Summer Fridays: Salem, MA

Summer means it’s time to get away. All season, we’re sharing some of our favorite US summer travel spots. Find a destination to cure your wanderlust? Take the Summer Friday.

In the heat of summer, some of us eagerly look toward fall. And nowhere says fall quite like Salem, Massachusetts.

Unsurprisingly, Salem becomes inundated with travelers when the seasons change. So, if you’re looking for a glimpse at cooler days ahead, visit over the summer. You’ll dive into New England history and beat the autumnal crowds, plus any seasonal offerings have already opened.

 

To See

Salem's Historic Sites

Grasp the city’s historical legacy by exploring the buildings and sites that gave Salem its infamy. Sign up for a guided tour, or take a narrated self-guided tour through a smartphone.

Must-see sites include:

• The family home of Salem Witch Trial Judge Jonathan Corwin, commonly referred to as The Witch House.
• The Salem Witch Trials Memorial, dedicated to the 20 victims of 1692.
• Ropes mansion (pictured below), built in the late 1720s with ties to the American Revolution. The house may look familiar, because it—like several other Salem locations—was featured in the film Hocus Pocus.

All three sites are available to tour.

To Do

Explore Downtown

Over time, Salem has gone from a city built on hysteria to a mecca that celebrates that same diversity and eclecticism. Downtown Salem has funky restaurants (try brunch at the Ugly Mug Diner), niche spiritual shops and shops with Salem-themed tourist trinkets, all on top of regular shopping.
 
There are also small museums sprinkled throughout, so you can dive into history from a more serious—or campy—perspective.

To Taste

The Tavern

As Hawthorne Hotel’s larger restaurant, Nathaniel’s is often the popular pick among travelers. But The Tavern, an old-fashioned, oak-filled lounge with a wood-burning fireplace, is a cozy place to end a day of exploring Salem.
 
But there are some spectral legends attached to the Hawthorne Hotel, so don’t say we didn’t warn you…

To Spray

Velvet+

Deep notes of Vanilla, Rose and Amber made even darker by Patchouli and Labdanum. A standout, ambery blend for the city that celebrates no longer fitting a mold.