If you are a Halloween enthusiast or are looking for a fun and adventurous road trip to take during the fall season be sure to place Salem, Massachusetts at the top of your list. At just a 4-5 hour drive from New York City, this trip will get you far away from the raucous of the Big Apple and will take you right into the exquisite and historical land of the Salem witch trials. Here are our highlights from the trip and must-see things to view on your next visit.
Never-Ending Halloween
Being that we visited Salem during the first week of October, we feared that we were not going to have as great of an experience since Halloween was still far away. Boy were we wrong! Our favorite part of the trip was walking down the main strip on Essex Street outside the Witch City Mall. It was fascinating seeing everyone walking around in costumes as if it was an everyday occurrence. Shortly after, we got ourselves some witch hats to join in on the fun.
The main strip consisted of interesting little shops with items that instantly caught our attention since they were unique and unusual. Our favorite item is this elegant glass witch ball which was historically used to protect oneself from witches, evil spells, and spirits. These glass balls can be hung or placed right near your window. They also come in many beautiful designs and colors that will make choosing one incredibly difficult. Come prepared to purchase souvenirs as this strip is filled with captivating items that will definitely catch your eye.
Pioneer Village
Another must-see attraction is Pioneer Village. This museum is a replica of how Salem looked in the 1630s. The museum features cottages and allows people to enter the cottages and get an inside scoop on living conditions in the 1630s. Interestingly enough, Pioneer Village is where some of Hocus Pocus was filmed, which made it all the more exciting. Although the stay at Pioneer Village does not take more than 30 minutes, tickets are affordable and as low as $5 per person. Find out more information about Pioneer Village admission and hours before scheduling your visit. I wouldn’t miss this attraction at all! You’ll also have the opportunity to take many cool pictures, like these!
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery
Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery is another attraction we toured when walking down Essex Street. The attraction consisted of various rooms each with monsters and creatures from different horror films. Each section provides specific information on the monster and its time period. Wait until you see how scary the exhibition featuring The Exorcist’s main character Regan MacNeil (Played by Linda Blair) is! Although this was a cool experience, I did think it went by pretty fast. Overall, I would say it took us about 10-15 minutes to get through the entire museum. Nonetheless, it was an exciting adventure and was a perfect addition to our “spooky” night out. For more information about Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery be sure to check out their page before your visit.
Salem Tours
If it is your first or second time visiting Salem, I totally recommend signing up for a group walking tour. Come prepared with walking shoes as these tours takes you all around important monuments such as The House of The Seven Gables, Ropes Mansion and Garden, the Town Hall, along with other attractions. The tour guides are also very knowledgeable regarding Salem’s history and the must-see attractions.
Since our stay was short, we didn’t get to tour other popular attractions such as the Salem Witch Museum, however, it is definitely on our list for next time. If you have been to the Salem Witch Museum we’d love to know what your experience was like. We’d also love to know your thoughts about the other attractions highlighted in this post!
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