming Location Tour
There’s a Hocus Pocus tour you can take given by Witch City Walking Tours. We really wanted to go to this because Hocus Pocus is one of our favorite movies, but there were no tours available when we were in Salem. Bummer.
Salem Trolley Tour
The Salem Trolley Tour is a great way to see all that Salem has to offer. The tour takes you past all the major sights, including the House of the Seven Gables, the Salem Witch Museum, and the Salem Maritime National Historic Site. You'll also hear about the city's rich history and culture from your knowledgeable tour guide.
The Salem Trolley Tour is a fun and informative way to spend an afternoon in Salem. It’s a perfect way to see the city if your child with special needs tires easily and walking tours are not a great fit. A portion of some of the trolleys are wheelchair accessible but not all of the trolleys have this. They do request advanced notice so they can make available one of the accessible trolley cars. Collapsible wheelchairs are permitted on any of trolleys.
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
If you love scary movies then Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery may be just for you! It’s a wax museum featuring characters from the darker side of cinema according to the website. Max was interested in seeing this and we almost went but not everyone in the Dandelion crew was brave enough to go in so we skipped it.
Eat Yummy Food
The food in Salem was absolutely delish! Here are a few of our recommendations…
Jaho - This is a coffee shop but one of the kids ordered a smoothie and it was so good two more of us ordered one! They also make their own soft serve ice cream and it was super yummy!
Gulu Gulu Cafe - we ate lunch here and I had the Istanbul sandwich – highly recommend!
Ugly Mug Cafe - we had breakfast at the Ugly Mug Cafe and it was so good! Perfect way to start out your day
The Village Tavern - we had dinner here our first night. It was a great family atmosphere and the food was great.
Rockafellas - Apparently this restaurant has a ghost they call the blue lady. Rockefella doesn’t hide this tidbit either. In fact they’ve leaned into it with a mural of a blue lady on their wall and a drink named after her on their menu. The food here was great.
Reds - I was excited to eat breakfast here because so many people had raved about it on a Facebook group I belonged to in anticipation of this trip. I’m sorry to say the entire Dandelion crew found it underwhelming. However, it seems like we’re in the minority as so many people love Reds so I’m including it and you can decide for yourself!
We’re not big seafood fans but if you like seafood then these are restaurants you’ll want to check out…
Enjoy The Unique Shops
The shops were so unique. One of my favorites was Emporium 32. We bought 3 Halloween themed posters I’m going to frame and put up for Halloween decor. I love when I can find unique decorations for the house!
We also loved The Happy Sunflower. Whenever we take a family vacation we’re on the lookout for a Christmas ornament as a memento.. We bought our ornament for this vacation at The Happy Sunflower. They even personalized it by adding our last name and the year to it. This shop also has some great jewelry and I left with a few more bracelets than I came with!
Psychic Reading
If this is your thing there are so many places that offer readings! I had a reading at Pentagram and my Mom had a reading at Hex. Both places were great!
Sail On The Fame Of Salem
Go sailing on a replica of the 1812 privateer Fame. This is a super fun activity for a family as long as you don’t get seasick!
The Real Pirates Museum
If you have a little one fascinated by pirates then this will make them happy! The Real Pirates Museum is dedicated to the history of pirates. The museum has a variety of exhibits, including a replica pirate ship, a treasure hunt, and a live pirate show. The museum also has a gift shop where visitors can purchase pirate-themed souvenirs.
Ye Olde Pepper Companie
Satisfy your sweet tooth at America’s oldest candy company!
Salem Willows Arcade
Chanel your inner child at the arcade! Your kids will love it and you will too! You’ll find classic arcade games as well as newer ones mixed in.
Winter Island Park
Winter Island Park is a 200-acre park located on a peninsula in Salem Sound. The park is open year-round, and offers a variety of activities, including hiking, biking, fishing, and picnicking. There is also a playground, a swimming beach, and a boat launch. It’s perfect to spend some time outdoors as a family!
