Welcome, foolish mortals.
As I’m writing this, I’m on my hundredth Hocus Pocus rewatch and thinking back on all of the haunts of Halloween’s past.
None so memorable as the year my sister and I visited Salem, Massachusetts in the month of October.
So today, join me on A Day in Salem, Massachusetts…if you dare.
Self-Guided Walk with Witches
I’d recommend starting your day in Salem as early as you can to help avoid the October crowds.
If you are so inclined, pay your respects to Bridget Bishop, and the other accused witches at the Salem Witch Trial Memorial located just off Charter Street. 24 Liberty St, Salem, MA 01970, USA.
From there, you can visit both modern-day and historical notorieties on Essex Street.
Pictured here is Ropes Mansion (318 Essex St.), used as Allison’s house in the Hocus Pocus film.
On the same street, you can find the “Witch House.” The house was actually the home of Judge Johnathan Corwin and is one of the only structures still standing with original ties to the Salem Witch Trials.
Boston Burger Company
Making your way back up to Washington Street, I’d recommend stopping for lunch at the Boston Burger Company.
With its Ouiji board wall and wicked good food, Salem’s Boston Burger Company is a good place to break and is centrally located for the rest of our day.
Not to mention, perfect for getting a fun photo op!
Witchy Museums
The Salem Witch Museum and Witch Dungeon Museum are perfect for those interested in seeing life in 1692 for themselves.
The Salem Witch Museum is one of Salem’s main attractions, so be sure to get tickets in advance as it sells out very quickly.
The Witch Dungeon Museum is more underrated but includes your chance to watch a live reenactment of the witch trials, followed by a tour of the dungeons below after the witches’ sentencing.
History on the Waterfront
For those interested in the other aspects of Salem’s history, I’d recommend a visit to Salem’s Harbour.
The Derby Wharf Marina offers many waterfront shops and higher-end seafood restaurants. The Marina is home to a replica of an East Indiaman ship known as the Friendship of Salem. Other than witches, Salem was also frequented by scallywags and infamous pirates such as Blackbeard.
Close to the waterfront is also the birthplace of famous author Nathanial Hawthorne, and the House of the Seven Gables, the inspiration for his novel of the same name.
Goodnight Fatty
What is a day of Halloween fun without the sugar rush?
Goodnight Fatty puts Crumbl cookies to shame, by incorporating your favorite Halloween candy into the mix.
The coco pebbles and Reese’s pieces cookies made the perfect late-night treat as we finished off our day in Salem.
So if you’ve had your fill of spooks, witches, and haunts we’ll say goodbye to our day in Salem.
If you’ve enjoyed our day, check out my other posts from the A Day In series and let me know where you’d like to go next!
-Allison
The Gallivanter 