What to do for One Day in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts…have you ever heard of it? Not only is Salem the home to the famous Salem Witch Trials, but it is also well known for being the Halloween capital of the USA. Have I gotten your interest now?
If you are interested in all things “spooky”, finding a way to make every day Halloween or want to be a witch for a day, Salem is the place to be. However, Salem is also one of the best places to find some of the oldest places from colonial American history. No matter what your interests are, Salem is definitely a place worth seeing on your trip to New England!
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How to Get to Salem, Massachusetts from Boston
My family and I took a day trip from Boston one summer day to visit the legendary town of Salem. We traveled by bus, since we were only visiting Boston and didn’t have a car. It is only a 30 minute trip by bus, train or car, which makes Salem a great place to visit if you are staying in Boston.
Since the train line that went to Boston was undergoing some construction during the summer we were there, the bus was our only option. However, it was an easy and cheap option. Just be aware that some bus routes may have more stops and therefore can take an extra half an hour!
Traveling from Boston’s Revolution Hotel
In Boston, we stayed at the Revolution Hotel, and since the orange T subway wasn’t working on that day, we walked to the green line. We took a train and switched over to the blue line where we rode it all the way to Wonderland.
Since this was the last stop, we got out of the subway and walked to the bus stop. Both the 450 and 455 busses went to Salem, so we got on the first one. These only traveled every 50 minutes, so it was important that we kept to our schedule if we were going to make it the museums during our scheduled time. We were so lucky that it all worked out!
Get a complete itinerary for exploring Boston as a family HERE!
We did a simple Google search when planning this trip, which worked out well for us! We were able to pay on the bus, and kids rode for free.
How to Have the Best Day in Salem, Massachusetts
Now, on to the fun stuff! Just what is there to do in Salem if you only have one day? Keep reading to see all of my suggestions for making the most out of your day!
Learn about Salem’s Past at the Salem Witch Museum
The first stop on our trip to Salem was to the Salem Witch Museum. We has reserved our spots at 10am before arriving which is the best thing to do. Otherwise, we would have been asked to go online and buy them. Keep this in mind for when you travel there.
This museum was completely amazing. You will really come out with a new perspective of the Salem Witch Trials and the idea of the “witch”. The museum is very well organized and has many great displays that are all explained as part of the tour. Read all about the Salem Witch Museum HERE.
Find Ghosts in the Graveyard at the Charter Street Cemetery
Near the center of town, you can find the Charter Street Cemetery. Here are the graves of many people who lived during the time of the Salem Witch Trials. They also have a memorial to those who died due to the Salem Witch Trials. After spending time at the Salem Witch Museum, this was a very interesting place to visit to make it all feel more real.
Walk Through History at the Salem Wax Museum and Salem Witch Village
We noticed that just behind the graveyard was the Salem Wax Museum and Salem Witch Village. That wasn’t part of our plan for the day, so we didn’t stop there. It could have been interesting to see what they had inside, though! I can imagine that it would be really awesome during Halloween.
Find Nathaniel Hawthorne (Statue) in Salem
Another reason why Salem, Massachusetts is famous is because of Nathaniel Hawthorne. This classical, American author from the 1800s was born in Salem. Because of his significance in literary society as well as in the town, many places are named after him in Salem.
His novels The Scarlett Letter and The House of the Seven Gables are still widely known, and both take place in Salem. You can see a statue of this loved author on Hawthorne Blvd near the beautiful Immaculate Conception Church – Mary, Queen of the Apostles Parish.
Step into the pages of a book at Nathaniel Hawthorne’s House of the Seven Gables
If you would like to extend your tour of Nathaniel Hawthorne places in Salem, check out the House of the Seven Gables. Named after the book that it inspired, this historic attraction, the House of the Seven Gables is a great place to learn how some people lived long ago.
Though the name is only of one house, the grounds actually have many houses including the birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne. You can learn more about this great destination HERE!
Go Shopping on Essex Street
No trip to Salem, Massachusetts would be complete without a walk down Essex Street. This is the center of all things spooky and touristy in Salem with lots of cafes, museums, and fun shops. You can find anything from tarot card readers, witch clothes, art and jewelry to items for the home, specialty foods and much more. Each store is very different from the next, so it is fun to peek inside them all.
We also loved the charm of this street. The buildings, red brick paths and the figureheads spread out on walls and poles. These figureheads reminded you of being near the water but also of the town’s nautical history!
Near the town hall is where you can also find the Salem Trolley, which offers daily tours from April to November. This can be a great way to see and learn about the town without having to walk!
You can also find the tourism office on Essex Street, which can always be a great place to start. Those working there know so much about the town and the area. You can surely get all of your Salem questions answered there! We also found a delicious yet quick lunch on Essex Street. (Learn more about that below.)
Take a Photo at the Bewitched Statue
Located on the corner of Essex Street and Washington Street is the Bewitched Statue. This was quite an unexpected site when we first arrived off the bus in Salem. I knew that we would see many “witch” things, but I didn’t realize that it would also include the Bewitched.
If you don’t know this famous, American TV show from the 1960s, it is a comical series about a man who marries a witch. This is a fun way of showing a modern witch in a non-scary way.
Step Inside Salem’s Witch House
Situated far west of the busy section of Essex Street is the Witch House. This old building was once the home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, who was part of the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Now, this building is a museum that gives more details about those involved in the Witch Trials and how new Americans viewed the world during this dark and uncertain time. Get more information on the Witch House HERE.
Where to Eat in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a great place to get good food and has lots of different cafes and restaurants. A great place to get fresh seafood, burgers or steaks would be at Brodie’s Seaport. For those wanting a nice meal with a great, seaside view, check out Finz Seafood and Grill.
Washington Street is the place for great pizza places and Asian cuisine. However, Washington Street also has some great fine dining places that are typical New England like: Ledger Restaurant and Nathaniel’s in the Hawthorne Hotel, which often has live music.
There are also many smaller cafes that have more reasonable prices. We decided to get a quick lunch at the Red Line Café on Essex Street to save time. We were pleasantly surprised at the delicious food, and the variety of coffees and juices.
We settled for a veggie wrap, tuna wrap and two club sandwiches. The boys both agreed that their ham clubs some of the best they had ever eaten. They were in love! We also had drinks and chips.
For those looking for excitement and night life in Salem, check out these streets for the most in entertainment: Derby Street, Washington Street, Wharf Street and Essex Street.
For More Days or an Overnight
If we had more time in Salem, it would have been great to take one of the many tours. They have historical tours as well as food tours and ghost tours. The Land of Witches and Pirates Experience also looked interesting, since it talked about dungeons and the pirates of New England.
Another cool pirate experience with reenactments and stories is at the Real Pirates Museum. They have daily shows and different exhibits to see. Learning about pirates on the trip to Salem could have also been a memorable experience for my family!
Day Trips from Salem, MA
1. Boston, MA
Boston is a fantastic place to visit for families. There is so much to see and do there, and the town is very safe! Get an extensive itinerary for how to have the best, family experience in Boston HERE!
2. Plymouth, MA
Visiting the place where the first colonist came to the new world is quite an exciting thing. Learn about the beginnings of colonization in this area of the US in the friendly and relaxing small town of Plymouth, Massachusetts. Learn what Plymouth has to offer on your trip HERE!
3. Cape Cod
We spent one day during our Boston trip relaxing on the beach on Cape Cod. There are many great little towns to visit, but we quite enjoyed our time at Nauset Light Beach.
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