Choose A Wand At Wynotts
If you have a budding witch or wizard then you’ll want to check out Wynotts! Wynotts sells wands and is such a unique shop. Beware though, if you’ve been to Universal and your little ones are expecting interactive wands like the ones therel they’re going to be disappointed. Max was picking up different wands and trying to do spells. Nothing was happening so he’d shake his head and mutter “Not working” I couldn’t help but chuckle!
The Witchery
This is another place to visit if you have an aspiring witch or wizard because they can make their own broom!
Melt
Ice cream is one of my FAVORITE foods. Melt has delicious homemade ice cream!
2 Things To Do BONUS!
Meander Through The City Enjoying The Street Art
Salem is such a pretty place and I love that the city leans into that with cool street art.
Colorful street art in Salem, MA
Street art in Salem, MA
Check out Artists’ Row
Artists’ Row consists of four “stalls”, the Lobster Shanty, and public restrooms. Support the arts and eat some lobster!
How To Get To Salem
You can take a plane, train, automobile or even a ferry to Salem!
If you fly you’ll likely want to fly into Logan International Airport in Boston. Salem is about 16 miles north of Boston and about a 30 minute drive. If coming via train from Boston you’ll want to take the Newbury/Rockport Line. The Salem Ferry is a high speed ferry between Boston and Salem and takes about 50 minutes.
Where To Stay In Salem
We rented a home via Vrbo. It was nice and within easy walking distance to the heart of Salem. There was on street parking. If you’re going during the month of October on street parking will likely be an issue so be aware.
There are several nice hotels to stay at while visiting Salem such as…
Is Salem Worth A Day Trip?
Yes!
Salem is definitely worth a day trip. The town is rich with history for history buffs, there are lots of quirky shops and museums to explore, as well as delicious food to eat! There are indoor things to do and if you like to be outdoors there are plenty of outdoor activities too!
How Many Days In Salem Is Enough?
Our first day we arrived around lunch time and then we had two more full days to explore Salem. This was the perfect amount of time for us so I’d say 2-3 days. If we would’ve stayed longer than this we would have spent some time in Boston or visited nearby Marblehead. If you’re short on time and can only do a day trip to Salem you can still see most of the sites.
Can You Walk To Everything In Salem?
Salem is definitely a walking friendly city and many of the historic sites and attractions are close together. Take note, some of the streets are cobblestone and there’s a lot of brick. These surfaces can be uneven and may be difficult to traverse for those with balance issues.
Is Salem Disability Friendly?
One of the things I noticed about Salem is that nobody stared at Max other than one or two young kids who were obviously there on vacation themselves. Otherwise he was just another person enjoying Salem.
Waiters and tour guides interacted with HIM and not with him through us. I know this is how it should be but so often it’s not when you have a kid with special needs. It was something that I never really thought about until we went to Salem and I could see how different it was here compared to when we’ve gone on other vacations.
While the Salem culture is very disability friendly I will say there’s definitely room for improvements such as none of the public restrooms had adult changing tables. Salem could use a few more public restrooms too in my opinion. The other thing I noticed is because a lot of the buildings are older they are not always wheelchair accessible. I’m looking at you House of Seven Gables.
Is Salem Kid Friendly?
Definitely yes! I’m sure some parents may be hesitant to visit because well…the spook factor and witches, Salem is very family and kid friendly. I will say I probably wouldn’t take my kids during the month of October because my understanding is it gets SUPER busy. When you have young children or a child with special needs, large crowds and long lines are not a great combo.
How Far Is Salem From Boston?
Salem is about 16 miles north of Boston.
Is Salem Fun During Halloween?
I went to Salem on a spontaneous college road trip for Halloween. It was SO MUCH FUN! Salem has a lot of Halloween festivities. This was over 20 years ago though people.
Salem is still a TON of fun during October with Halloween festivities such as Haunted Happening which includes parades, spooky attractions, and witch themed events. It gets crazy busy though and you can no longer spontaneously decide to spend Halloween in Salem and expect to find a place to stay.
In other words…you’ll need to plan way in advance.
Dandelion Tribe Takeaway: Salem is a fun family friendly getaway with lots of things to do!
Mama Bear Share: Have you been to Salem, Massachusetts? What do you love about it?
